Detailed Vitae
V I T A E
PERSONAL DATA
Delbert H. Tarr, Jr. (Del)
Born: June 14, 1934
Aitkin, Minnesota U.S.A.
Parents: Delbert H. Tarr, Sr. and Catherine (Putnam) Tarr
Parents became Assemblies of God ministers when Del Jr. was four years old. They pastored churches in South Dakota and Minnesota. Siblings are an older sister, Virginia, who is married to Rev. Daniel Kricorian an A/G minister and a younger brother, Dennis, who is a Spirit-filled Presbyterian Minister.
Married: Dorothy Darline Hill (Dolly), 1954.
Del and Dolly have three children: a daughter, Cindy Sharon (born 1956); and two sons, Terry Mark (born 1958); and Randel Ray (born 1962).
ACADEMIC HISTORY
Undergraduate:
North Central University
Four years, Bible/Missions Major
B.A. Degree, 1960
Graduate:
University of Minnesota
Two years, Speech Communications Major
Anthropology Minor
M.A. Degree, 1969
University of Minnesota
One year, plus four years research and writing
Ph.D. Degree, Cross-Cultural Communications, 1980
Special Training:
Flying Cloud School of Aviation
Private pilot’s license, 1958
Ecole Lemania, Lausanne, Switzerland
Diploma, French Language Proficiency, 1960
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1954-55 Assistant Pastor
Hopkins Assembly of God Church, Hopkins, MN
1955 Licensed Minister
Minnesota District of the Assemblies of God
1955-56 Evangelist
1956-58 Pastor
Hopkins Assembly of God Church, Hopkins, MN
1957 Ordained Minister
Minnesota District of the Assemblies of God
1959-67 Appointed Foreign Missionary
Burkina Faso, West Africa (formerly Upper Volta)
1963-67 Director Mossiland Bible School
Nagabagre, Upper Volta
1970 Co-Founder
West Africa Advanced School of Theology
Lome, Togo
1970-73 Dean
Director of French section of full WAAST curriculum
Lome, Togo
1973-76 Associate Professor and Coordinator of Cross-Cultural
Communications Studies
Assemblies of God Theological Seminar
1977-79 Dean
Missions Division
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
1976-80 Special Representative
Division of Foreign Missions
Evaluation and goal-setting projections for field fellowships of American missionaries in Indonesia and Bangladesh
1979-82 Professor, Chairman
Missions and Communications Department
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
1982-90 President
California Theological Seminary
Fresno, California
1990-99 President
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
1999 - Professor Emeritus
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
BOOKS AND ARTICLES PUBLISHED
Books:
Intercultural Communications, ICI, Bruxelles, Belgium, 1987.
Double Image (Study in contextualization of African theology), Paulist Press, 1994.
The Foolishness of God: A Linguist Looks at the Mystery of Tongues, Access Publishers, 2010.
Individual Chapters:
“The Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpersonal Relations,” 1st chapter in The Holy Spirit & Counseling, M. Gilbert & R. Brock, Editors, Hendrickson Publishers, 1985.
“Preaching the Word in the Power of the Spirit: A Cross-Cultural Analysis,” a chapter in Called and Empowered: Pentecostal Perspectives on Global Mission, M.W. Dempster, B.D. Klaus & D. Petersen, Editors, Hendrickson Publishers, 1990.
“The Church and the Spirit’s Power”, “Benny C. Aker & Gary B. McGee, Eds.; Signs & Wonders in Ministry Today, Gospel Publishing House, 1996.
“Continuing Education,” a chapter in The Pentecostal Pastor: A Mandate for the 21st Century, Thomas Trask, Wayde Goodall, Zenas Bickett, Editors, Gospel Publishing House, 1997.
“Transcendence/Immanence and the Emerging Pentecostal Academy,” a chapter in the Festschrift Pentecostalism in Context: Essays in Honor of William W. Menzies, Won Suk Ma and Robert P. Menzies, Editors, Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.
“The Foolishness of God” a chapter in Helping Others Receive the Gift, Joe Enloe and Randy Hurst, GPH, 2008
Articles:
“Repeat That Please!” Pentecostal Evangel, February 24, 1963.
“Like a Match to Straw.” Paraclete, Summer, 1965.
“Commitment to Men.” Pentecostal Evangel, April 3, 1966.
“Africa Plans for Advance.” Pentecostal Evangel, August 16, 1970.
“Take Time to Give Time.” Pentecostal Evangel, October 15, 1972. Also reprinted in Christian Herald.
