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Thank You, Dr. Ervin!
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If you haven't had a chance to send in your thoughts, please take a moment to do so! E-mail to alumni@oru.edu.
Dear Dr. Ervin,
I thank God for you and the opportunity to be under your instruction. I deeply appreciate your insight regarding Scripture and the Holy Spirit. I am eternally grateful that I took the class when I did. I am grateful because if I had waited much longer I would have missed God's blessing through your life. Not only was your insight powerful, your character was influential upon the whole class. I understand more clearly the difference between John's insight on the Holy Sprit and Luke's insight. So many theologians and pastors have missed this insight and difference. Now it is easier to explain the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a second experience.
I also appreciate your attitude when people differed from you. If they could defend themselves with good exegesis in Scripture, they would be fine.
I had the best class on pneumatology that I ever had when I came to ORU and you taught it. It was confirmation that I should be at ORU. I learned more about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the difference between John and Luke's gospels and their intentions on the Holy Spirit. I was challenged and inspired by your exegesis. Although I only had you for two weeks, I was educated in more ways than one.
Sincerely,
Danny L. Trussell
(Associate Alumnus, Fall 1976)
Dear Dr. Ervin,
Your life, teachings, and example have helped mold my Christian foundation. I loved coming to your home for Bible Study and your family has meant so very much to me! Marta has always welcomed me so graciously into your home. Each of your daughters are special to me! Thank you for the impartation of the Holy Spirit you shared with each of us.
I live in Colorado Springs and attend Freedom Church pastored by Dr. Dutch Sheets. I was ordained to the ministry June 5, 2006, and have Living From the Heart Ministries, doing counseling prayer for inner healing and some teaching. My two children are adults now and I have three precious grandchildren. I continue to work as an RN in hospice work.
Thank you again for all you have given me. May the Lord richly bless you and your family!
Lovingly in Jesus,
Janie Dacus Ganyard '74
I came to the original ORU Graduate School of Theology in 1967 as an M.Div. student. I took Hebrew from Dr. Ervin for three years. I started to work at ORU Registrar's Office in 1969. I lived in Jenks, America. On one of the summer days I came to the office on a 350 Honda motorbike. Dr. Ervin was walking through the campus to his office. As soon as I settled down to my office, the phone rang. A draggy voice came through the phone and said, "Maaathews, don't ride on that motorbike again." Although he did not give me his name, I knew who it was and I responded, "Yes, sir." The same day right on campus I gave that motorbike to one of our students from Texas who didn't have a car.
After working at ORU, my family and I left for India in 1980. Early 2007 ORU called me back to give me an award. I went to see Dr. Ervin at his home. He recognized me. The couple of hours I was able to spend with him were very meaningful. Before I left him I knelt down before him, he put his hands on me, and we had a wonderful time of prayer. He gave me copies of his books. I thank the Lord for Dr. Ervin's life.
Our contact person in USA is Ann Tranberg, India Practical Missions, P.O. Box 691552, Tulsa, OK 74169, tel. 918/437-0654. Our address in India is Bethany Educational Society, Vennikulam Post, P.O. Box 2, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India 689 544, tel. 0469 265 0578 (O), 265 1675 (R), mathewsandrachel@gmail.com, www.bethanyacademy.com. Pray for us, as we do for you that the Kingdom of God will continue to grow in our country and in us. God bless you.
Mathews Chacko
Words are inadequate to express the gratitude I hold for Dr. Ervin. He and his wife were a tangible expression of God's love in my life. Dr. Ervin's wisdom and faith were a beacon through a very dark season of my life. Seldom does a day pass without an expression of gratitude for his faithfulness to the Body.
Dr. Ervin, thank you for serving with such tenacious humility those of us who needed an expression of grace and truth.
Blessings
Allen Jackson
ORU 1980
To Dr. Ervin:
I remember you always calling the ladies "Daughters of Eve" especially when you laughed at something we said and always reiterating "text without context is pretext" in that emphatic way of yours.
I have missed you most of all and one other professor since I left ORU. You were so caring and gentle with all your students but firm in our academics. I do hope you and your wife enjoy your retirement.
May God richly bless and keep you.
Love In Christ,
Helen L. Krebs
1999 M.Div., 2003 MA
Dr. Ervin,
I was privileged to sit under you in the early 90s and your classes stand out to me the most, just sorry I could not take more. You showed me that the charisms could be discussed in academia with credibility and w/ compelling theological support found in Scripture. I sense your work is going to withstand generations and generations to come. I still believe ORU is one of [the] best seminaries because of the grounded wisdom of the faculty.
Some of your comments in class I still find myself pondering and your wisdom has blessed my life in what I do now as a full-time writer. Thank you for introducing me to the book Flatland, for your faithful study and stewardship of God's Word, and for loving to teach students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge selflessly. I know you will be greatly missed but not forgotten.
God bless you in this next season of life,
Tracey D. Lawrence
1998-MA
Scribe Ink, Inc.
303.853.0227
www.scribeink.com
It is an honor to have an opportunity to share my memories of Dr. Ervin. The seminary faculty includes many prestigious scholars, excellent teachers and knowledgeable, caring men and women of God, but even in their midst Dr. Ervin stands out. For me listening to him was like reading a great book that you did not want to end. The wisdom, knowledge and love of God was uttered in his every word. On my visits to Tulsa since graduation from ORU, I try to see Dr. Ervin, desiring more of his teaching and wisdom. I am never disappointed. Certainly he has paid his dues and deserves the rest. However it is to the misfortune of the students to come.
Yvette Forbes 2003
Dear Fellow Alumni of ORU:
I read with a keen sense of joy your article on pg. 17 of the recent issue of Excellence regarding Dr. Howard Ervin's retirement from ORU. I had no idea that he had stayed on the faculty at my alma mater for a career of such Biblical proportions. What a privilege it must have been for a full generation of ORU theology students to learn at his feet!
I distinctly remember a rare appearance that the good professor made as preacher at chapel in the Mabee Center while I was there in the early '70s. He spoke with such erudition and, at the same time, with such conviction that I was utterly enthralled. I recall the queer sense of awe that I felt at the majesty of Christ as I listened to Dr. Ervin's description of the Pantocrator, the image of the Almighty on the dome of the Byzantine Church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It was a sermon so unlike the standard fare of the time. When he finished speaking, I jumped to my feet in a one-man standing ovation, only to find that the rest of the student body were somewhat less impressed with the talk.
Bravo, Dr. Ervin! Go with God!
The Rev. Fr. Lawrence B. "Chip" Wheeler
B.A. (Eng. Lit.), ORU Class of 1976
Vicar, Holy Cross Anglican Mission
Honolulu, Hawaii
www.hawaiianglican.org
