Nazarene Theological Seminary

Alex Deasley
NTS Professor of New Testament, 1977 - 2002

Where do you live?
Dr. Deasley and his wife Joyce currently live in Olathe, KS. 

Since your retirement, what has kept you busy?
Since retiring I have been occupied with teaching, preaching and writing. In addition to North America, teaching and preaching have taken me to Europe, Asia and Australia. This semester, I am teaching an NTS course on the Epistle to the Romans; this summer, I will be teaching a course there on the Doctrine of Holiness.  Additionally, I will be teaching courses on the Theology of Paul at NTC, Brisbane, Australia in August.

As to writing: besides some articles and book reviews I wrote the commentary on Philippians for the Wesleyan Bible Commentary which was published in May, 2007. I am under contract to write the commentary on I Corinthians for the New Beacon Bible Commentary. The most notable (and surprising) publishing event was the appearance in November, 2007 of a volume of essays in my honour: Holiness and Ecclesiology, edited by Kent Brower and Andy Johnson, and published by Eerdmans, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The most satisfying feature of the whole thing (besides the intrinsic importance of the theme and the quality of the essays) was that most of them were contributed by old friends and former students who have allowed the glory shining from their own helmets to be reflected on to me. When people have asked me (as well they might) what I have done to receive such an honour I simply reply that I have made a lot of very good friends.

What is a favorite “NTS memory” of yours?
I remember my years at NTS with gratitude both for the colleagues with whom I worked and the students whom I helped to teach and who are now serving Christ through the church around the world. I pray for NTS daily. The Church of the Nazarene has served itself wisely in investing in NTS in the past 60 years, and will continue to serve itself well in investing in it in the years ahead.

E. Dee Freeborn
NTS Professor of Spiritual Formation, 1974-1978, 1980-2001

Where do you live? 
We moved from Olathe, KS in June, 2005 to Nampa, Idaho.  It has been a very good move for us.  We graduated from NNU together, were married here, a few years after seminary graduation, we returned to be on staff with Earl Lee at First Church.  Also, Vi has two nephews nearby and her family members live in the Portland and Seattle areas.  We have countless friends in the area, many from our era in college who have come back to retire.

Family Update
We have two children, Dana, born while we were students in seminary and Danny, born in Moscow, Idaho, two weeks before we arrived at NTS as a new professor.  Dana lives in La Verne, CA and works at Jet Propulsion Laboratories where she is a Group Supervisor and Computer Engineer.  Danny and his wife Sveta live in Madrid, Spain where Danny is chairperson of the English department of the American School of Madrid and Sveta teaches kindergarten. 

We were thrilled to be able to go to Madrid in September, 2006 for the birth of our first grandchildren, twin girls, on October 7.  We stayed until the end of January 2007 helping Dan and Sveta by taking “night duty” so they could get some semblance of rest.  We all quickly learned that when it comes to twins, one plus one equals far more than two!

Since your retirement, what has kept you busy?
We have kept busier than we could have imagined.  With family close by, we have been able to catch up on family affairs, events and special occasions.  With all the family visits, funerals, 50^th wedding anniversaries and a trip to Spain, we haven’t been home as much as we would have anticipated.  We have also kept busy with some supply preaching, and involvement in the online spiritual formation program at NNU.

What do you miss most about NTS?
What we miss most about NTS and some of our greatest memories are the involvement with the students, the spiritual formation small groups, students in our home and spiritual direction.  Equally, we miss our faculty colleagues and friends.  We counted it a true blessing to have worked all those years with such an exemplary group of Christian men and women.  Our stay in Kansas City and at NTS will always be full of good and priceless memories.  NTS will always be in our prayers.

 
James D. Hamilton
NTS Professor of Pastoral Theology, 1968-1989

Where do you live? 
I have been in Austin, Colorado since retirement. 

Family Update
My wife, Dorothy, died in 1999 and I married Nan in 2001.  I have four children and eight grandchildren.  Nan has three children and four grandchildren.

Since your retirement, what has kept you busy?
Since retirement I have held 26 district ministerial and lay retreats; 18 local church revivals and family conferences; 26 funerals; two interim preaching assignments; pulpit supply in many churches; spoke at three ARMM retreats, two NIROGAs,  two colleges; assisted in two church planters workshops; calling  and counseling.  I am on the church board and I continue to preach and teach.  I love to golf and hunt and have been on several cruises and other trips.  I also presented the Gilbert Lectures on Christian Psychiatry at NTS; it was my honor to be asked by my former colleagues to present these lectures and I shall be forever grateful. 

