Q&A with Dr. Gregg Chenoweth Olivet The Magazine (OTM): How does serving as a leader deepen your personal relationship with God? Dr. Gregg Chenoweth (GC): The longer I live, the clearer I am that God is sovereign in ways that only hindsight can show. I’m on assignment from Him, and I want to number my days right. Miracles are happening somewhere today. I want to hijack my own sense of the mundane and participate in His remarkable things happening every day. OTM: Is there one word you want associated with your leadership? GC: Hope. Hope is a gift you can give other people or borrow as needed. A centering verse for me is Romans 15:13; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” You overflow by the power of the Spirit — it’s supernatural. I want to be life-giving to others, not toxic.
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OTM: You are a seasoned international traveler. How has traveling influenced your life? GC: Travel has been the most unexpected joy of my life. As a teenager, I never dreamed of the places I’ve been able to go. Once you stand on the other side of the planet, you’ll never be the same. I have a distinct memory of preaching in a small dwelling off the beaten path in Kenya. This area had no running water, no electricity, no currency. The people would trade pigs and vegetables as currency. That I would stand there, sharing the hope of the Gospel, created in me such a sense of gratitude. I thought, ‘God, what have you done in my life to get me here?’ OTM: Olivet is an extension of the Church of the Nazarene. How do you hope to continue creating an environment that welcomes students of all faith backgrounds? GC: Denominations are not fractures in the Kingdom of God but emphasis groups. Our emphasis is the optimism of the Gospel, that
by the power of God our nature can be changed so we are never again slaves to sin, then participating with God to break forth His Kingdom here. I want students from all backgrounds to hear our emphasis, get into the Scripture and, Lord willing, I want their encounters with God to change their nature. But I also benefit from the liturgy among Catholics and intensity of Charismatics as examples. OTM: What are a few memorable moments from your time as a student? GC: There are many sacred spaces. On the fourth floor of Burke in the fall of 1986, Dr. David Kale told me that, academically, I could perform better than what I was doing. His comment stung at first, but it unlocked a desire to get serious about my studies that lasted through a Ph.D. In Chapman Hall, I met friends with whom I’m still close. I was also asked to lead a Bible study with my friends. That birthed in me a leadership identity I hadn’t yet explored. OTM: Is there someone associated with Olivet that you particularly admired or learned from?
GC: I talk a lot about four voices that constantly shape my decisions. The voice of the pastor from my grandpas, the voice of the teacher from my mom, the voice of “papa” because I want to be a good ancestor, and the voice of the entrepreneur from my dad. For example, my dad was very philanthropic, but he was actually kicked out of Olivet for stealing from the bookstore to give things to my mom. I try to mimic his entrepreneurial spirit but not his naughtiness! But his voice helps me be patient with rascals. OTM: Legacy is obviously important to you. Tell us about your kids. GC: We say an inheritance goes in your hand, but much better is a legacy put in your heart. My adult kids and their spouses are awesome! It’s an embarrassment of riches. They’re all ambitious, learned, wise and committed to their faith. I’m so blessed to be their dad. My family is probably the most important thing I’ll ever do. In them is my most lasting legacy.