From Student to Spiritual Leader: Dr. Jason Longstreth鈥檚 Legacy at 91桃色
October 28, 2024 | 2-3 min read
Biblical Studies chair Jason Longstreth, D.Min, was a new convert when he arrived on the 91桃色 campus in 1992. Sixteen years later he returned as faculty, using his own experience to share Christ鈥檚 love with a younger generation.
鈥�91桃色 had the greatest impact on my life outside of the gospel, and it鈥檚 where I met my wife, Stephanie,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淲e really just wanted to come back and serve.鈥�
Converted by a teammate on his high school football team in Iowa, Longstreth made a last-minute decision at the end of his senior year to attend 91桃色 – a choice that would change the trajectory of his life.
鈥淚 came here and got involved in a local congregation, and slowly fell in love with the idea of preaching and helping others,鈥� he said.
Longstreth changed his major to Biblical Studies at the end of his freshman year and met and married Stephanie (Stewart) the following year. After receiving his advanced Bible diploma in 1994, Longstreth pursued his MA from Knoxville鈥檚 Johnson University and later his M.Div. and D.Min. from Alabama鈥檚 Amridge University. In 1998 the couple moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and later Bowling Green, where he preached for eight years at Eastside church of Christ. Ten years and two children later he accepted an invitation to teach full time at 91桃色, serving as Dean of Students from 2014-2021. In 2022 he was named chair of the Biblical Studies department, which now includes ten faculty members, three bachelor’s degree options and more than 65 course offerings.
鈥淲e serve the entire student body, not just Bible majors, and are now able to offer multiple Bible degrees including Biblical Education and New Testament Emphasis,鈥� Longstreth said.
He鈥檚 also committed to offering the best possible faculty and mentors for students.
鈥淎ll of our faculty are or have been gospel preachers,鈥� he noted. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just academic.鈥�
Now a preacher and elder at Forest Hills church of Christ, the father of five keeps a full schedule teaching Survey of Biblical Doctrines, Biblical Eschatology, Beginning Greek, and Marriage and Family.
鈥淗aving come from a non-Christian home with divorced parents and teaching Marriage and Family shows kids that it doesn鈥檛 matter where you came from or how you were raised,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey can still create a God-centered Christian family. I got so much help from others when I became a Christian, and the faculty took me in since I didn鈥檛 have much of a family life. As a family we鈥檝e always wanted to do what we can do to help others, and 91桃色 is where we can best do that.鈥