Dr. King Greeting 2019 Graduate and Family
Background and Testimony of Faculty Member, Dr. Thomas King
Dr. King's father was an ordained minister in the Christian Church, and served congregations within the U.S. until his death in 1975. During three years of that ministry, Dr. King's parents served as missionaries in Paraguay, South America. His mother has published a book describing the family's adventures on the mission field: I Swam with Piranhas (and still have my toes).
Dr. King was born in San Diego, California in 1960. As a result of the pastorates which his father served, as well as missionary service, Dr. King grew up having lived in New Jersey, New York, Costa Rica (Central America), Paraguay (South America), Washington State, Texas, and Oregon.
Dr. King's junior and senior high school years were spent in Springfield, Oregon. He met his wife, Janine, during his junior year of high school, and they became married four years later. His undergraduate work (B.A., Pastoral Ministries) was done at the University of Oregon and Northwest Christian College in Eugene, OR. He then attended seminary (M.Div.) at Brite Divinity School/Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX. Following seminary, Dr. King served as associate minister of a Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV for two years. Then his family moved to Concord, California where he completed a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (Old Testament) at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Dr. King and his family were introduced to the Church of the Nazarene while living in Concord, CA. They were active in the Concord Church of the Nazarene during the eight years of their stay in California. In 1996, Dr. King's family moved to Colorado Springs, and he joined the faculty at Nazarene Bible College where he is currently in his 24th year of service.
Dr. King and his wife have three daughters and four grandchildren. Both Dr. and Mrs. King are ordained elders in the Church of the Nazarene. Mrs. King is also a licensed professional counselor.
Dr. King shares this personal testimony regarding his introduction to Nazarene Bible College:
During the final two years of my formal education in California, my wife and I began to pray about where the Lord would have us serve. I was impressed to pray that the Lord would place me in a position in which I would help to prepare individuals who had been called to ministry. As I approached graduation from the GTU, the Lord led me to apply for a teaching position which was available at Nazarene Bible College. That time of application was the first time our family had ever heard of NBC. As we became acquainted with the college, I discovered that its primary purpose is to prepare men and women for ministry. Upon joining the faculty at NBC, I knew that God had answered our prayers! It continues to be a great source of joy and fulfillment to teach Old Testament biblical studies for those pursuing a call to ministry.
Dr. Thomas King, Chair of the Bible and Theology Core Program