Dr. Arden Autry – A devoted teacher in the Word

Arden Autry graduated from ORU in 1970 with a bachelor’s in Bible and a minor in New Testament Greek. Later he earned a doctorate from Baylor, but his love for teaching began in high school. Autry joined Future Teachers of America to spend more time with his girlfriend. Little did he know that the moment he taught a class, he would be called to teaching. “A magic moment happened … I was explaining algebra homework to the students. My cousin was in the class and she looked confused. After explaining a little more, I saw her face change from being confused to suddenly getting it.” That magic moment made Arden want
to devote himself to teaching. 

In college, he acknowledged his call to Christian ministry, but he realized his Bible professors were fulfilling their own ministry. “They were teaching me the Word of God.” When asked why he chooses to teach versus pastoring, Arden said pastoring “doesn’t satisfy me like teaching does; I feel like it’s what God put me on earth to do.” 

After teaching at ORU and serving as Adult Education minister at First United Methodist (FUMC), Arden and his wife June moved to Ireland to start a Scripture school. Upon returning to Tulsa, he served as a scholar-in-residence at FUMC. He began teaching Monday School at First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa in 2018. 

“The most important shaping for our thinking and feelings is God’s Word.”
– Dr. Arden Autry

On topics ranging from The Four Gospels to The Apostles Creed, ask any of his students and they will tell you how enriching his teaching is. Autry disciples to his students through teaching the Word of God. If you ask him, he will remind you of the importance of being in the Word and how elevating it will be in your everyday life. “The most important shaping for our thinking and feelings is God’s Word. Growth in joy and trust doesn’t happen by accident. Growth needs cultivation. We need to think more and more after the mind of Christ through Scripture. We need to be deliberate about it.”