What do you miss most about NTS?
I miss the interaction with students and faculty.

What is a favorite “NTS memory” of yours?
My favorite memories are the congregational singing of the great hymns in chapel.

What books would you recommend to alums and pastors? 
Bible and hymnal!

How can we pray for you?
For our physical and spiritual health.

Where do you live? 
When we are not traveling, we live in New Hampshire from June to October.  After the colorful foliage, we move to our place near Manasota Beach, on the gulf coast of Florida.  

Family Update
We are both in good health.  We are very proud of our four children; all are serving the Lord, and two are ordained Nazarene elders.  Rob (M.Div., NTS, '97) teaches at Point Loma; Sharon (M.A.,NTS,'93) is married to a Nazarene chaplain; Ellen is an author (Africa's Soul Hope, NPH, 2007), and Carol is a social worker.  We have nine grandchildren and our big news is our first great-granddaughter!   

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy?
For me, "retired" seems to have become "refired."  Since NTS, I have taught in a various world areas (Argentina, India, Brazil, Guatemala), and also inaugurated the missions minor as Visiting Professor at Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs.  This past year I have preached in churches in Arizona, New Hampshire, Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, at an East Ohio District function, and in Campinas, Brazil.  Within the next few weeks, I will be speaking for Faith Promise weekends in Ocala and Bradenton, Florida; Fairfield, Ohio; Greeley, Colorado; and Rochester, NY.  I had the privilege of presenting a paper to the Missiology Conference in the Netherlands in 2007.  I co-authored the book, Discovering Missions, which was published in 2007 by Beacon Hill Press.  It is a textbook in the Centennial Series, which celebrates the 100 year anniversary of the Church of the Nazarene.  It has already been adopted as a text in several universities.

Our children have organized our "event of the year" for 2008.  All of our children, their spouses, and grandchildren will be returning with us to Africa to celebrate our 50 years of marriage.  The theme that they have selected for the celebration is: "The Great Africa Reunion: Memories of a Lifetime!"  Doris and I just feel that our whole lives have been blessed by the Lord.  We say with the psalmist, "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name!" 

We look forward to what the Lord has in store for our future!  

How can we pray for you?
Several of our neighbors have accepted the Lord--pray that they will mature as Christians.  Pray for my speaking schedule and our family reunion in Africa.  Please pray for all of our missionaries, many former students at NTS, who are ministering throughout the world.   

 

Chester O. Galloway
NTS Professor of Religious Education, 1968-1994

Where do you live? 
One year after I retired, my wife retired from MNU faculty and library.  By that time I had taught overseas for the year and designed the plans for our mountain home.  My wife and I built two decks, two porches and two stairways and I did the landscaping.  After nine years we decided to move out of the mountains and out onto the plains to reduce more hazardous mountain living and driving.  We are now viewing the mountains and entering them primarily for beauty and pleasure. 

Family Update
My wife, Mary Alyce, has also retired.  We have two daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson (and a sibling due in August)!

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy? 
Reading, travel and building (home improvements inside and out) keeps me busy along with my involvement in Sunday School and special studies teaching, working with missions (local and overseas), working with senior adults and hospitality involvements.

I have also taught in Nazarene education centers/schools in the U.S., Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, -- a total of approximately 15 countries from one to 10 times per country/school--helping those called to ministry meet academic requirements for ordination and lay leaders of the surrounding areas of ministry.  Now we travel together to see God's creation, visit friends and family and experience other cultures and entertaining guests who fairly frequently visit us in our home.

What do you miss most about NTS?
We obviously miss the faculty-staff fellowship and the students who have stayed in our hearts, thoughts and prayers through the years.  We also miss the home church and community which claimed us and our hearts for 27 years.  I also miss the intellectual, spiritual and church-world stimulation and the coffee-cup conversations and challenges that kept us on our toes or heels as situations evolved. 

What books would you recommend to alums and pastors?
I suggest taking time to choose good devotional books to enrich your spirit and some fun books to diminish stress--to keep a balance between study, ministry and mental/marital/work stress that diminishes life's joy and victory.  You need perspective and balance.  (I deferred most recreational reading for over 50 years, trying to be up-to-date on the 'must reading' that was overwhelming---that I do not recommend to others!).

