Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Professor, Garland Owensby unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in a fatal Waxahachie, Texas, accident. In the fall of 1998, Garland Owensby started working as a teacher at Southwestern. He serves as the school’s professor and coordinator for the youth and student ministries. He is committed to preparing young people for a lifetime of youth ministry.
In Pennsylvania’s Kennett Square, Owensby grew up. He is married to Tiffani (Hester), with whom he has three sons: Logan (2000), Austin (1997), and Bryson.
Garland served as a children’s/teen evangelist with Don Triplett and the Castillo del Rey team in El Salvador, Central America, before to coming to Southwestern. He then worked as a local church minister, first as the children’s and youth pastor at Northside Assembly of God in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and later as the youth pastor at First Assembly of God in Ocala, Florida.
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Garland graduated with a B.A. in pastoral ministries from the Assemblies of God’s Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida. He graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a Master of Science in Practical Theology and a Master of Arts in Bible & Theology. A doctorate in educational ministries was also earned by him from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. The doctoral project assisted students to incorporate classic spiritual disciplines into their lives.
Owensby was active in evangelistic ministry speaking in churches, youth groups, public school assemblies, training, youth camps, and conventions across the nation. His engaged, humorous, and biblical preaching style made him a favorite of churches.
Owensby has contributed to YouthWorker Journal, Youth Leader Magazine, The Ocala Star Banner, the Pentecostal Evangel, TheRomantic.com, The52.com, Momentum Leadership Training, The Evangel, and the book “Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks 3” edited by Wayne Rice and to Group Magazine writing the feature article “Uncommon Communion”.