The Latest Additions to the Asbury Theological Seminary Board of Trustees
Dr. David Olshine
Dr. David Olshine is the Director and Professor of Youth Ministry, Family and Culture at Columbia International University (CIU) in Columbia, South Carolina, and was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award for South Carolina Colleges and Universities in 2015. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, MDiv from Asbury Seminary and Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Systems from Eastern University. Dr. Olshine has authored 15 books and written over 34 articles. As a speaker, he has addressed over 2.5 million people worldwide. Dr. Olshine was raised in a Jewish family, and his spiritual journey began at age 18 when he was introduced to the Messiah Jesus. In 1982, he was ordained an elder in the UMC and has pastored churches in Ohio and Oklahoma, and currently serves as teaching pastor at Sandhills Community Church in Columbia, SC. He and his wife Rhonda have 2 children.
Dr. Steve Elliott
Dr. Steve Elliott, DMin, is an ordained pastor and leader in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) since l981. He earned his DMin as an early graduate of the Beeson Scholars programs at ATS. Steve calls himself a ‘turn around guy’ who has led the restoration of three significant CMA churches, two in Canada and one in Lexington, KY. Steve is a builder of young leaders, a creative designer and developer of systems and a faithful student of the sacred Word. He consistently chose to remain in the local church because of his great love of ‘the sheep’.
Along with his wife Marilyn (married 47 years), also a Beeson graduate, Steve has extensively served the CMA missionary force, engaging in overseas pastoral care work, teaching and mentoring at retreats and conferences, and walking alongside CMA workers to help them find personal restoration, discern direction for life and ministry, and live in healing. He is a member of the CMA Board of Directors, a teaching mentor of ‘Refresh’, a ministry aimed at revitalizing churches in decline, and a member of the CMA Theological Issues team. Steve has participated with many other denominations in conference/retreat work and strategic development.
Steve and Marilyn enjoy their four adult kids and six grandkids who are spread over the USA and Canada. They reside in Nicholasville, Kentucky and Venice, Florida.
Dr. Elaine Friedrich
Elaine Friedrich, a theoretical practitioner, has years of professional and academic experience in education, organizational management, and leadership development in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She is a consummate teacher with a contagious enthusiasm and love for lifelong learning, and an innovative professor with a devotion to education and teaching. She is a published author, a sought-after presenter, and a gifted administrator. Dr. Friedrich currently serves as the Director of Digital Discipleship at Mt. Bethel UMC, in Marietta, Georgia. She is an alumnus of Asbury Seminary where she earned an MA in Christian Education and also holds an earned doctorate in Higher Education from the University of North Texas.
I wish to congratulate and welcome the new Board members into ATS Board of Trustees. I pray their coming and the Board will be of great blessings to the Seminary and the Christendom.
I thank God for ATS from where I graduated nearly 70 years ago…it looks like its future will be a better gospel world challenger. Keep holiness alive.
We are so happy to see David Olshine as a new member of the board. We went to Asbury with him in the 1980’s and loved his passion for the Lord and His work. All the best!
I’m not familiar with the first two additions but am familiar with Dr. Friedrich. Nonetheless, have to confirm these are most outstanding selections. May the Holy Spirit be with them and all the other Trustees as the Seminary (of all seminaries) carry on with the labors in the Kingdom of God.