How can we pray for you?
Give thanks on our behalf for the incalculable grace and providences of God that keeps us profoundly blessed, in joyous health, and spiritually, socially, and physically challenged.    Today is now almost yesterday and tomorrow is God's new and special gift!!


Chic Shaver
NTS Professor of Evangelism, 1970-2000

Where do you live? 
We continue to live in Leawood, KS – the same house we maintained during our last years of teaching at NTS.

Family Update
Nancy and I are both in good health.  Our two daughters, Rachel and Miriam, and their husbands are in greater Kansas City and all attend KC First Church.  Our son Paul, his wife and their four children all live in Muncie, IN and attend the Nazarene Church there.  Nancy and I continue to be very active in revivals, retreats, Sunday School conventions and pastor training.

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy?
Special highlights have included spending six weeks on a district training pastors to be more effective evangelistically.  Most recent was a six week assignment in Alaska.  Besides teaching pastors to fish for people, Nancy and I took a day for fishing and caught eight silver salmon.

Another highlight has included several assignments where we actually move to a church for three months to develop and train a congregation in personal witness.  Most recent was a 2006 assignment at Living Word Church in Huston (Houston?).  New people found Christ nearly every week.

What do you miss most about NTS?
The thing I miss the most about NTS is the close discipling relationship I developed with certain students – where I was with them when they prayed for God’s sanctifying fullness, led a soul to Christ, traveled with me and participated in revivals with me.

What is a favorite “NTS memory” of yours?
My favorite memory of NTS is the invasion of the Holy Spirit that occurred in chapel in 1970 as an overflow from the Asbury Awakening.

How can we pray for you?
I would appreciate prayers for our continued ministry and a resurgence of evangelism and holiness across our denominations – especially in the USA.


Rob L. Staples
NTS Professor of Theology, 1976-1996 

Where do you live?
After a decade of retirement, Marcella and I still live in greater KC, although we moved from Overland Park to Leawood in 1995, having a home built in a community where lawn work and snow removal is provided.

Family Update
We have two daughters, each with two children.  Our oldest daughter and husband live in Shawnee.  Their daughter is a Veterinarian and their son is an ICU nurse. Our youngest daughter lives in Bourbonnais, IL where she teaches high school English and her husband is on the Olivet faculty.  They have a son and a daughter, each in high school.

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy?
We seem to stay busy.  We travel some and I write some.  Since retiring from NTS I have taught courses in Russia, at European Nazarene College, and at NNU.  We have been regulars at the Overland Park church for 32 years.

What do you miss most about NTS?
I miss the classroom and the daily involvement with students and colleagues. But I enjoy getting to set my own schedule!

What books would you recommend to alums and pastors?
I will mention only one in order not to detract from the importance I place on it:  Garry Wills, Head and Heart: American Christianities (New York: Penguin Press, 2007).  All who minister in the US should read this book!

How can we pray for you?
We are grateful for reasonably good health at age 78, and would like it to continue as long as we can be useful to the Kingdom.


Albert  L. Truesdale
NTS Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Christian Ethics, 1978-2000

Where do you live? 
Esther and I live on Seabrook Point, located on Port Royal Island in Beaufort County, SC (the South Carolina Low country).  The Whale Branch River forms the northern and northeastern borders of Seabrook Point.  Our house sits on an acre of land and is situated amidst a pecan orchard.  We moved here from KC.

Family Update
Esther and I have three daughters: Beth, Becky, and Brenda.  Beth is in business in Louisville, KY.  Becky, Gary and Suzy live in Independence, MO.  Brenda, John, Joshua and Benjamin live in Butler, MO.

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy?
I teach courses in the University of South Carolina continuing education program, two weekly classes for the Parish Church of St. Helena, and volunteer one day a month with Second Helpings (an organization that collects and distributes perishable foods to needy people).  I also serve on the board of directors for Beaufort Kiwanis and as president of our homeowners association.  I am reading broadly and enjoying every minute of it.  I have written one book since retiring and am now beginning to write another one.  I have written articles for Holiness Today and Reflecting God.  For three summers I taught at APNTS (Esther taught for two summers).  After retirement I served for one year at ENC as interim VP for Academics, and one year as interim President.

Esther and I travel when we have opportunity.  We enjoy boating on the beautiful SC coastal waters.  When we aren’t too lazy, we catch our own shrimp.  We pamper the orange tree, the fig tree and the blueberry bush in the summer, and harvest pecans in the fall.

