Ed Wrather

BIO: Ed Wrather grew up on a farm in western Oklahoma and his exposure to God was primarily through Vacation Bible Schools while he was a child. The family did attend a Methodist church for two years while he was growing up. He was saved a few months after he was married, after hearing his wife share her testimony. He was saved in the study of Pastor Finley Tinnin who was the pastor of the Baptist Temple in Oklahoma City a Southern Baptist Church.

Ed received a BA in Political Science from the University of Central Oklahoma and a M. Ed. in Social Sciences with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He received a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries.

Ed has been the writer of the Burning Bush Devotional since 1998 currently with 14,000 subscribers to the email version. He has been a pastor for 25 years and prior to the pastorate was actively engaged in ministry while he was a Sr Probation and Parole Officer. Prior to the pastorate he was ordained as a Deacon and served as Chairman of Deacons, Chairman of Trustees, Chairman of Pastor Search Committee, Chairman of Nominating Committee, Sunday School Director, Director of Single Adult Department, Adult and Youth Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, Small Group Leader and in various other capacities of service.

Ed began to preach in 1990 and was called to his first pastorate in that year. He has been the pastor of five Baptist churches, one of the churches he has been the pastor of twice. His call to preach and to evangelism comes from Mark 5:18-19, "And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled." Also from the parallel passage in Luke 8:38-39, "Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 'Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.' And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him." As one commentary says, "Jesus had to leave, but He left a preacher behind."