Accounting, Business, Pastoring, and Educator
Pastor-Educator, Adjunct Dr Terrell Earnest
I was born and raised in Alabama. After high school, I did not know what to do with my life, since I did not want to go to college. But in 1966, the Vietnam War was going on and the military draft was in full swing. In fact, if one was 19 and a half and not going to college, one was drafted. I did not want to be a “grunt” in Vietnam, so I joined the U.S. Air Force. I ended up in Vietnam anyway but not as a “grunt.” The service was good for me, because I had to decide early-on, if I was going to live for the Lord. He helped me be true to Him while I was in the service. After my discharge, I attended Southern Nazarene University (SNU) and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. I met the prettiest little girl that ever came out of the state of Louisiana. We were married during our senior years. After graduation in 1974, I worked as an accountant for two years, and we served as the lay youth directors in the local church. During this time, the Lord solidified my call to ministry.
I attended Nazarene Theological Seminary and graduated in 1978 with a Master of Religion Education degree. I completed the Doctorate of Ministry at Luther Rice Seminary in 1989. My dissertation was titled “An understanding of the Pastor’s Personal Finances.” I served as a senior pastor for over 20 years in Oxford, MS.; Vicksburg, MS.; Guymon, OK.; and Yukon, OK. As a pastor, I served on the North West Oklahoma and South West Oklahoma Districts’ Advisory Boards as well as District Secretary (S.W., OK.), and I was on the Board of Trustees for SNU. During my pastorates, the Lord helped me relocate and construct new facilities for the Guymon, OK. Church and the Yukon First, OK. Church.
I then worked for the Nazarene International Center for seven years, and I traveled Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana representing the Stewardship Department as the SNU Area Representative. Following this, I was the Vice President of Development at Mid-America Christian University for two years. Presently, I am adjunct faculty at Nazarene Bible College and live in Yukon, OK. We have two daughters and six, totally-awesome, grandchildren. Grand parenting is the way parenting was intended to be! My wife is a retired, elementary, special teacher.
I have taught online classes for over 18 years. I enjoy the format, because I learn as much as the students. I especially enjoy the Graduate Exit Interviews. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the students and in my prayer for the students, I pray Jeremiah 29:11 over them (“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”).
Dr. Terrell D. Earnest, Adjunct Professor and Pastor, former Vice President of Development for Mid-America Christian University