About John Turner
- faithful disciple of Jesus Christ
- passionate student and teacher of the Bible
- over thirty years of pastoral experience
- visionary leader of the church
- writer and resource developer
John has served churches in Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Indiana.
John awakens people to:
- the richness and divine authority of the Bible
- the wonders of God’s holiness, love, wisdom, and power
- the high calling of Christ
- methods of learning and teaching God’s word
- letting the Bible speak for itself
John’s Bible study methods include:
- historical background
- literary structure
- meaning of the original words
- biblical context
- the leading of the Holy Spirit for applying passages today
Where you can learn from John:
- his writings on this Website
- his teachings at a church or parachurch event
- his mentoring and table-talks at Christview Ministries Center
John’s other interests:
- history of spiritual revivals
- worship that bridges cultural and generational lines
- nature hikes
- current events
- sports
- good books and interesting conversation
Skills Summary
- Set visionary goals, maintain a steady course, demonstrate reliable commitment, work well at blending and harmonizing diverse preferences within the boundaries of evangelical Christian faith and values.
- Model a strong faith, belief in prayer, and calm presence in the face of crisis; help people apply the resources of faith to personal situations; demonstrate mature discernment.
- Teach biblical content, biblical scholarship, and biblical theology; respond to questions and needs of students; promote student involvement in learning; impart skills for continued learning.
- Preach, teach, and write solid Christian messages, usually focused on foundational issues.
Experience
- Served as co-founder and convener for Disciples Alive, an organization for evangelical Disciples in Indiana. Helped group define mission, values, and priorities; wrote articles for former website. Coordinated successful multi-ethnic “Word Feast” conference (2002): arranged theme presentations from preachers and evangelical seminary professor, guided worship leaders and musicians, oversaw book table, consulted on logistics and publicity.
- Reviewed Bible commentaries for page on denominational website (approximately 1999-2001).
- Taught five-year through-the-Bible intensive training for laity at Warren Hills Christian Church (approximately 1996-2000).
- Taught four-year through-the-Bible survey for Licensed Ministry Training Program of the Arkansas region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (approximately 1988-1991).
- Reviewed books, wrote devotionals, etc., for newspapers in Tennessee and Arkansas. (approximately 1974-1991).
- Throughout my ministry I have taught courses on specific Bible books and on biblical themes, both within and beyond the local congregation. This includes work in other congregations, in denominational events, in congregations of other denominations, and in ecumenical events (approximately 1972-present).
This experience was acquired while serving congregations in the following settings:
- July 1992-July 2004: Warren Hills Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN
- August 1986-June 1992: First Christian Church, Benton, AR
- April 1984-May 1986: New Ventures Christian Church, Little Rock, AR
- February 1978-March 1984: Pulaski Heights Christian Church, Little Rock, AR
- June 1974-January 1978: Bethany Christian Church, Jackson, TN
- September 1972-May 1974: Collinwood United Methodist Church, Collinwood, TN
- Summers 1969-1972: United Methodist Churches in Tennessee and Kansas
Education
Informal Education
- Spiritual awakening, most strongly in 1978-1990.
- Re-working of perspective on biblical scholarship, ongoing 1984-2004.
- Self-taught knowledge of the history of revivals, hymns and worship songs.
Formal Education
- Master of Divinity degree, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, 1971-1974. Major in church history, minor in Bible. Full academic scholarship.
- Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Major in political science, minor in history. Full academic scholarship. Supplemental scholarships for work in campus organizations. Maroon Key Honor Society. Graduated with honors.