Dr. Joel R. Soza

Director of Graduate Program in Christian Ministries;
Associate Professor of Old Testament (1998)
 
Phone: (330) 471-8217
 
General Information
 
    Joel teaches a variety of courses within the School of Theology at Malone College (since 1996), partly including:  introductory Bible courses, hermeneutics, specialized Old Testament courses (e.g. Pentateuch, Prophets, Historical Books, Poetic Books, Theology) as well as biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek).  Outside of college, Joel is active in preaching, teaching, leading worship, and writing Christian songs.  He has been married to his wife, Migdalia, since 1989.  They have two children:  Joseph, born in 1993, and Shari, born in 2001.  Joel also plays a variety of musical instruments and has produced a home recording on CD of fourteen original worship/praise songs.  His hobbies include:  musical, physical fitness, outdoor recreational activities, and learning in a broad range of disciplines.  He has an extensive military background, having served for nearly ten years in the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard Reserves, both enlisted, and as an officer in the Chaplain Corps.

Education and Scholarship

    Joel earned a DTh from the University of South Africa in 2005, where he completed a thesis on the moral theology of the Book of Jeremiah.  He has also studied at the University of Durham in Great Britain, prior to which he earned two Master of Arts degrees (Cum Laude) in Old Testament and New Testament respectively from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio.  His undergraduate degree is in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. 
    He has published articles on 'Jeremiah', 'Lamentations', and 'Repentance' in Inter-Varsity Press (IVP) theological dictionaries (The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, The Dictionary of the Old Testament [Pentateuch] ).  An article on 'Jeroboam' will be published in 2005 for IVP's Dictionary of the Old Testament (Historical Books).  Joel is a member of The Institute for Biblical Research and The Society of Biblical Literature.  He has also published worship music.  One song in particular, Your Perfect Rest, is being considered for national recognition on CD's entitled, Heaven is My Home (Hilltop Records) and Songs of Praise (Amerecord).
 
Ministry Experience
 
    Besides having served as a military chaplain, Joel has served the Christian church since 1989 as Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, and Youth Pastor in a variety of churches.  He has been involved in a number of missions trips, evangelism and outreach events, and worship leading.  Joel has been an ordained minister with the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God since 1994.  He presently is active in an itinerate preaching, teaching, and music ministry which is called Shema Ministries.  Visit us on the web at www.shemaministries.net.  He also leads a worship/contemporary band called The Shema Project.
1.800.521.1146