INTRODUCING THE REV. DR. REBECCA A. COLLINS KAHNT

Posted September 26, 2023

The Reverend Doctor Rebecca Anne Collins Kahnt officially began her call as the pastor at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City on July 1 of this year. She led worship the very next day and has been serving the Lord along with her brothers and sisters in Christ at North Sewickley ever since with energy, intelligence, imagination and love. 

Rebecca (who goes by Becky) was born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey. Born and raised on the Jersey shore, the beach, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi all soothe her soul and remind her of home. She was born the second of three children with an older sister and a younger brother, living every bit into all the stereotypes of being a “middle child.” Her parents didn’t start going back to church until she was about 4 years old, because they could not settle their great theological debate and differences with her father being Catholic and her mother being Baptist. Finally, after much debate, they settled on being Presbyterian. How providential that they did! Becky grew up in The Presbyterian Church of Toms River where she became very active in her high school years, including preaching her first sermon her senior year of high school. 

Upon graduating from high school, Becky went to a small christian college in Saint David’s, Pennsylvania call Eastern University. During her time at Eastern, she would be a Student Chaplain as well as an R.A. while receiving a Bachelor’s in Youth Ministry and a double minor in Psychology and Theology. After graduation, she would marry and then at the end of that summer, begin her 3 year journey at Princeton Theological Seminary where she would get her MDIV. Upon completing her Master of Divinity, the Lord called her to serve churches in Eastern Pennsylvania, then one in North Carolina and then one in Ohio. 

During that time, Becky was blessed to have three beautiful, talented and pretty amazing children. Sam (15), Abby (13) and Hannah (11), humble and inspire Becky on a daily basis as they remind her of God’s grace and mercy with every moment of each day. They are a perfect reminder that God has great plans for all of us and have not given up on us yet! 

In 2019, Becky graduated with her Doctorate in Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Reformed Christian Spirituality. In this time, she also completed two certification programs through the Pneuma Institute in Pittsburgh to become a Spiritual Director and a Spiritual Director certified in giving the Ignatian Exercises. In 2021, after struggles with long-haul COVID and some issues with seizures, Becky took a break from ministry to go on disability to heal. She is delighted that the Lord has brought her back into ministry and back to ministry in this place. 

Becky will be installed at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Beaver-Butler Presbytery is blessed to welcome her and lift prayers for her ministry among us.