Alumni Link
Distinguished Alumni Nominations 2024
Published Date: October 2, 2023
Each year, ATS honors an alum who has done exceptional work to glorify God and build His Kingdom. Certainly, there are alumni all over the world ministering in wonderful ways, so we need your help!
We want to know which Asbury Theological Seminary alumni you think are making the biggest impact on the kingdom of God, so we can honor one as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year! Please submit your nomination (by filling out the form found HERE) by Friday, October 27, 2023.
Hi Tammy: I nominate James Hudson Taylor IV as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. James is President of China Evangelical Seminary in Taiwan. CES was founded by his father, James III, also a distinguished alumnus of ATS. James IV has the heartbeat that began with his great-great grandfather, Hudson Taylor, one of our greatest missionaries to China. James IV also serves in mainland China through the OMF. Without a doubt, James IV is in one of the most strategic positions in one of the most critical areas for missions in our time.
Hello, Dr. McKenna!
This is great – if you wouldn’t mind putting this in at the link in the article, that would be lovely. Thanks!
I would like to nominate the Rev. Pat Polis.
Reverend Patrick C Polis is a 1994 MDiv graduate of Asbury Seminary. Prior to his call to ministry, he served eight years with the US Army, rising from the rank of Private to Captain. His service included three combat tours for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star. Following his military service, he served seventeen years in business management in the disciplines of purchasing [both national and international], transportation and distribution, administration and operations. He was a plant manager and President and CEO of a $30 million dollar retail corporation.
Following seminary graduation, he was assigned to a troubled church as part of a two-point charge. Within seven years, he not only resolved the issues and turned the troubled church around but successfully merged the two churches together and served another four years doubling the attendance. His second church was struggling as well and was the beneficiary of his leadership. He served six years, started several new ministries and doubled the attendance. His third church had been in a steady decline for 50 years and was in need of revitalization. Within five years, the church had completely turned around, paid off its debt, started two international churches in its large facility, hosted several new ministries and increased in attendance.
His community involvement equals his ministry. He has served as board president of the Wesley House Community Center; board president of the Midway Rehabilitation Center; board president of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1078; board member of the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council; board member of the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association; board secretary of Compassion Coalition; board secretary of Urban Family Outreach; supervisory committee member of the Holston Methodist Federal Credit Union.
As an ordained minister and Vietnam Veteran, he presides over the funerals of unclaimed veterans buried in the veterans cemetery in Knox County, Tennessee.
He serves on the Knox Wreaths Team for Wreaths Across America, raising funds for wreaths to honor some 19,000 veterans interred in three veteran cemeteries in Knox County, Tennessee.
He received the North Star Award from the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America for his support of scouting.
He is a graduate of the Knoxville Police Chaplain Academy and has served as a chaplain to the Knoxville Police Department.
He is a graduate of the Church Consultation University of Church Answers and is certified in both church consultation and church revitalization.
He is a graduate of the John Maxwell Certification Program and is a certified Maxwell trainer and speaker.
He was inducted into the Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in Fort Benning, Georgia, class of 2019.
He is the author of Reclaiming the Church, an online course designed to help church leaders revitalize the local church.
He is a radio talk show host and hosts two weekly one-hour programs on WRJZ, the #1 Christian radio station In Knoxville, Tennessee: Monday’s Ministry Corner, featuring a ministry every week and The Church Mechanic, focusing on church revitalization.
He has been recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington DC for his service to his country and his community.
He and his wife Gayle have been married for 53 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.
Hello!
Thank you for this! If you could please enter this into the form at the link in the article, that would be very helpful!