Gustavo A. Crocker
Gustavo A. Crocker | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Gustavo A. Crocker, 41st General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene | |
| 41st General Superintendent Church of the Nazarene | |
| Assumed office June 27, 2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 27, 1963 San Jerónimo, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala |
| Spouse(s) | D. Rachel Crocker (m. March 22, 1986) |
| Alma mater | Universidad Mariano Gálvez (B.A.) University of Cincinnati (M.A.) Regent University (Ph.D.) |
| Profession | Architect Missionary Administrator General Superintendent |
Gustavo A. Crocker (born July 27, 1963) is an ordained minister and 41st general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. He was elected to the denomination's highest office on June 26, 2013, at the 28th General Assembly and Conventions in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1]. A native of Guatemala, he is the first person from Central America to hold the office and the second general superintendent elected while residing outside of the USA/Canada Region.[2]
Early life[edit]
Gustavo A. Crocker was born on July 27, 1963, in San Jerónimo, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. His parents already had seven children, and when his mother learned she was pregnant with an eighth child, she considered getting an abortion. Crocker credits the teachings of the Church of the Nazarene for instilling a deep respect for the sanctity of life in his mother, causing her to choose to forego any plans to terminate the pregnancy.[3]
Crocker's parents believed education would provide the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. To pursue this, the family moved to a poor peripheral town near Guatemala City. At the age of 11, Crocker was awarded a scholarship to attend San Sebastián Junior High School, one of the most prestigious Roman Catholic private schools in the nation. He earned the "Excellence in Academic Achievement" medal for three consecutive years.
Crocker graduated in 1980 from the vocational high school Insituto Técnico Industrial George Kerschesteiner in the city of Mazatenango. It was during this time he represented San Jerónimo at the state Olympiads, where, in 1980, he won the state championship in chess.
In August 1981, Crocker's brother, Moises, was assassinated. The horror and grief of this tragedy triggered a period of deep soul searching, culminating in his conversion at a youth camp on April 3, 1983.
Education[edit]
Crocker originally intended to devote himself to a career in architecture. He attended Universidad Mariano Gálvez in Guatemala City, Guatemala, where he graduated with highest honors in 1988, earning a B.A. He obtained licensure as an architect in October of that year.
He earned a Fulbright Scholarship and earned an M.A. degree in 1992 from the University of Cincinnati in community planning. In 2001, he earned a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Regent University. His dissertation was entitled "Total Quality of Charitable Service: Profiles in Excellence in Christian Relief and Development Organizations." While in graduate school in Cincinnati, Crocker sensed God's call to devote his life to full-time Christian service. In January 1992 he began working for the Church of the Nazarene. He was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene on April 11, 2003, by Dr. Paul G. Cunningham on the Mid-Atlantic District.
In recognition of his contribution to the development of the global church, Olivet Nazarene University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2014.
Professional Career and Ministry[edit]
Architect[edit]
Crocker started the architecture firm D.A.R. (Spanish for "to give"). The letters stand for “Development and Rural Architecture.” As an architect, he designed and oversaw the construction of over 75 urban and rural churches, one orphanage, and various homes and commercial buildings. As a town planner, he designed and oversaw the planning and development of the urban centers in the Guatemalan towns of Granados, Baja Verapaz; Tactic, Alta Verapaz; and Santa Cruz El Chol, Baja Verapaz.
Crocker returned to the School of Architecture, Universidad Mariano Gálvez as a professor, teaching in the areas of History of Architecture and Social Architecture. Proficient in several languages, he has also taught in several educational institutions in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. He has also been a guest lecturer at seminaries, colleges, and universities around the world.[4]
Church of the Nazarene[edit]
In response to a missionary call, Crocker moved to Quito, Ecuador in 1992. There, he coordinated the work of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries throughout the South America. In 1994, he was called to Kansas City, Missouri to coordinate Nazarene Compassionate Ministries throughout the world. He served in that capacity until January 1999. During this time, he served as vice president of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO) from 1997 to 1998.
Crocker took a 3-year hiatus from his work with the Church of the Nazarene to lead compassionate ministry work with like-minded Christian ministries. From 1999 to 2001, he served as director of field management for Compassion International. In 2001, he accepted an assignment as senior vice president for programs at World Relief Corporation of National Association of Evangelicals.
In 2004, Crocker was elected as regional director for the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene. In this capacity, he oversaw the strategy for church development over 93 nations and distinct political areas. During his 9-year tenure as regional director, the Eurasia Region saw unprecedented growth. Membership rose 76%, from 67,064 to 273,736. The number of churches grew by 80%, from 1,491 to 7,627. Ordained elders increased by 54%, from 337 to 734.
Crocker became the 41st general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene at the denomination's 28th General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana. The election took place after a record 53 ballots on June 26, 2013. In accepting the election, Crocker became the first person from Central America to be elected to the denomination's highest office and the second general superintendent to be elected while residing outside of the USA/Canada Region. In his acceptance remarks, he said, "I am Nazarene by choice, Guatemalan by birth, global by ministry.”
Author[edit]
Crocker has authored several books and articles that have been published in more than 20 languages.[5] His books include Created for Mission,[6] Eurasia: Bountiful Blessings, Principles of Church Planting Developing a Missional Church “The Jesus Way”, and Rhema: The Church’s Faith In Action: Resources for Compassionate Ministries and Community Transformation.
He has also authored published articles on the books Celebrating Children, ' 'Understanding God’s Heart for Children, We are the Church: The Untold story of God’s Global Awakening, and Children & Youth as Partners in Mission.
Personal life[edit]
Gustavo and Rachel Crocker were married on March 22, 1986. They reside in Lenexa, Kansas. They have two grown daughters.
References[edit]
- ↑ https://www.eurasiaregion.org/crocker-elected-gs-after-record-number-of-ballotsncn-news-staff/
- ↑ wadmin. "Crocker elected GS after record number of ballots". Eurasia Region. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- ↑ http://firstfridayletter.worldmethodistcouncil.org/2013/07/church-of-nazarene-elects-new-general-superintendents/
- ↑ "Gustavo Crocker | Church of the Nazarene". nazarene.org. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- ↑ "Gustavo Crocker | Church of the Nazarene". nazarene.org. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- ↑ Crocker, Gustavo; Broadbooks, Bob (2011). Created for Mission: Effective Models for Districts and Leaders. ISBN 978-0834128248. Search this book on
This article "Gustavo A. Crocker" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Gustavo A. Crocker. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
