Russell V. DeLong
Encyclopedia
Russell Victor DeLong was a Nazarene
minister
, evangelist
, and college president.
native, the son of a minister. He received his undergraduate education at the Eastern Nazarene College
in Massachusetts
, then earned his master's and doctoral degrees from Boston University
. He later received an honorary doctor of divinity
from the Northwest Nazarene College.
at the Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) that same year. He was elected president of NNC in 1927 and served until 1932, when he left to complete his doctoral work at Boston University, but was elected to the presidency at NNC a second time in 1935 and served there again until 1942. It was under his first administration that NNC gained educational accreditation
as a two-year school, and under his second that the college gained accreditation as a four-year school.
He then served as District Superintendent for the Northwest Indiana District Church of the Nazarene until 1945, when he was elected founding dean of Nazarene Theological Seminary
(NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri
. While at NTS in the 1950s, he operated a successful radio
ministry. He also was the author, compiler, or editor of at least 33 books. DeLong later served as president of Pasadena College, from 1957 to 1960.
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
minister
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
, evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, and college president.
Early life and education
DeLong was a New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
native, the son of a minister. He received his undergraduate education at the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, then earned his master's and doctoral degrees from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. He later received an honorary doctor of divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from the Northwest Nazarene College.
Academic career and ministry
DeLong was ordained in 1926 and came on facultyFaculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
at the Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) that same year. He was elected president of NNC in 1927 and served until 1932, when he left to complete his doctoral work at Boston University, but was elected to the presidency at NNC a second time in 1935 and served there again until 1942. It was under his first administration that NNC gained educational accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
as a two-year school, and under his second that the college gained accreditation as a four-year school.
He then served as District Superintendent for the Northwest Indiana District Church of the Nazarene until 1945, when he was elected founding dean of Nazarene Theological Seminary
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Nazarene Theological Seminary is a Christian seminary affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. It is located in Kansas City, Missouri, which was formerly also the location of the headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene...
(NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. While at NTS in the 1950s, he operated a successful radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
ministry. He also was the author, compiler, or editor of at least 33 books. DeLong later served as president of Pasadena College, from 1957 to 1960.