Job Title
Director of the Theological Education Initiative
Passion
Having served as a local church pastor, Rod has a passion to use his experiences to help navigate the challenges of next generation ministry leaders. He believes that theology matters. In addition to leading the theological education initiative, he has taught preaching & theology as an adjunct professor at A.W. Tozer Seminary and Bethel Theological Seminary and publishes articles for Preaching Magazine and CT’s Preaching Today.
Education
Dallas Theological Seminary – Master of Theology, 1987
Talbot School of Theology/Biola University – Doctor of Ministry, 2003
Doctoral Project: “Learner-sensitive Preaching: Enhancing the Clarity and Relevance of Sermons for an Emerging Generation
Personal
His wife, Julie, and he were friends and dated in high school before they married in 1984. Their two daughters (Miriam and Hannah), sons-in-law, and grandkids all live nearby. Notably, Rod’s claim to fame is that he was once ranked #212 in Wii NBA Live ’09 online play. Rod likes to brag that he had a wicked hook shot that sometimes went in and if he’d had better coaching he “might” have played in the NBA:) His passion for the local church and transformational communication is only eclipsed by his seasonal insanity during basketball games.
Collected Works
Memoir manuscript, “The Power of a Whisper”
Video presentation & summary of “The Power of a Whisper” memoir.
“Beware of Preaching a Christian Failure Narrative” CT’s Preaching Today
“and the preaching award goes to…” Preaching Magazine, Spring 2026
“3 Things Seeker Church Got Right” Preaching Magazine, Winter 2025
“Meet Jim Engel” CT’s Preaching Today
“Essay on Mentoring” unpublished
“Essay on Validation as a Relational Skill Leaders Need” unpublished
“Essay on Wherewithal” unpublished
“Stop Starting with the Text” CT’s Preaching Today
“DMin Doctoral Project: ‘Learner-Sensitive Preaching'” Biola/Talbot 2023
“Preaching to a Guy Like Rick” Preaching Magazine
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“Make Moves, not Points” Preaching Magazine
“Talk Like Hamilton” unpublished
“If You Love Me” Text: John 21. Sermon.