George Fox University | Academics | Departments | Religious Studies | Faculty | Ron Stansell

Speciality: Missions


Education
B.A., George Fox University; M.Div., Western Evangelical Seminary; D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. George Fox University 1985-

I have lived a major portion of my adult life outside of the United States in cross-cultural ministry, and that has greatly colored my perspective and purposes in life. I spent 18 years as a missionary in Bolivia and Peru and then began at George Fox University in 1985.

I married Carolyn (Hampton) after she graduated from George Fox. Our three adult daughters are Sara, Anita, and Debra. They all have strong international interests. I was and raised on a farm near Homedale, Idaho, just three miles from Idaho's border with Oregon in the southwest corner of the state. I made a personal commitment to Christ shortly before starting high school at Greenleaf Friends Academy and felt drawn to international ministry during a mission serve trip to Latin America just after college graduation.

My area of expertise in teaching is courses such as history and biblical basis for the world Christian movement, issues in missions, cross-cultural communication, and world religions. To prepare for that teaching, I first completed a master of divinity degree and later a doctor of missiology degree.

In Bolivia, I taught, wrote curriculum, directed and administered programs of pastoral training, and helped inaugurate a Department of Theology at the Bolivian Evangelical University in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I especially enjoyed several years work as an exegetical advisor for a translation team working on the Old Testament in Aymara, a language spoken in the highlands of Bolivia and Peru.

I feel my special calling and passion has been to develop leadership for cross-cultural ministries. I feel a special joy every time I can help a student find his or her way into short- or long-term service abroad. Several of my courses serve both international studies majors and Christian ministries/missions majors. I have done some focused research on cross-cultural education and the work of spiritual formation in intercultural settings.

To keep up to date with the world of missions, Carolyn and I travel regularly to Africa, Asia, and Latin America in a volunteer position with the Evangelical Friends International Council, of which I am director. We have met with church leaders in Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Central and South America and central Africa. I also serve on the boards of two mission agencies: Northwest Yearly Meeting Board of Missions (Oregon) and Evangelical Friends Mission (Colorado).

-Ron