Jerry Pattengale

Strategic Planner, Author, Educator

About

During the last three decades I’ve been fortunate to help develop and lead a variety of sustainable programs. My modus operandi has been and continues to be employing an irenic spirit, developing healthy and international networks, and maintaining an open commitment to biblical foundations. And, having fun when possible. The latter is usually easier with funding in place, and God has blessed with considerable funds for various projects—hundreds of millions overall.

These programs are in Washington, DC (Museum of the Bible), Florida (The Scriptorium, now the Van Kampen Collection formerly at the Holy Land Experience), the largest FCA event nationally (the Night of Champions at Azusa Pacific University), and in Marion (numerous programs at Indiana Wesleyan University, and the JC Body Shop youth ministries). All of these have taken place via teamwork, enabling colleagues (young and old) to take over leadership roles (including in numerous new departments at IWU).

Throughout, I remained engaged in the community and our local church (College Wesleyan since ‘97), wrote dozens of books, tech products, local and national columns, launched international projects and helped manage journals. The biggest joy continues to be assisting others in accomplishing their goals.

I am honored to serve on boards of Christianity Today, Yale’s Jonathan Edwards Center, Changing Destiny (to assist trafficked kids in Asia), Africa New Life (services 12,000 students in Rwanda), and retain distinguished appointments at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Tyndale House Cambridge, the Sagamore Institute, Waverly Abbey-UK, and Excelsia College, Australia.

IWU selected me as it first World Changing Faculty (2012), first University Professor (2014), and Outstanding Alumnsu (2022)—all special moments for life.

Education

Miami University

Ph.D. in Ancient History (1993)

Miami University

M.A. in Ancient History (1986)

Wheaton College

M.A. in Interpersonal Development (1981)

Indiana Wesleyan University

B.S. in History and Religion (1979)

Present Roles

Museum of the Bible (Washington, D.C.)

Senior Advisor to the President (2020- Present)

Indiana University (Marion, Indiana)

Inaugural University Professor (2014- Present)

Lumen Research Institute (International)

Executive Director and Co-Founder (2014- Present)

Longevity LLC

President (2012- Present)

Teaching Experience

Indiana Wesleyan University

Professor of History (1999 – Present)

Museum of the Bible

Regular Lecturer to national and area functions (2017- Present)

Oriel College

Summer Lecturer (2012- Present)

Wheaton College

Adjunct (1996)

Hope College

Adjunct (1996)

Ohio Northern University

Instructor (1987-1988)

*full list can be found on the 5th page of his CV

Career Highlights

Spoke at the United Nations on protecting religious space

New York City, 2020

Co-authored, assisted with production, and on-air contributions for Inexplicable: How Christianity Spread to the Ends of the Earth

2020

Interim President at Religion News Service

2019-2020

National board of directors at Religious News Service

Washington, D.C., 2013-2019

Opening of the Museum of the Bible as its longest serving person involved from conception to concrete & global programs

Washington, D.C., 2017

Organized and hosted lectures at the Vatican

2012

Assisted with Verbum Domini exhibit at Braccio di Carlo Magno

Vatican City, 2012

Filming “101 Objects that Changed the World” for History Channel

2012

*full list can be found on the 3rd and 4th page of his CV

Awards

Indiana Wesleyan University

Outstanding Alumni Award (2022), first University Professor (2014), World-Changing Faculty (2012), Presidential Award of Merit (2010)

Telly Award

For the TV documentary series Inexplicable: How Christianity Spread to the Ends of the Earth (2021)

Hoosier State Press Association 

First Place Writing Award (2016)

Excelsia College (Australia)

Teacher of Year (2016)

Grant County Family Services (Indiana)

Circle of Friends Award (2009)

Houghton Mifflin and the National Resource Center (USC)

National Student Advocate Award (2000)

Azusa Pacific University

Professor of the Year (1995 & 1993), Alpha Chi Outstanding Faculty of the Year (1994)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Western Region of the U.S.)

Service Award (1995)

National Endowment of Humanities

Awardee (1994)

*full list can be found on the 4th and 5th page of his CV

Special Designations

Lilly Fellows

Finalist for Book Award for State of the Evangelical Mind (2019)

National Press Club

Membership Committee (2018- Present)

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association

Judge for national Christian Book Awards (2015- Present)

Grant County Family Services (Indiana)

Circle of Friends Award (2009)

Houghton Mifflin and the National Resource Center (USC)

National Student Advocate Award (2000)

Azusa Pacific University

Professor of the Year (1995 & 1993), Alpha Chi Outstanding Faculty of the Year (1994)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Western Region of the U.S.)

Service Award (1995)

National Endowment of Humanities

Awardee (1994)

*full list can be found on the 4th and 5th page of his CV

Publications in Newsprint Series

Chronicle Tribune (2000- Present)

“Buck Creek Chronicles”

Chronicle Tribune (December 15-25, 2021)

“Eighty Christmas Seasons on the Same Farm, in the Shadow of James Dean,”
“Acts of God These Holidays,”
“Pigs on the Roof: Food for the Holidays,”
“Bottoms Up in Buck Creek,” and
“Filling Starbucks Cups at Christmas”

Chronicle Tribune (December 20-25, 2016)

“The Joy of Christmas,” Vol. 3 (third year): Holiday Musings from Buck Creek.”

Chronicle Tribune (December 19-25, 2015)

“Telling the Truth with a Smile, Volume 2, Holiday Musings from Buck Creek.”

Professional and Personal References

Deborah Caldwell

President and Publisher of RNS and RNF

Dr. Timothy Dalrymple

President & CEO of Christianity Today

Dr. Norman Mintle

Producer of Trinity Broadcast Networks

Pamela Pyle, MD

Chair of Africa New Life

*full list can be found on 3rd page of his CV

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