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EMC General Conference 2002
Speakers
Drs. Paul & Kay Rader, Conference Speakers

Dr. Paul A. Rader is president of Asbury College, an independent, four-year, Christian, liberal arts institution located in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dr. Rader was born in New York in 1934 and spent his undergraduate years at Asbury College (Class of 1956), then pursued studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating with BA, BD and M Th. degrees. Later he earned a Doctor of Missiology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. In 1997 he was invested with the Order of Diplomatic Service Kwang Hwa medal by the president of the Republic of Korea for his service to the Christian mission in Korea and around the world.

While at Asbury, he met and married his wife, Kay, who upon graduating with a BA degree taught public school. She is the daughter of Rev. J. O. Fuller, a Methodist minister. Both of them have received honorary doctorates from Asbury College, Asbury Theological Seminary, Greenville College and Roberts Wesleyan College.

Dr. Rader was elected to the highest office of The Salvation Army as worldwide leader in 1994, after a 33-year career as a missionary, preacher, educator and administrator. In prior assignments with The Salvation Army, Dr. Rader and his wife both held positions of leadership on the east and west coasts of the United States and for 22 years, they served as missionary officers in Korea.

The Raders are the parents of three children, and the grandparents of seven.
Dr. John Oswalt, Seminar Speaker

Dr. Oswalt, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, is Research Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He began his term of service at Wesley Biblical in July 1999. Prior to that he was Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1989-1999. This was his second term on that faculty, having first served from 1970-1982. In the interim he was president of Asbury College, 1983-1986, and member of the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois (1986-1989). He is married to the former Karen Kennedy and they have three children.

Dr. Oswalt holds degrees from Taylor University, Upland, Indiana; Asbury Theological Seminary; and Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. From Brandeis he received the Ph.D. in Mediterranean Studies. His particular interest is in Old Testament studies with special attention to the Hebrew language and to the formation of Hebrew religion against the background of the ancient Near East.

Dr. Oswalt's writings have appeared in Bible encyclopedias, scholarly journals, and popular religious periodicals. He has written five books, the noteworthy of these being a two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series. His most recent book is Called to Be Holy: A Biblical Perspective on Christian Holiness (Evangel Press: 1999).

Dr. Oswalt is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, with membership in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He has served as part-time pastor to congregations in New England and Kentucky, and is a frequent speaker in conferences, camps and local churches.

Phil & Kim Collingsworth, Music & Worship Leaders

Phil and Kim Collingsworth began their music ministry together in August of 1986. They were married in September 1986 and are the parents of four children. They make their home in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Phil earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music Degree from God's Bible School and College, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1986 and completed professional trumpet studies at the College Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. Kim is a 1986 graduate of Union Bible College, Academy Division.

Phil and Kim have traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada performing their style of inspirational music in churches, church camps, banquets, conventions, and concerts. In addition to their ministry on the road, they have ministered with the following responsibilities:

Phil and Kim are now involved in their concert ministry on the road full-time. Most weekends finds their family on the road. When they are home, they are part of the congregation of the First Bible Methodist Church of Burlington, Kentucky.

Margaret Twiford, Children's Ministry Leader

Margaret Twiford, director of a group of teens who go by the name of "No Strings Attached," has been using puppets to tell stories, perform skits and teach with songs and drama for twenty years. Her husband, Louis, is in charge of staging and operates the sound system. The group stays very busy in their hometown of Elizabeth City, NC, as well as traveling several times a year. Margaret is also busy teaching workshops for puppet ministry and other children's ministries. "Puppets are one of the most widely used teaching tools in the world. Put a puppet into action and you have the attention of young and old alike. They can be funny and serious almost in the same sentence." Margaret is planning a special schedule of activities for the children during conference.