Doctor Soza's ministry resume

CURRICULUM VITAE (September, 2009)
 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Joel R. Soza (DTh)
6166 Sunscape Dr.
Louisville, Ohio 44641
(330) 456-9416 (H)
(330) 471-8217 (W)
(440) 225-1497 (C)
e-mail: jsoza@malone.edu

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Birthday: August 7, 1961.
Family: Married on Nov.18, 1989 to Migdalia Ventura.
Son Joseph born on Sept.19, 1993.
Daughter Shari born on Jan.1, 2001.
Health: Excellent.
Interests: Physical fitness/outdoor activities, music (writing, performance, recording),
computers/technology/trades, reading, Spanish language, and travel.

MinistryAffiliation: Ordained with the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God since 1994.

PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE

To teach biblical and cognate studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels in such a fashion so as to motivate students in the discipline of religious academics while simultaneously creating interest in the life of faith. Aside from holding a faculty position, I also desire to be involved in scholarly pursuits and itinerant ministry in the context of the local church. I would like to employ the skills, gifts, training, and call to the ministry of pastoring, preaching, teaching, music, and scholarship that could be applied to a broad array of ministry contexts, such as: interim-pastoring, pulpit supply, revivals, seminars, retreats, conferences, concerts, special occasions, and so forth.

EDUCATION

DTh (2005) in Old Testament through the University of South Africa (with resident studies in Durham, England in 1994-1995).

Master of Arts with Honors in New Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio (1989-1994).

Master of Arts with Honors in Old Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio (1989-1993).

13 completed courses for ordination in the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God through Berean Bible College (A/G) (1985-1994).

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio (1979-1984).

TEACHING AND ACADEMIC WORK EXPERIENCE (chronological order)

Associate Professor of Old Testament at Malone University, Canton, Ohio (2006-present).

Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Malone College, Canton, Ohio (1998-2006).

Adjunct Instructor of Biblical Literature at Malone College, Canton, Ohio (1996-1998).

Adjunct Instructor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio (1995-1998).

Teaching Assistant of Old Testament and Hebrew language at Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio (1991-1994).

Teacher for the Ohio District Council School of Ministry (OSOM) (2006-present).

Served as a dissertation and committee advisor for Gregory Black, DMin. candidate for Regent University (2006-2007).

Teacher of Church History at Northcoast (A/G) School of Theology, Lorain, Ohio (1993-1994).

Pastor/Teacher of Crossroads Christian Center (A/G), Oberlin, Ohio (2003-2005).

Pastor/Teacher of New Life Assembly of God, Wellington, Ohio (1991-2002).

Assistant and Youth Pastor of various Assembly of God churches (1989-1991).

Courses taught at institutes of higher education:

Graduate level:

Undergraduate level:

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE (in order of priority, not chronology)

Sh'ma Ministries creator. Sh'ma Ministries is a personal itinerant ministry which involves preaching, teaching, biblical scholarship, military chaplaincy, music, and publishing. Instituted in 2005. Web site (www.shemaministries.net), workbooks, brochures, and business cards are all available.

Senior Pastor of New Life Assembly of God, Wellington, Ohio (1991-1994). Responsible for overall operation of the church and pulpit ministry. The church grew numerically by 20% during the three year pastorate.

Military Chaplain (Reserves) serving the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (1991-2004). Assignments included Naval Reserve Center, Cleveland, the 3rd Battalion 25th Marines 4th Marine Division, and the 9th Coast Guard District.

Associate Pastor at Crossroads Christian Center (A/G), Oberlin, Ohio (2003-2005). Taskings included preaching, teaching, and worship leading.

Assistant Pastor at New Life Assembly of God, Wellington, Ohio (1995-2002). Taskings included preaching, teaching, counseling, visitation, planning, and worship leading.

Youth Pastor at Litchfield Assembly of God, Litchfield, Ohio (1990). Led the weekly youth program.

Christian Education Director at New Life Assembly of God, Wellington, Ohio (1990-1991). Supervised Sunday School, Missionette, and Royal Ranger programs.

Evangelism Pastor at Church on the Northcoast (A/G), Lorain, Ohio (1989). Coordinated outreach and evangelism programs to inaugurate the Assemblies of God ‘Decade of Harvest’.

Itinerant pulpit supply preacher at various Assembly of God churches (1989-1991).

Missions coordinator for three short-term missions trips to Mexico. Responsibilities included planning, logistics, supervision, and provision for ministry for mission teams. Also assisted in a six week church planting operation in Machias, Maine (1985-1989).

Served as lay leader of a single adult group at Calvary Chapel Assembly of God in Strongsville, Ohio (1986-1987).

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

Ordained minister with the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God (since 1994).

The Society of Biblical Literature (since 1994), including active involvement in the Eastern Great Lakes Bible Society (EGLBS).

The Institute for Biblical Research (since 1996).

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS/SCHOLARSHIP

‘Jeremiah’ article for The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 2000.

‘Lamentations’ article for The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 2000.

‘Repentance’ article for The Dictionary of the Old Testament (Pentateuch), Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 2003.

‘Jeroboam’ article for The Dictionary of the Old Testament (Historical Books), Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 2005.

Commentary notes on Jeremiah and Lamentations for the Wesley Study Bible (WSB), Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 2009.

Food and God: A Theological Approach to Eating, Diet, and Weight Control, published by Wipf & Stock, Eugene, OR in May, 2009.

‘Some Striking Theology in the Story of Moses’ article, unpublished, 2009.

‘Your Perfect Rest’ CD single. Professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered at Audioworks Recording Center, Parma Hts., Ohio. Duplicated and packaged by RT Duplication, Westlake, Ohio. This is an original worship song that has being included on two nationally marketed Gospel CD’s: Heaven is My Home (Hilltop Records), 2006, and Songs of Praise (Amerecord), 2005.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Presented the new Master of Arts program for Malone University to 500 ministers of the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God for the purpose of training and recruiting in graduate theological education (May, 2007).

