Edward Watson was saved at age nine and has been involved in ministry of one kind
or another ever since. While attending Southern Baptist College, he traveled extensively
holding revivals and special meetings. Then, when he was just a sophomore in college,
he took his first church, which was actually a congregation in his hometown of Jonesboro,
Arkansas. Angela, whom he later married, attended that church in Jonesboro.
With a thirst to know the Bible more fully, Watson began graduate school through ORU's
modular program shortly after completing his B.A. "Because of this great program,
I could keep up my duties in ministry while working toward a degree in biblical studies,"
he remarked. "This was a really special time in my life when I was able to put my
classroom lessons to practical application in my daily work at the church." Even while
working on his masters, Watson helped plant two churches - in Indiana and Arkansas.
He stated: "Raising up churches and church buildings is a very humbling and gratifying
experience. We would preach, visit the people of the city and then put shingles on
the church roof; sometimes all on the same day."
While involved in the modular program at ORU, Watson became a pastor in a large charismatic
church in Southern California. It was there that he met Oral Roberts personally.
Upon completing his M.A. in 1994, he felt God calling him to teach theology in higher
education. "I wanted to impact the people who would impact others for Christ," Watson
said. Taking a sabbatical from the pastorate, he completed a Th.M. in Biblical Literature
at Duke University and then went on to Baylor to pursue his Ph.D.
In his spare time, Watson also remodels houses. He can be seen on weekends with his
tool belt in place as well as his paint brush. "We are presently on the 2-3 year cycle
of buying a house, moving, fixing it up, selling and starting the process all over
again. I enjoy working with my hands. I remember in grad school, studying Greek for
ten hours straight and then wondering if I had really learned anything. Yet, when
I build a fence or paint a house, I can immediately feel satisfied looking at the
finished product. I find the whole thing therapeutic," says Watson.
Coming back to ORU was his long-held dream, and in 2001 God opened the door for him
to return. Since then, Dr. Watson has written numerous Biblical resources, monographs
and articles. "More than anything else, I enjoy the students at ORU. It is a pleasure
to teach them and help them understand that people can have extraordinary gifts, but
unless they also possess the character of Christ, they will accomplish nothing of
lasting value."
Recently, Dr. Watson served as the Editor-in-Chief of the New Testament for The Modern English Version (MEV) Passio Press (2014/2015). Additionally his book Paul, His Roman Audience, and the Adopted People of God published by The Edwin Mellen Press has received wide acclaim.
