CHICAGO, IL (December 27, 2007) – Paul DeNeui has been named the candidate for Director of the Center for World Christian Studies and Professor of Missiology and Intercultural Studies at North Park Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n
In announcing the selection, Bob Hubbard and Brent Laytham, co-chairs of the Missions Position Search Committee wrote, \u201cPaul was selected as the candidate who brings a passion for God\u2019s mission, a vision for North Park\u2019s missional identity, scholarly expertise in the field of missiology, and rich experience with the mission work of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).\u201d<\/p>\n
DeNeui will meet with the students, staff and faculty during a candidating visit in February. Details of the schedule have yet to be released. DeNeui has filled both positions as a visiting associate professor of world mission through an arrangement with the ECC Department of World Mission.<\/p>\n
DeNeui is known to many Covenanters for his years of mission work in Thailand. Paul and his wife, Gretchen, were commissioned in 1987 to be missionaries to the Southeast Asian nation. He was ordained in 1991 during the couple’s first home assignment.<\/p>\n
From 1987 to 1991, the couple worked with the Isaan Development Foundation (IDF) begun by Jim Gustafson in Udon Thani, Thailand. This ministry focuses on the poorest group in Thailand – the Lao-speaking northeasterners known as Isaan – a people group of more than 20 million individuals.<\/p>\n
DeNeui’s role was primarily with the agricultural support system raising fish and pigs. The work in Thailand also has included joining a church planting and enablement ministry that became the Lower Isaan Foundation for Enablement (LIFE). From 1991-2000, DeNeui worked with Thai staff to begin a fish farm support base and outreach ministry, a youth ministry, a leadership training program, a handicraft project for women, a development project involving a youth camp and forest preserve, and a ministry to those suffering from AIDS.<\/p>\n
In 1994 he presented a paper on the integrated holistic development work of LIFE at an Asia-wide consultation on holistic ministry. In 1995 he authored a profile on the Isaan people group. During 2000, DeNeui was reassigned to the Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) in Udon Thani and worked with Thai leadership in developing training seminars for missionaries and local leaders. He also began a ministry to prisoners in a local jail, which he was able to turn over to Thai leadership.<\/p>\n
DeNeui graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in ornamental horticulture from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 1982. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1987 and recently completed his doctoral work through Fuller.<\/p>\n