Dr. Doug Oss named AGTS Alumnus of the Year for 2017

There is a lot of knowledge behind the piercing stare and “man of few words” persona you see in Dr. Doug Oss, this year’s AGTS Alumnus of the Year.

He is a Greek scholar and Biblical translator, a church planter and pastor, an evangelist, a missionary, a professor of Biblical Theology and New Testament Interpretation, and an author.

He’s also a man with a heart for ministry and an appreciation of what those early years as a student at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary gave him.

“While at AGTS I acquired the skills and knowledge base necessary for the pursuit of further academic preparation for the scholarly ministry of the church,” said Doug.

“My experience at AGTS, and the relationship with the faculty, put in my heart a desire to be a scholarly practitioner of ministry, and not be confined to the ivory tower,” he said. “I also gained many lifelong, strong and supportive friendships formed during my years of study.”

Following an amazing career with many twists and turns, Doug joined the AGTS faculty in 2005 to start the expository preaching program. He was the founding director of the Cordas C. Burnett Center for Biblical Preaching.

In 2013, he was charged by AGTS leadership with the program redesign and curriculum development for the Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation and Theology. He served as director of that program until his retirement from AGTS in the Spring of 2016.

“Doug Oss is a highly valued colleague and friend,” said Dr. Jim Railey, dean of AGTS. “His academic and pastoral ministry preparation provided for his students a rich exposure to and experience in preaching the Word of God. He is known around AGTS for his humor, his commitment to excellent interpretation of the Bible, and his involvement with students.”

Dr. Doug Oss will be honored as the AGTS Alumnus of the Year for 2017, during Evangel University’s Homecoming Celebration. The presentation will be made during an 11 a.m. luncheon, on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Bass Pro White River Conference Center.

The path

A native of Washington State, he spent his school years in Yakima. Doug earned a B.A. in Psychology from Western Washington University in 1996, before moving to Springfield to study at AGTS.

At seminary, he served as president of the Student Leadership Council and as a Greek Teaching Fellow. He earned his M.Div. and was awarded the “Outstanding Graduate Award” in 1980. Doug earned his Ph.D. in Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) in 1992.

Prior to joining the faculty of AGTS, Oss was the founding pastor of Capital Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1997-2004. He also taught for 10 years on the faculty of Central Bible College and for four years on the faculty of Valley Forge Christian College.

Reflecting on the high points

In the wealth of accomplishments and activities over the years, Doug points to three that reflect his journey of scholar-practitioner.

• He has planted three churches, and served two as the lead pastor: Capital Church in Salt Lake City, and The Springs Church (formerly First Evangelical Free Church) in Springfield, Missouri.

• He is co-author of the academic bestseller, Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? (Zondervan).

• He served as translator for the New Living Translation (1 & 2 Corinthians) and as a translation scholar for the English Standard Version (New Testament). He also authored the study notes for 2 Peter and Jude for the English Standard Version Study Bible.

Doug calls being a husband and father his “highest calling.”

In 1978, he married Debbie (Johnson ’78) who graduated from Evangel with a B.S. in nursing and currently serves as an assistant professor of nursing at Cox College. They have three children, Lauren, Doug, Jr., and John, and two granddaughters. Lauren and John are EU alumni.

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EU Homecoming 2017 Honorees

Four additional alumni awards will be given during this year’s Homecoming celebration. The recipients were chosen by the Evangel University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

• EU Distinguished Alumnus – Doug Broxson ’71
• EU Outstanding Young Alumnus – Julia Armstrong ’02
• CBC Distinguished Alumnus – Dary Northrop ’80
• CBC Outstanding Young Alumnus – Dan Wootton ’05

For more information, contact Evangel University Alumni Relations Department at (417) 865-2811, ext. 7333.