Walter H. Norvell, Ph.D.

Life Verse:

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:17-18 NIV

Personal Mission Statement:

I am on mission to train the next generation of Christian educators to seek God and expand His kingdom.

Education:

· B.A. in Sociology from Union University, Jackson, TN

· M.S. in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

· M.A.R.E from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX

· Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. Concentrations in Foundations, Church Administration, and Youth Ministry

Academic Interests

· How people learn

· How teachers can help students learn more effectively

· Spiritual Transformation

· The role of the Holy Spirit in teaching and learning

Ministry Interests

• Ministry to parents
• Men’s Ministry
• Mentoring
• Ministry to Dads
• Raising Sons

Family:

· Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee

· Married to Mary Dailey Norvell for thirty years.

· Two sons:

o Jonathan, a former high school teacher and presently a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Married to Lydia Dickinson Norvell.

o David Norvell, recent graduate of Howard Payne University and in his first year teaching in elementary education.

· Leisure Time Interests:

o Fishing

o Camping

o Gardening

o Antiques and flea markets

Work Experience:

· Twenty years experience on church staff in Memphis and Fort Worth, serving in positions related to education, children’s ministry, and youth ministry.

· Served on faculty and staff at Dallas Baptist University for two and a half years.

· Served on faculty at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for three and a half years.

Christian Experience:

· Saved at age 9.

· Responded to a call to ministry at age 16.

· Licensed by Frayser Baptist Church and ordained by Havenview Baptist Church, both of Memphis

· Conference leadership in churches, associations, and state conventions in Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Conference leader at LifeWay Ridgecrest and LifeWay Glorieta Conference Centers.

Writing Experience:

· Written extensively in Bible studies and discipleship resources for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention in youth Sunday School, youth discipleship, youth leadership, and children’s discipleship. Recently contributed to Transforming Student Ministry: Research Calling for Change, Richard Ross, general editor, Nashville, LifeWay Church Resources, 2005.

· Written extensively for missions education through the North American Mission Board for Challengers.

· Academic Writing:

§ “Biblical Foundations for the Teaching Ministry of the Church” in the Midwestern Journal of Theology. Terry Wilder, ed. Kansas City, MO: Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Vol. 1; No. 1 & 2 (Spring 2003): 84-93.

§ “The Biblical Imperative of Teaching: Why Christian Education Should Be On the Cutting Edge of the Church’s Mission Today.” Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (NOBTS), Fall 2003, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 94. Found online at http://www.baptistcenter.com/BCTM%20Journal.htm

§ Contributed entry in the Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education, Michael J. Anthony, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.

§ “Three Requirements for Following Jesus” a sermon in the Midwestern Journal of Theology, vol. 3, no. 1, Fall issue, 2004.

About My Teaching:

Students often tell me that I am hard but practical. I think that is a reliable evaluation of my teaching style. I require lots of work from my students and I have very high expectations of them. I do not stress testing in my courses but instead give assignments that show me students have acquired advances in knowing, understanding, attitudes, and skills. I am a very visual teacher and I value hands-on experiences. I am very personal in my teaching style because I believe that God often uses the teacher’s own life as the lesson. I try to focus on the development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills that will prepare students for serving Christ regardless of their vocational choices later in life. I try to teach to a variety of learnIng styles and often allow students choices in selecting assignments. I believe that what we know forms the basis for our attitudes and beliefs, then those attitudes and beliefs form the basis for our behavior. The test of a truly educated person in the Christian tradition is the degree to which that person’s life reflects Christ.

Just for Fun Personal Favorites:

Current Read: Holy Wow: Boost Your Youth Ministry Creativity by Jeff White

Month: October

Ice Cream: Any favor of Blue Bell

Fishing Holes: Public access just down stream of Mammoth Spring, AR and Bennett Springs State Park near Lebanon, MO.

Fruit: Watermelon

Fantasy Movie: All the “LOTR” movies

Color: blue

Bible Translation: NIV (but the new HCSB is gaining ground quickly)

Christian Writers: C. S. Lewis and Charles Colson

Meal: Japanese Rice (an old family recipe)

“New” Movie: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Read the book THEN see the movie!)

Recent Movies Watched:

• The Island: Wonderful case against human cloning
• King Kong: A huge movie (3 very long hours!) about a huge ape
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: My hero’s great work set to cinema. A must-see!
• Cinderella Man: A movie about character, sacrifice, self-control, determination, love. Brutal at times and rough language but worth it all!

Hymn: “Stayed Upon Jehovah”

Contemporary Christian song: “I Can Only Imagine”

Music styles: CCC, classical, bluegrass

Book of the Bible: the one I am currently studying (but pushed hard, the gospel of Mark)

Walter Norvell, wnorvell@wbcoll.edu, Last updated: Monday, January 09, 2006.