“Church Growth in Land of the Mossi.” Pentecostal Evangel, February 8, 1976.
“What Mean These Stones?” Pentecostal Evangel, September 18, 1977.
“I Saw ISUM.” Pentecostal Evangel, November 2, 1980.
“Watch Out For the Wrapper.” Pentecostal Evangel, December 21, 1980.
“Slow—Take Time To Give.” Insight, December-January-February, 1981.
“An African Model of Acts 10.” Paraclete, Summer, 1981.
“The Christian Family and Television. Pentecostal Evangel, November 8, 1981.
“Gift-Wrapped Fruit.” Advance, May 1982.
“African Music: Visceral Symbolism.” Motif, August 1982.
“Making Truth Memorable.” Leadership, Spring 1983.
“Benefits of a French Study Bible.” Life Publishers International, August 4, 1986
“Be My Witnesses.” Charismatic Times, 1987.
“A Look at Pentecostal Education.” The Pentecostal Minister, September 1988.
“Contemporary Pentecostal Education: A Symposium.” The Pentecostal Minister, Summer 1989.
“Power to Tell.” Advance, January 1991.
“Servant Leadership.” Ministries Newsletter, February 1993.
Book Review of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, Jack Deere, Pentecostal Evangel, July 1994.
“Touching America’s Subcultures.” Pentecostal Evangel, December 11, 1994.
“Trust as the Basis of Economic Health.” Book Review of The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity. Francis Fukuyama, In Trust, Fall, 1995.
“Grapefruit Gospel Surprise.” Mountain Movers, 1997.
“The Miracle of Memphis.” Pentecostal Evangel, May 31, 1998.
“How Should We Respond to the Current Revival? Hold it Gently.” Pentecostal Evangel, November 1998.
“Quantification Sickness.” Enrichment Journal, 1998.
Other Writings and Productions:
Master’s Theses (Plan B)
“Open, Straightforward Manner of Communication as a Cultural Variable” University of Minnesota, 1969. Adapted for class: MCC 531, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, 1974.
“Social Control and Behavior: A Comparison of Mossi and Kasena Tribes of Upper Volta.” University of Minnesota, 1968.
“Varied Values of Time: Barrier to Intercultural Communication.” University of Minnesota, 1969. Susbsequently adapted for text material, class: MCC 531, Intercultural Communications, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, 1974.
“Why Polygyny: A Study of Biological, Psychological, and Social Features Which Apparently Have Contributed to the Institution and Maintenance of the Polygynous Form of Marriage.” (Co-authored with Herbert Butler) University of Minnesota and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
Ph.D. Dissertation
“Indirection and Ambiguity as a Mode of Communication in West Africa: A Descriptive Study.” University of Minnesota, 1979.
16mm Sound Movie Film
Living Water (Story and Photography) 1965
TV Production
“Double Image”: twenty-six 30-minute TV programs produced and broadcast by FCB Network, 1988-89 (Scripture through Third World Eyes.)
HONORS AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Outstanding Young Men of America, 1967
Who’s Who in the Midwest, 1982
Who’s Who in the West, 1987
Who’s Who in American Education, 1992
Outstanding Alumnus; North Central University, 1997
Omicron Alpha; Distinguished Administrator Award, 1999
Omicron Pi; Twenty Year Administrator Award, 1999
Who’s Who in America, 1999-2000
American Society of Missiology
Society of Pentecostal Studies
Evangelical Theological Society
Academy of Evangelism
Robert K. Greenleaf Foundation
Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents
Overseas Ministries Study Center
American Association of Missiologists
LANGUAGES
Fluent in French and Mori (taught in and worked as translator in these two languages).
Fluent in Ewe (Southern Togo)
Conversational Knowledge in Kasem (Southern Burkina Faso)
Studied Mandarin, Tagalog, and Amharic
MAJOR COURSES TAUGHT
Undergraduate:
General Science
Intro. Psychology
Leviticus/Hebrews
Romans
Survey of New Testament
Survey of Old Testament
Synoptic Gospels
Systematic Theology
Wisdom & Poetical Books
Graduate:
Advanced Leadership
Bible School Administration & Teaching
Communications and Human Behavior
Cross Cultural Communications
Cultural Anthropology
Educational Psychology
Group Dynamics
Intercultural Communications
Kinship Systems & Social Law
Languages: French, English
Media Communication
Nonverbal Communications
Pastoral Counseling
Persuasion and Preaching
Preaching Practicum
TV Production
