Dr. Heller will be training us in discipleship and leadership development from April 14-17.
Dr. Wendell T. Heller was born and reared in Berne, Indiana, the son of Loren and Florence Heller. Before coming to know Jesus Christ as his Savior, he was involved in a critical automobile accident at the age of seventeen. After an extended period in the hospital, and shortly after being released, he trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior and answered the call to the ministry.
After graduating from high school, he attended Bob Jones University, graduating in 1952. Upon graduation, he pastored a church in south Georgia for five years. In 1957, he moved by faith to Indianapolis, Indiana to begin Colonial Hills Baptist Church, and remained as pastor for thirty-two years.
During his years as pastor in Georgia and Indiana, he took further graduate studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. In 1989, he resigned as pastor of Colonial Hills Baptist Church to begin a new itinerant ministry conducting Bible conferences, evangelistic meetings, stewardship and missionary conferences, men's and couples' retreats, as well as doing block teaching in Christian colleges and universities. He was honored by his alma mater in 1985 as "Alumnus of the Year," and has served on the Board of Trustees at Bob Jones University for many years. In addition, he has served as President of Global Baptist Mission, whose missionary work is centered primarily in the country of India, and on many other boards of fundamental Christian organizations.
He is married to the former Betty Elmore, whom he met while a student at Bob Jones University. They have been blessed with three wonderful children, who also attended Bob Jones University, and with nine grandchildren. They have been involved in full-time pastoral and itinerant ministry for 52 years, and continue a full schedule of meetings to the present time.