Biography
My name is Elisée Ouoba. I am a Professor of Biblical Studies at Spring Arbor University. I earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Wheaton College Graduate School and a Th.M. in Biblical Studies from the Bangui Evangelical School of Theology. I served as a missionary in Central African Republic where I spent most of my time teaching seminary students in the city of Bangui and preaching in local churches. Prior to my ministry in Bangui, I served as a Bible College professor and an associate pastor in my native country of Burkina Faso (West Africa). My current teaching and my research focus on biblical theology (especially biblical theology of mission) and biblical hermeneutics in the context of world Christianity.
Education
Ph.D., Biblical Theology (New Testament), Wheaton College Graduate School, IL
Th.M., Biblical Studies, Bangui Evangelical School of Theology, Central African Rep.
Why SAU
Proverbs 19:21 reminds that we make plans but ultimately God’s purpose for our lives prevails. In a way this sums up my journey to Spring Arbor University. I was finishing my doctoral degree and looking forward to a future that did not include teaching in the USA when God put me on a path that led me to SAU. Here I discovered a new way of doing ministry by bringing the Word of God and the Christian faith in conversation with various fields of study. As I teach and mentor students, write, and speak in various capacities, I seek to explore God’s world in all its aspects and complexities and to challenge students to pursue God’s truth wherever it takes them. In the end, teaching at SAU provides me with a unique opportunity to shape minds and character so that our graduates participate critically and meaningfully in God’s redemptive purposes around the world. I walk into the classroom each day thinking that I get to contribute to training future pastors, teachers, businesspeople, social workers, nurses, writers, engineers, elected officials, layers, diplomates, national and international leaders, etc. At SAU I get to answer daily the call of Jesus— “Follow me!” As I do so, I get to participate in God’s exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding mission to the world.