Esther will not leave the classroom.  She serves as a substitute teacher in the Beaufort County schools and teaches a group of home school children once a week.  She serves on two boards at church.

What do you miss most about NTS?
Esther and I miss the faculty fellowship, and of course the students.  We miss being closer to our children.  But we don’t miss the cold winters.

The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by N.T. Wright (IVP,1999)

Mapping Postmodernism: A Survey of Christian Opinions by Robert C. Greer (IVP, 2008)

The Trinity and the Kingdom by Jurgen Moltmann (Harper and Row, 1981)

How can we pray for you?
Our prayers are not for ourselves, but that the Lord will lead each member of our family to himself, and for peace in our broken world.

Morris Weigelt
NTS Professor of New Testament and of Spiritual Formation, 1975-2001

Where do you live? 
We live in Mason, MI -- our one move since teaching at NTS.  We moved here in response to an invitation to join the local church staff as Teacher in Residence.  I work two days a week, nine months of the year at my own choice of timing.  My assignments include preaching coach, chaplain to the staff, and advocate for seniors at the administrative level.  Our son, Gerhard, is a full-time member of the staff and we enjoy living near him and his two daughters, Breanne and Ellyse.

Family Update
Our family continues to do well.  Marva works on a 4000 acre ranch near Matfield Green, KS on an intriguing tall grass prairie project.  Faye Anne (married to Kendall Hughes) is an ER nurse in North Kansas City and has three children.  LaDeana (married to David Hillier) is a leading DNA researcher and lives in Bellevue, WA--they have four daughters.  Gerhard (married to Diane Christensen) is on staff at the Mason, MI Church of the Nazarene--they have two daughters.

Since, your retirement what has kept you busy? 
We bought a home here in Mason and I finished the lower level and have enjoyed the building projects.  My favorite exercise is riding my tricumbent bicycle--it is a Terratrike WizWheel Cruiser -- and I rode over 1300 miles this year on it.  I even rode the other day when it was 11 degrees outside.  Come on over and we can go for a ride together!  We love camping and have especially enjoyed the sandy beaches of the West Coast--known as 'The Third Coast'--of Michigan near Muskegon.  There are over 3200 miles of coastline in Michigan.

I am involved in the local church which includes my position on staff and participation in the prayer program of the church.  I also serve as the greeter/ambassador at the front door as the people leave church--I call it 'working the door.'   I do occasional teaching in SS for short periods of time as well.

We also enjoy going to visit our children and camping and traveling to occasional speaking engagements.  I have spoken at local church weekend series, did Bible study at camp meeting on the Michigan District this summer, served as assistant to the Holy Spirit at the ENC faculty retreat in November, and resourced a pastors' prayer day on the Mid-Atlantic District.  We especially enjoy coming to NTS Faculty Retreat.

What do you miss most about NTS?
I miss the stimulation of being together with the great band of human beings whom God has called to teach at NTS.  The conversation and the social times are priceless.  I also miss chapel--it was such an important piece of my own spiritual formation across the years.  There were few greater preachers in chapel than my own colleagues--I loved hearing them preach.  I miss the faculty coffee hours and the stimulation of being taught by my own students.

What is a favorite “NTS memory” of yours?
I often reflect on the grand humor on the day of Dr. James McGraw's funeral when the funeral cortege almost dead-ended in the Kansas City Zoo parking lot.  I enjoyed the repartee and puns of the facile-minded and facile-tongued orators who made up the faculty over the years--put Bassett and Orjala and Galloway together and you have first-class 'pun'ishment.  I enjoyed playing table tennis with the students.  I enjoyed the days of mentoring small groups in the spiritual formation program.  I even enjoyed the day when I was asked to read Scripture at the dedication of the elevator--so what do you read at such an auspicious event? 

What books would you recommend to alums and pastors?
Eugene Peterson's, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, has captured my imagination as he builds the vision of the Kingdom.  I keep returning to Finally Comes the Poet by Walter Brueggeman as a stimulus to solid theological thinking put into attractive format--"to hang the holy possible in front of an audience and lead them to the wonderful moment when they say, 'If it were true, it would do.'  To pass from that to belief is the work of the Holy Spirit, not of the preacher or the teacher."  Also, Joseph Sittler in Gravity and Grace.

How can we pray for you?
Please pray that we will let grace flow even more freely in and through our lives as we age--until our heritage to our children and grandchildren will be grace-centered and grace-prone and grace-filled.