Sanchez Joins Faculty as Assistant Professor of Religion, Assistant Director of Honors Program

August 18, 2022

OBU recently welcomed Dr. Paul Sanchez to the faculty as assistant professor of religion and assistant director of the Honors Program. Sanchez assumed his role Aug. 1, ahead of the fall 2022 semester.

Prior to joining the OBU faculty, he served as an adjunct professor for Gateway Seminary, Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and likewise served as an adjunct faculty member for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as an instructional designer for online education at SBTS and previously served as an online teaching assistant at SBTS. His teaching interests include American religious history, modern theology, theological method, Baptist history, pentecostal/charismatic history and theology, theological liberalism, Christian spirituality, spiritual formation and preaching.

Sanchez has more than a decade of ministry experience, including service as lead pastor of Starnes Cove Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina; lead elder and preaching pastor of Emaus Church in San Jose, California; campus missionary at the University of Louisville; senior pastor at Willow Baptist Church in Brooksville, Kentucky; senior pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Estherwood, Louisiana; pastoral intern at Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri; and associate/youth pastor at Faith Assembly of God in Forsyth, Missouri.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and theology from Evangel University. He later earned a Master of Arts in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also earned a Master of Theology in church history and historical theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology in historical and theological studies from SBTS, and a Ph.D. in church history and historical theology from SBTS.

Dr. Matthew Emerson, dean of theology, arts and humanities, is grateful to add Sanchez’s knowledge and experience to the faculty of the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry and is looking forward to the impact he will also make as assistant director of the Honors Program at OBU.

“Dr. Sanchez brings pastoral experience and a sharp intellect to both the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry and to the Honors Program,” Emerson said. “Our students will benefit from both his heart and head as they receive an authentically Christian liberal arts education under his tutelage.”

The Honors Program at OBU offers a transformative educational experience, rooted in the Christian faith and in the Great Books tradition. In 24 hours of dynamic, discussion-based honors core classes during freshman and sophomore years, students trace the development of Western civilization. Each course is team-taught by three honors professors from fields such as philosophy, literature, fine arts, history and theology.

Learn more about the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry.

Learn more about the Honors Program at OBU.