- Theodore Epp
Infobox clergy
name = Theodore H. Epp
image_size = 200px
caption =
birth_date = Birth date|1907|1|27
birth_place =Oraibi, Arizona , U.S.
death_date = Death date and age|1985|10|13|1907|1|27
death_place =Lincoln, Nebraska , U.S.
church =Mennonite
other_names =
education =
writings =
congregations = "Back to the Bible "
weekly radio program (1939–1985)
offices_held =
title =
spouse = Matilda Schmidt
children = Gerald, Eleanor, Herbert, Berniece, Marilyn and Virginia
parents = Jacob B. Epp and Agnetha Harms
footnotes =Theodore H. Epp (
January 27 ,1907 -October 13 ,1985 ) was an AmericanChristian clergyman , writer, and aradio 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.cite web|title=700 Famous Nebraskans|publisher=Nebraska Press Association|date=2006|url=http://www.nebpress.com/700/epp.php|accessdate=2008-06-04 ]Early years and education
Epp was born in
Oraibi, Arizona , the son of Russian immigrants.cite journal |author=Balmer, Randall |title=The Wireless Gospel |date=2001-02-19 |publisher="Christianity Today "|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/february19/4.48.html?start=2 |volume=45 |issue=3 |accessdate=2008-06-04 ] His parents wereMennonite missionaries to theHopi Indians there. After graduating fromOklahoma Bible Academy , Epp attendedHesston College ,Hesston, Kansas and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now,Biola University ), Epp received a ThM degree in 1932 fromSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary inFort Worth, Texas .Ministry
He started his ministry as a pastor and radio preacher in
Goltry, Oklahoma and then relocated toLincoln, Nebraska , where he established the "Back to the Bible" radio program. It was first broadcastMay 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. [ [http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/E665.html Theodore H. Epp biography, Mennonite Encyclopedia online] ]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. ["Back to the Bible, God at work 40 Years", Lincoln, Nebraska:
Back to the Bible (1979)] 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. [cite news|title=Theodore H. Epp|date=1985-10-15|publisher="
Lincoln Journal Star "|page=18 ]The "Back to the Bible" program continues under current president and speaker
Woodrow M. Kroll to broadcast worldwide from its headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.References
External links
* [http://www.backtothebible.org/our-history.html Back to the Bible, History of – official website]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4572 Theodore H. Epp atFind A Grave ]
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