J. Steven Harper

Dr. Steve Harper is vice president of the Asbury Florida campus and professor of Spiritual Formation. He received a B.A. from McMurry University, 1966; a M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, 1973; and a Ph.D. from Duke University, 1981. Dr. Harper served as professor of Spiritual Formation at Asbury Seminary from 1980 to 1992. From 1992 to 1996, he and his wife, Jeannie, launched and developed a ministry to ministers called Shepherd’s Care, where they served until 1996, when The Upper Room in Nashville invited Steve to become the founding director of The Pathways Initiative, a ministry to spiritual leaders. He served with The Upper Room from 1996 to 1998 when he was invited back to Asbury Seminary to become founding vice president and dean of the Florida campus. Dr. Harper has served as a youth pastor, evangelist, pastor and professor from 1966 to the present. He was an elder in the Northwest Texas Conference, United Methodist Church from 1972 to 2004 and then transferred to the Florida Annual Conference. He is a member of the Theta Phi Honor Society and the 2004 recipient of the Francis Asbury Award (GBHEM). He has authored 12 books and co-authored six others. His latest book is Talking in the Dark, Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. Dr. Harper and his wife, Jeannie, reside in Winter Springs, Fla. They have two adult children and two grandchildren. The