Theodore Epp
Encyclopedia
Theodore H. Epp was an American Christian clergyman, writer, and a radio evangelist. Epp was the founding director and speaker of the Back to the Bible
broadcasts between 1939–1985, heard worldwide on eight hundred stations in eight languages.
Indians there. After graduating from Oklahoma Bible Academy
, Epp attended Hesston College
, Hesston, Kansas
and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now, Biola University
), Epp received a ThM
degree in 1932 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
in Fort Worth, Texas
.
and then relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska
, where he established the Back to the Bible radio program. It was first broadcast May 1, 1939, on a local station and was eventually syndicated as a daily, 30-minute program to more than 800 radio stations worldwide by the time of his retirement in 1985.
Under Epp's direction, the broadcasts were also noted for music by the Back to the Bible Choir and quartet. Several popular recordings were made by the choir in the 1940s and 1950s. Back to the Bible also had a weekly youth program, featuring a youth choir and serialized adventures with a Christian theme. Both the music and youth program have since been discontinued. Epp wrote nearly 70 books and magazine articles.
Theodore Epp died in 1985 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park there.
The Back to the Bible program continues under current president and speaker Woodrow M. Kroll
to broadcast worldwide from its headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, using radio, the internet, television, and other media...
broadcasts between 1939–1985, heard worldwide on eight hundred stations in eight languages.
Early years and education
Epp was born in Oraibi, Arizona, the son of Russian Mennonite immigrants. His parents were missionaries to the HopiHopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
Indians there. After graduating from Oklahoma Bible Academy
Oklahoma Bible Academy
The Oklahoma Bible Academy is an interdenominational Christian private school located in Enid, Oklahoma. OBA is the oldest coeducational private school in the state of Oklahoma.-History:...
, Epp attended Hesston College
Hesston College
Hesston College, a two-year college founded in 1909, is located in Hesston, Kansas, United States, north of Wichita. The college has an enrollment of about 450 students who typically come from about 30 states and 30 other countries...
, Hesston, Kansas
Hesston, Kansas
Hesston is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,709. Hesston is home of Hesston College, which has approximately 450 students.-19th century:...
and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now, Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
), Epp received a ThM
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
degree in 1932 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
Ministry
He started his ministry as a pastor and radio preacher in Goltry, OklahomaGoltry, Oklahoma
Goltry is a town in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 268 at the 2000 census. Goltry shares a school district with the nearby town of Helena, Oklahoma.-Geography:Goltry is located at ....
and then relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, where he established the Back to the Bible radio program. It was first broadcast May 1, 1939, on a local station and was eventually syndicated as a daily, 30-minute program to more than 800 radio stations worldwide by the time of his retirement in 1985.
Under Epp's direction, the broadcasts were also noted for music by the Back to the Bible Choir and quartet. Several popular recordings were made by the choir in the 1940s and 1950s. Back to the Bible also had a weekly youth program, featuring a youth choir and serialized adventures with a Christian theme. Both the music and youth program have since been discontinued. Epp wrote nearly 70 books and magazine articles.
Theodore Epp died in 1985 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park there.
The Back to the Bible program continues under current president and speaker Woodrow M. Kroll
Woodrow M. Kroll
Woodrow Michael Kroll is the president and Bible teacher for the international Back to the Bible radio and television ministry. He is a former president of Davis College in Johnson City, New York, United States...
to broadcast worldwide from its headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
External links
- Back to the Bible, History of – official website
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4572Theodore H. Epp at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
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