Presented a lecture entitled Paul, the Intellectual Mind of Our Greatest Missionary to the “Our Gathering” assembly of Ohio District Council U.S. & world missionaries (June 16, 2008).

Appeared as a guest on various Christian radio programs (fund raising for Mexico mission in 1987 and history of the English Bible lecture in 2006) (book promotion on AM 1220 WHKW Living the Word radio show with Glenn Mertz, July 10, 2009). Also appeared on WDLI-TV 17 as a guest for the Trinity Broadcasting Network on December 11, 2008 to speak on the topic of the birth of Jesus and the Old Testament.

Read a paper entitled Some ‘Striking’ Theology in the Story of Moses to the Hebrew Scriptures section of the Eastern Great Lakes Bible Society (EGLBS) (March, 2009).

Convened a session of the Hebrew Scriptures section of the Eastern Great Lakes Bible Society (EGLBS) (March, 2009).

Sabbatical presentation delivered to Malone University on the topic of my recent book Food and God: A Theological Approach to Eating, Diet, and Weight Control (Sept, 2009).

Preaching/teaching in many varied contexts.

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE FOR MALONE UNIVERSITY

Member of Seminary Task Force (2000-2001).

Member of Graduate Christian Ministries committee (2001-present).

World View Forum moderator: Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants (2000).

Chair of ad hoc committee on promotion and tenure (2004-2005).

Member of committee on student evaluations of faculty (2005).

Served on various peer review committees (2000-present).

Mentor to new faculty (2003-2004).

Mentor in the School of Theology mentoring program (2004-2005).

Served on committee for student scholarship day (2005).

Representative for School of Theology on discovery days (2005-present).

Mentor to the School of Theology student group Koinonia en Chari (2005-2009).

Elected to faculty Senate on Sept.27, 2005 for a two year replacement term.

Served as Parliamentarian for faculty Senate and full faculty (2006-2007 school year).

Served on Chapel committee (2006-2009).

Appointed to serve as director of the Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (MACM) graduate program 2006-2009.

First to teach at Willoughby Hills First Friends Church for the purpose of establishing a satellite campus with a high profile Evangelical Friends church (fall, 2006).

Played guitar for faculty chapel band (2007-2008).

Chapel preacher (twice).

Served as Dean of the School of Theology during the regular Dean’s sabbatical (Spring, 2007).

Initiated the new Assembly of God concentration for the Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (Fall, 2007).

Elected to serve a three year term on the Promotion and Tenure Review Committee (2008-2011).

Panelist for the tenure, promotion, and portfolio discussion on April 21, 2008.

Winner of the week 8 Malone fitness challenge (March, 2009).

MILITARY SERVICE

Honorably discharged from the enlisted ranks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve after serving in combat arms (1978-1984). Also served as an endorsed reserve military chaplain by the General Council of the Assemblies of God to the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard from 1991-2004. Tours of duty include the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, the Fleet Hospital of the Naval Reserve Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and the 9th Coast Guard district.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Cast in a leading role in the musical theatrical production of It’s a Wonderful Life. The play was conducted by Celebration Church at North High School in Akron, Ohio on Dec.21&22, 2007 for the purpose of outreach and evangelism.

Pulpit supply preacher and teacher and youth worker for my home church (Celebration Church) in Akron, Ohio (2006-present).

Pastoral ministry in a part-time capacity (1995-2005) in the communities of Wellington, and Oberlin, Ohio.

Reserve Military Chaplain to the Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard (1991-2004).

Salvation Army volunteer worker in the inner cities of Cleveland, Akron, and Nashville (1993-present).

Guest Judge for the Christian Communicators of Ohio (CCO) Debate and Speech Competition and Program (2009-present).

Training to compete in the Senior Games track and field events, with a particular emphasis on the 100 and 200 meter sprints and the discus and javelin throws.

SECULAR EMPLOYMENT

Gardener, restaurant worker, loading dock maintenance, sales representative and marketing manager for family wholesale business, and pain clinic therapist (1975-1989).

REFERENCES

Rev. Robert Crabtree (former Ohio District Council A/G Superintendent)
5225 Saint Andrews Dr
Westerville, Ohio 43082-7714
(614) 794-0986 (H)
e-mail: robertcrabtree@msn.com

Rev. John Bunney (former Ohio A/G Executive and District presbyter)
36977 Chester Rd
Avon, Ohio 44011-1067
(440) 934-5724
e-mail: jmbunney@centurytel.net

Rev. David Snyder (Ohio A/G North Central Section Presbyter)
1308 Melody Ln
Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5604
(419) 626-3523 (O)
(419) 625-1157 (H)
e-mail: snitz1308@aol.com

Rev. Santo Davila (Pastor of Crossroads Christian Center A/G, Oberlin, Ohio)
3411 Meister Rd
Lorain, Ohio 44053-1136
(440) 775-4451 (O)
(440) 960-2490 (H)

Dr. Larry Reinhart (Dean of the School of Theology, Malone University, Canton, Ohio)
Malone University School of Theology
2600 Cleveland Ave
Canton, Ohio 44709-3897
(330) 471-8198 (O)
e-mail: lreinhart@malone.edu

Rev. John Wooton (Ohio District Council A/G Superintendent)
5713 Decker Dr.
New Albany, Ohio  43054
(614) 396-0700
e-mail: john@ohioag.org

Rev. Jeffrey Wade (Pastor of Celebration Church A/G, Akron, Ohio)
2958 Fox Burrow Dr.
Stow, Ohio  44224
(330) 678-2534
e-mail: pastorwade@ccakron.org