Name: Paul Sanchez
Graduation Year(s): 2009
Major(s): Bible/Theology, Minor: History
Current Position/Job Title: Assistant Director of the Honors Program, Assistant Professor of Religion at Oklahoma Baptist University
City and State: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
I am blessed to serve as a professor at a Christian liberal arts university where I teach theology and history. I also serve as an administrator for our university’s Honors program where we lead students through a curriculum of the classical texts of the western tradition. As a former pastor, I continue to be active in gospel ministry through regular preaching and teaching in the local church context.
Tell us one achievement or accomplishment that stands out in your career!
I have come to enjoy writing as a ministry. I am in the later stage of publishing a book with a university press that explores the history behind the rise of theological liberalism, and I am in process on another book that explores the history of evangelical Christianity in California, including the story of the Azusa Street Revival, the Jesus People Movement, and many other interesting episodes.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a student?
My favorite memories took place in the classroom where several professors provided formative insight, spiritual encouragement, and intellectual cultivation. Professors like Drs. Medina, Johns, and Pincombe opened a new world to me, a world of ideas where I could glorify God not only with my heart and body, but also with my mind.
How did your school help you identify/develop your calling?
When I arrived at CBC, I had a relatively clear sense of calling toward pastoral ministry, and I had the privilege of serving as a lead pastor for several years. But it was there that I also began to sense a calling toward the life of the mind, which I lived as a pastor and now pursue more extensively as a university professor. That seed was planted and began to grow while at college in Springfield.
How did your experience as a student prepare you for life after graduation?
My time at CBC (now Evangel) was highly formative for me. It was there that I not only learned new ideas and skills, but I also developed the crucial habits that have defined my life. I learned how to communicate, to reason, and to discipline myself to live a healthy and devoted life.
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
My most direct advice to students is to avoid thinking of college as a place to learn a set of facts or skills necessary for any particular job. A good education teaches students to learn and how to be. A person who has received this kind of education can do more than learn a series of skills. He or she can innovate, grow, and live a flourishing life that is not only successful in a career, but who also can have an impact one’s community, in the church, and in the home.
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
I would look for students who are learners, who demonstrate genuine curiosity, and suggest other important virtues like humility. Skills are good, specific majors are good, but I would be looking for well-rounded students who have an ongoing capacity and desire to grow.