Woodrow M. Kroll
Encyclopedia
Woodrow Michael Kroll is the president and Bible teacher for the international Back to the Bible
radio and television ministry. He is a former president of Davis College
(formerly Practical Bible College) in Johnson City, New York
, United States
. In addition to preaching and teaching, Woodrow Kroll is a prolific writer, having authored more than 50 books expounding on the Bible and Christian living.
. His father, Reverend Frank Kroll, attended Practical Bible Training School (as it was then called) from 1936 to 1939 and pastored the Park Gate Baptist Church in Ellwood City for years. Woodrow Kroll followed in his father's footsteps and attended Practical Bible Training School from 1962 to 1965.
Kroll subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Barrington College
. He then studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
, earning a Master of Theology
degree in 1970. He earned a Master of Theology
degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Theology
degree in 1973 from Geneva-St. Albans Theological Seminary. Further graduate study was done at Harvard Divinity School
, Princeton Theological Seminary
, the University of Strasbourg
in France, and the University of Virginia
.
He is married to the former Linda Piper. They have four children: Tracy, Timothy, Tina, and Tiffany. Their son Timothy has followed his father and grandfather in ministry and is the senior pastor at Northside Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida
.
in Lynchburg, Virginia
. On January 17, 1981, Woodrow Kroll was inaugurated as president of Practical Bible Training School, also teaching Bible and preaching while serving as president.
During Kroll's presidency, the school obtained accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
(TRACS) and the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC, now the Association for Biblical Higher Education
). He also developed the administration, curriculum, and much of the school's structure as it exists today, now as Davis College. Dr. Kroll resigned on April 27, 1990, to assume the leadership of the Back to the Bible
organization.
on radio station KFOR (AM)
in Lincoln, Nebraska
, the Back to the Bible
broadcast became a worldwide ministry by the time its founder retired in 1981. Epp was succeeded by Warren W. Wiersbe
, former pastor of Moody Church
in Chicago
, Illinois
, who served as leader of the Lincoln-based ministry between 1981–1989. Woodrow Kroll was inaugurated in 1990 as the third president of Back to the Bible, the position he now holds.
Kroll serves as principal speaker on the ministry's daily worldwide broadcasts. He has traveled in ministry to over 100 countries and annually leads tours to Israel
. He also hosts an annual Bible conference at Willowbank Resort in Bermuda
for interested Back to the Bible listeners, where programs are recorded for future broadcasts.
(Formerly: Is There a Man in the House?) (Formerly: It Will Be Worth It All)
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, using radio, the internet, television, and other media...
radio and television ministry. He is a former president of Davis College
Davis College
Davis College is a Bible College located in Greater Binghamton, New York in the Village of Johnson City, New York, USA.-History:Davis College began back in April 1900 in the mind of its founder the Reverend and Evangelist John Adelbert Davis. He wanted to start a school similar to that what was...
(formerly Practical Bible College) in Johnson City, New York
Johnson City, New York
Johnson City is a village in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 15,535 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In addition to preaching and teaching, Woodrow Kroll is a prolific writer, having authored more than 50 books expounding on the Bible and Christian living.
Background and education
Woodrow Kroll was born to Frank and Betty Kroll in Ellwood City, PennsylvaniaEllwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle...
. His father, Reverend Frank Kroll, attended Practical Bible Training School (as it was then called) from 1936 to 1939 and pastored the Park Gate Baptist Church in Ellwood City for years. Woodrow Kroll followed in his father's footsteps and attended Practical Bible Training School from 1962 to 1965.
Kroll subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Barrington College
Barrington College
Barrington College was a four-year Christian liberal arts college located in Barrington, Rhode Island. It is no longer in operation.-History:...
. He then studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary whose main campus is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger...
, earning a Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
degree in 1970. He earned a Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
degree in 1971 and a Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
degree in 1973 from Geneva-St. Albans Theological Seminary. Further graduate study was done at Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
, Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
, the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
in France, and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
He is married to the former Linda Piper. They have four children: Tracy, Timothy, Tina, and Tiffany. Their son Timothy has followed his father and grandfather in ministry and is the senior pastor at Northside Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
.
Ministry and teaching career
Woodrow Kroll began his ministry as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts (1968–1970). He then taught at Practical Bible Training School (now Davis College) 1971–1973. From 1975 to 1980, he chaired the Division of Religion at Liberty UniversityLiberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. On January 17, 1981, Woodrow Kroll was inaugurated as president of Practical Bible Training School, also teaching Bible and preaching while serving as president.
During Kroll's presidency, the school obtained accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools is a U.S. national educational accreditation agency for Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries...
(TRACS) and the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC, now the Association for Biblical Higher Education
The Association for Biblical Higher Education
The Association for Biblical Higher Education or ABHE is a nationally recognized accrediting agency in the United States. It is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
). He also developed the administration, curriculum, and much of the school's structure as it exists today, now as Davis College. Dr. Kroll resigned on April 27, 1990, to assume the leadership of the Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, using radio, the internet, television, and other media...
organization.
Back to the Bible
Begun in 1939 by Theodore EppTheodore Epp
Theodore H. Epp was an American Christian clergyman, writer, and a radio 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.-Early years and education:Epp was born in Oraibi,...
on radio station KFOR (AM)
KFOR (AM)
KFOR is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, the station serves the Lincoln area...
in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, the Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, using radio, the internet, television, and other media...
broadcast became a worldwide ministry by the time its founder retired in 1981. Epp was succeeded by Warren W. Wiersbe
Warren W. Wiersbe
Warren Wendel Wiersbe is an American pastor, Bible teacher, conference speaker and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works. Born on May 16, 1929 in East Chicago, Indiana, Wiersbe is perhaps best known for his series of 50 books in the "BE" series: Be Real, Be Rich, Be...
, former pastor of Moody Church
Moody Church
The Moody Church is a historic Protestant church in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. right|thumb|270px|-Building:...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, who served as leader of the Lincoln-based ministry between 1981–1989. Woodrow Kroll was inaugurated in 1990 as the third president of Back to the Bible, the position he now holds.
Kroll serves as principal speaker on the ministry's daily worldwide broadcasts. He has traveled in ministry to over 100 countries and annually leads tours to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He also hosts an annual Bible conference at Willowbank Resort in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
for interested Back to the Bible listeners, where programs are recorded for future broadcasts.
Books authored by Woodrow Kroll
Among the more than 50 books Woodrow Kroll has written on the Bible and Christian living are:(Formerly: Is There a Man in the House?) (Formerly: It Will Be Worth It All)