J. Vernon McGee
 |
J Vernon McGee | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Vernon McGee June 17, 1904 |
| Died | December 1, 1988 (aged 84) |
| Resting place | Pasadena, California |
| Education | B.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary; Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary |
| Occupation(s) | Minister; Founder of and teacher on the "Thru the Bible Radio Network" program. |
| Spouse | Ruth |
| Website | Thru the Bible |
John Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, (June 17, 1904 – December 1, 1988) was an ordained Presbyterian minister (PCUS) who later pastored an interdenominational church and was also a radio minister.
Biography
He was born in Hillsboro, Texas. He graduated with his B.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary and his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas. He served Presbyterian churches in Decatur, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cleburne, Texas before he moved with his wife to Pasadena, California, where he accepted a position at the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church.
He moved from Pasadena to Los Angeles and became the pastor of the Church of the Open Door in 1949, where he continued as pastor until 1970. McGee also served as the chair of the Bible department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (currently Biola University) and as a visiting lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary.
In 1967, he began the "Thru the Bible Radio Network" program. In a systematic study of each book of the Bible, Dr. McGee took his listeners from Genesis to Revelation in a two and one-half year "Bible bus trip," as he called it. After retiring from the pastorate in 1970, McGee began another study of the entire Bible in a five year period. Dr. McGee died in 1988, but the five year program of Thru the Bible continues to air on over 400 radio stations in North America, and is heard in more than 100 languages and is broadcast worldwide via the radio, shortwave, and the internet.
Education and Areas of Service
| Degree | Year | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) | 1930 | Southwestern University; Memphis, Tennessee |
| Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div.) | 1933 | Columbia Theological Seminary |
| Master of Theology (Th.M.) | 1937 | Dallas Theological Seminary |
| Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) | 1940 | Dallas Theological Seminary |
| Years | Congregation | Location | Denomination |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19??-19?? | ?? | Decatur, Georgia | Presbyterian |
| 19??-19?? | ?? | Nashville, Tennessee | Prsbyterian |
| 19??-1940 | First Presbyterian Church | Cleburne, Texas | Presbyterian |
| 1940-1948 | Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church | Pasadena, California | Presbyterian |
| 1949-1970 | Church of the Open Door | Los Angeles, California | Interdenominational |
| Years | Program | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1941-1967 | The Open Bible Hour | Pasadena, California |
| 1967-1988 | Thru the Bible | Pasadena, California |
Additional areas of service:
- Head of the English Bible Department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (currently Biola University)
- Visiting lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary