Our Father, Our Teacher

From the beginning, God created men and women in his own image, as the objects of his love. His intention has been to father mankind, raising us as his children. While the intimacy of this relationship was broken through the fall, our Father has never stopped loving us. His faithful lovingkindness is unchanged. And through Jesus we not only see the intimate relationship of Father and Son as the divine pattern but we find ourselves restored as children in his household. Through Jesus we can experientially live in relationship with our Father and, through the working of the Holy Spirit within, affectionately call him our Abba. The greatest opportunity is now afforded to us—to walk in loving intimacy with our Father as he raises us, teaches us his ways, and matures within us his divine nature of other-centered love. Our Father, Our Teacher is a biblical exploration of how God is drawing men and women to himself in an experiential relationship of love and learning.

Christopher Reeves is an educator, pastor, and president emeritus of Shiloh University. He is author of An Introduction to Education in Bible Times (2019).



Wesley M. Pinkham (Wess) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature and Philosophy from Seattle Pacific University, a Master of Arts in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College, a Master of Education in Adult Education and Higher Educational Administration from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology in Church Administration and Homiletics from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry in Church Change Agentry and Conflict Management from McCormick Theological Seminary. He did postgraduate work in Higher Adult Education for the EdD degree at Northern Illinois University (one year) and for the EdD in Adult Education and Higher Educational Administration at the University of British Columbia (three years). Shiloh University conferred the Doctor of Literature Degree (DLitt) in June 2019. Wess brings new meaning and power to the term "master communicator." His relational and transparent teaching and writing style assists students and readers in discovering life-changing truths. Wess brings a dynamic, holistic approach to relational theology. He is a leader and educator with six earned degrees, plus the DLitt honoris causa. Wess served for twelve years as a senior pastor, a youth minister, and a minister of Christian education. He was an administrator and associate professor at Wheaton College graduate school for six years and served for seven years as Academic Dean, Senior Vice President and professor at Dominion College, an undergraduate liberal arts school. He served for fifteen years at The King's University, Los Angeles, as an accreditation specialist in the capacities of Dean of Assessment, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, and Dean of Doctoral Studies. Wess served as Vice President for Academics and Dean of Doctoral Studies at Shiloh University for four years. He served there as a trustee. Prior to retirement, he served for one year as Vice President for Academics at The New International University in Bellevue, Washington.