Warren W. Wiersbe
Dr. Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) was a student, a disciple, a pastor, a preacher, a teacher, an author, a mentor, and a Christian example. He was born in East Chicago, IN. At a Youth for Christ rally on May 12, 1945, Billy Graham preached the Gospel and Warren trusted Christ as his Savior. That set the direction for his life: to honor Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel, teaching God’s Word, and building up the church.
He graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1953. He also received honorary doctorates from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Tennessee Temple University.
While attending Northern Seminary he met his future wife, Betty L. Warren, with whom he shared the joys and burdens of life for almost 66 years. They had four children: David, Carolyn, Robert, and Judy. He enjoyed being a grandfather and great-grandfather (he could magically pull quarters from their ears).
Wiersbe pastored Central Baptist Church in Chicago (1951-1957), was on staff at Youth for Christ (1957-1961), pastored Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, KY (1961-1971), pastored The Moody Church in Chicago (1971-1978) and was Bible teacher and General Director at Back to the Bible in Lincoln, NE (1980-1992). While at The Moody Church, Warren was the featured teach on the radio programs, Songs in the Night and Moody Church Hour. Later, Wiersbe would become writer in residence at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and also was appointed Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (Now Cornerstone Theological Seminary).
In his early years of pastoring, he developed a weekly Sunday school curriculum for 7th grade through adult classes. This curriculum eventually grew into the “Be” series Bible commentaries. He completed the “Be” series in 2002, a thirty-year project. The series has been published in several editions and in many languages. Along with these commentaries, he wrote 177 books on pastoral work, preaching, worship, the Christian imagination, grief and suffering, devotional and doctrinal studies, and Christian biography.
Wiersbe is remembered as a student of God’s Word, a careful exegete, and a creative, powerful preacher. His life-long habit of early morning Bible reading and prayer produced the fruit of his speaking and writing. He spoke at Bible and mission conferences around the world, especially in connection with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Wiersbe ministered at several Christian schools, including Moody Bible Institute, Tennessee Temple University, Cornerstone University, Beeson Divinity School, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Cedarville University to whom he donated his library. His work has ended, but the influence of his ministry endures.
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