Life Pacific Seminary is pleased to announce the hire of two incredible faculty members, Dr. David Moore as Scholar in Residence and Dr. Aaron Friesen as part time (core) faculty for our seminary programs. We are excited about the quality of faculty God is bringing to LPU. After a national search, the team selected these two leaders for the upcoming season. Applications are now open for the new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Pentecostal Leadership program, launching in January 2026. This degree is designed to support experienced ministry leaders with the advanced tools, theological depth, and spiritual formation needed to navigate today’s pressing ministry challenges.
As the seminary prepares for this exciting launch, these two notable additions to the faculty will help shape the future of our Seminary and the lives of our students.
Dr. David Moore Appointed Scholar in Residence at Life Pacific Seminary
Life Pacific Seminary is honored to announce that Dr. David Moore will serve as Scholar in Residence, offering a guiding theological voice and mentorship to students and faculty. Dr. Moore is widely regarded as a premier Pentecostal scholar-practitioner and has long been a leader within the Foursquare movement. Dr. Ken Bringas, Director of LPU seminary states “It is with great delight that we welcome Dr. David Moore as a scholar in residence to LPU, a premier scholar-practitioner whose influence has helped bring the Pentecostal tradition to theological maturity. His voice in Pentecostal scholarship will significantly enrich the academic and spiritual formation of our students.”
“In the 20th century, the modern pentecostal and charismatic movements reshaped the landscape of global Christianity, spurring unprecedented growth that continues today. Life Pacific University, as a premier Pentecostal institution, trains young leaders and practitioners to be a vanguard for Christ’s mission in the 21st century. As a pastor and educator for 49 years, I want to wisely invest in those who will carry on the Holy Spirit’s work in our world. Rejoining LPU is opportunity to do just that. It’s a joy and privilege to serve in the new Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program. LPU is poised for the future and I’m thrilled to a part of it.” – Dr. David Moore
About Dr. Moore
Dr. Moore loves teaching and preparing Christian leaders for the 21st century. He brings to the classroom a unique combination of pastoral experience and academic training. He would often say “if you cut me, I bleed pastor,” pointing to his long and successful pastoral experience. Dr. Moore has earned two doctoral degrees as well as a strong and growing publication record that demonstrates his academic passion.
Publications
Books
- The Shepherding Movement: Controversy and Charismatic Ecclesiology. London: T & T Clark, 2003. (In second printing)
- Coauthor with Jack Hayford, The Charismatic Century: The Enduring Impact of the Azusa Street Revival. Nashville: Warner Faith, 2006.
- Coeditor, Renewal History and Theology: Essays in Honor of H. Vinson Synan. Cleveland: CPT Press, 2014.
- Coeditor, The Pastor & the Kingdom: Essays Honoring Jack W. Hayford Jr. Southlake, TX: TKU Press, 2017.
- Pastor Jack: The Authorized Biography of Jack W. Hayford. Colorado Springs: David C Cook/Gateway Publishing, October 2020.
Book Chapters/Journal Articles
- “Jack Hayford, the Security of the Believer, and the Need for Pentecostal Pastor-Theologians in.” in the book The Truth About Grace, Charisma House, 2018.
- “Empowered for Witness: The Holy Spirit and the Contemporary Mission of the Church,” in Spirit Empowered Christianity in the 21st Century, Charisma House, 2011.
- “Discerning the Times: The Victorious Eschatology of the Shepherding Movement,” in Perspectives in Pentecostal Eschatologies, 2010, Pickwick.
- “Jack W. Hayford and the ‘Mary Miracle’: A Case Study in Pentecostal Hermeneutics,” The Journal of Renewal Studies, Regent University, 2004.
- “The Shepherding, Discipleship Controversy” in Vinson Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit, 2001.
- “The Shepherding Movement: A Case Study in Charismatic Ecclesiology.” Pneuma: Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Fall 2000.
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
- Contributor (two articles) Encyclopedia of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity. Routledge, 2006.
- Contributor (eight articles) New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. Editor: Stanley Burgess, 2002
- Contributor (two articles) Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism. Boston: Brill, 2021.
Many other contributions to periodicals as well as presentations at academic conferences.
Our team is grateful for Dr. Moore’s desire to join LPU, “When I think of consequential scholars who have had an outsized impact in the Pentecostal movement, I think of none other than Dr. David Moore. As a university dedicated to being Christ-centered and Spirit-filled, we are honored to have Dr. Moore join our team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and the dedication of his heart to forming Spirit-led ministers who will have global impact.” says Dr. Jeff Tolle, Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry.
