Dr. Elmer Towns
Dr. Elmer L. Towns was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia; is cofounder, with Jerry Falwell, of Liberty University, is a college and seminary professor, and dean of the School of Religion, and dean of Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. As a nineteen year old, he became a pastor of a local church while attending Columbia Bible College, Columbia, South Carolina; in his many years of ministry he has also been a popular seminar lecturer, best-selling author, authority in Sunday school, Church Growth, spirituality and fasting and has developed over 20 resource packets for leadership education.
He began teaching at Midwest Bible College in St. Louis, Missouri, and was not satisfied with his textbooks so he began writing his own. He has published over 170 books listed in the Library of Congress, 8 listed in the Christian Booksellers Best Selling List; several becoming accepted as college textbooks. He is also the 1995 recipient of the coveted Gold Medallion Award awarded by the Christian Booksellers Association for writing the Book of the Year, The Names of the Holy Spirit and was awarded the Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for “Through the Decades,” presented by Cable Television Industry.
Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 111 theological seminaries/colleges in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Five doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.
Golfing is a favorite pastime and he enjoys attending campus athletic and cultural arts events performed by Liberty University students.
He and Ruth, his wife of 59 years, have three children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Degrees earned
| Doctor of Ministry | Fuller Theological Seminary |
| M.R.E. | Garrett Theological Seminary |
| Th.M. | Dallas Theological Seminary |
| Master of Arts | Southern Methodist University |
| Bachelor of Arts | Northwestern College |
Professional Experience
| Adjunct or resident faculty for over 38 colleges and seminaries | |
| President, Gospel Light Worldwide (Foreign Missions Lit.) | 2004-2010 |
| Dean, Global Pastors Network, Chair, Bible Knowledge; Campus Crusade, Orlando, Florida | 2003-2006 |
| President, American Society of Church Growth | 1995 |
| Founding board member of (TRACS) Transnational Association of Christian Schools | |
| Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia | 1980-Present |
| Editor in Chief, Jerry Falwell Ministries, Lynchburg, Virginia | 1977-80 |
| Board member, International Christian Education Association, Detroit, Michigan | 1977-87 |
| Executive Vice President and Co-Founder, Baptist University of America, Decatur, Georgia | 1974-77 |
| Co-Founder & Professor, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia | 1971-Present |
| Board member, ETTA (Evangelical Teacher Training Association) | 1968-71 |
| Board member, Scripture Press Foundation | 1965-67 |
| President, Winnipeg Bible College, Winnipeg, Manitoba | 1961-65 |
| Advisory Council, Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1959-61 |
| Instructor, Dallas Bible College, Dallas, Texas | 1957-58 |
| Pastor, Faith Bible church, Dallas, Texas | 1956-58 |
Recent publication
| Worship through the Ages (co-author) | 2012 |
| Prayer Journey Bible (KJV version) | 2012 |
| Fasting for a Miracle | 2012 |
| Walking with Giants | 2012 |
| Essence of the New Testament (Editor) | 2012 |
| 10 Questions Every Christian Must Ask About Prayer | 2012 |
| Praying for Your Job (co-author) | 2011 |
| God Laughs (co-author) | 2011 |
| The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough | 2010 |
| Praying for Your Children (co author) | 2010 |
| What’s Right with the Church | 2009 |
| Praying Your Way Out of Bondage: Exodus-Leviticus | 2009 |
| Praying with the Conquerors: Joshua, Judges, Ruth | 2009 |
| Praying the Heart of David: First & Second Samuel and First Chronicles | 2009 |
|
Praying for Your Second Chance: Numbers-Deuteronomy |
2009 |
| How to Build a Lasting Marriage (Biblical Couples republished) Elmer and Ruth Towns | 2009 |
| How God Answers Prayer | 2009 |