Dr. Aaron Friesen Appointed Faculty at LPU Seminary
(Masters in Divinity, MA in Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry)
Life Pacific Seminary proudly welcomes Dr. Aaron Friesen to its core faculty team, where he will serve as one of the lead instructors for the new Doctor of Ministry program. Dr. Friesen is a seasoned Foursquare pastor, scholar, and professor. Provost Dr. Daniel Ruarte affirmed “Dr. Friesen came as the top faculty for this position amongst a vast number of qualified candidates. We are looking forward to his contribution to the LPU core faculty team.” Dr. Friesen shares his heart for this new opportunity, “I’m excited to support the mission of LPU as a faculty member. Personally, I believe this new role is an excellent fit for my felt sense of gifting and calling from the Lord to help build bridges between academic theological study and practical ministry needs in local churches.”
About Dr. Friesen
Dr. Friesen is committed to the local church and pastoral service, a unique contribution to the scholar-practitioner culture LPU seeks to cultivate. He has been dedicated to teaching, scholarship and service which makes him an excellent candidate to train doctoral level students and understand both worlds, the church and the academy. Dr. Friesen is an author, a professor and a pastor proving this is a doable task.
Publications
Books
- The Norming the Abnormal: The Development of the Doctrine of Initial Evidence in Classical Pentecostalism. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2013.
- Foursquare Keystones, ed. Los Angeles: FMI Press, 2018.
Book Chapters/Journal Articles
- “Jack Hayford, the Security of the Believer, and the Need for Pentecostal Pastor-Theologians in.” in the book The Truth About Grace, Charisma House, 2018.
- “Empowered for Witness: The Holy Spirit and the Contemporary Mission of the Church,” in Spirit Empowered Christianity in the 21st Century, Charisma House, 2011.
- “Discerning the Times: The Victorious Eschatology of the Shepherding Movement,” in Perspectives in Pentecostal Eschatologies, 2010, Pickwick.
- “Jack W. Hayford and the ‘Mary Miracle’: A Case Study in Pentecostal Hermeneutics,” The Journal of Renewal Studies, Regent University, 2004.
- “The Shepherding, Discipleship Controversy” in Vinson Synan, The Century of the Holy Spirit, 2001.
- “The Shepherding Movement: A Case Study in Charismatic Ecclesiology.” Pneuma: Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Fall 2000.
- “Global Distinctives and Keystones of Foursquare U.S. Church” with Tammy Dunahoo, Pentecostal Education 8:2 (Fall 2023): 169-186.
- “Aimee Semple McPherson: Preaching to Capture the Imagination,” in A Legacy of Preaching: The Life, Theology and Method of History’s Great Preachers, Vol 2: Enlightenment to the Present Day, ed., Benjamin K. Forrest, Kevin L. King, Bill Curtis, and Dwayne Milioni (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018), p. 395-408.
- “Foursquare’s Distinct Pentecostal Ethos,” in Identity Keystones: What Makes Us Foursquare, ed. Sam Rockwell (Los Angeles: ICFG, 2017).
- “Classical Pentecostal Liturgy,” in Scripting Pentecost, ed. Mark Cartledge and A.J. Swoboda (Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, 2016).
- “Pentecostal Antitraditionalism and the Pursuit of Holiness,” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 23 (2014): 191-215. Winner of the 2015 Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarships Award of Excellence.
- Review of Intercultural Theology: Approaches and Themes by Mark J. Cartledge and David Cheetham, eds. Pneuma 35:1 (Spring 2013): 100101.
- “The Called Out of the Called Out: Charles Parham’s Doctrine of Spirit Baptism,” Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association 29:1 (2009), 43-55.
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
- Contributor Entries in Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, ed. George Thomas Kurian and Mark A. Lamport (Lanham, MD: Rowan and Littlefield, 2016).
Many other contributions to periodicals as well as presentations at academic conferences.
Dr. Jeff Tolle, Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry states “We are excited to welcome Dr. Aaron Friesen into his new faculty role at LPU. His commitment to local church ministry and his love for higher education form a powerful combination that will have a large impact on our doctoral students.”
Apply Now for the January 2026 Doctor of Ministry Cohort. Space is limited.
The Doctor of Ministry in Pentecostal Leadership is designed to cultivate Spirit-empowered leaders equipped to influence both church and culture through biblical depth, spiritual formation, and contextual leadership strategies.
Applications are now open for the January 2026 cohort.
➡️ To learn more or begin your application, visit: www.lifepacific.edu/dmin
