The Life and Ministry of

Dr. Tharon H. Daniels

Tharon H. Daniels was born on the NNU campus in Samaritan Hospital on January 8, 1941 to M. Harold and Edith Daniels. After being raised in a pastor's home, he graduated from Pasadena College (Point Loma Nazarene) with a degree in Sociology, married another pastor's kid, Barbara Carpenter Daniels, and headed to Nazarene Theological Seminary where he completed a Master of Divinity degree. Tharon and Barbara pastored in Kansas, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. Tharon's longest and most significant ministry tenures were nineteen years as Senior Pastor at the Aurora Nazarene Church in Seattle, Washington, and ten years as District Superintendent of the Northwest Oklahoma District. Pastor Tharon was known and loved for his humor, his warmth, his graciousness, his vulnerable integrity, and his patient yet visionary church leadership. He loved ministry so much that he never really retired, serving at Pasadena First, Sun City First, and Nampa College Churches in his later years, right up until a few weeks before his passing. NNU has been, and continues to be, a significant place for the Daniels family. In addition to being Tharon's birthplace, he served on the university’s board for several years, both children, Scott and Christa, are NNU alumni, and Scott now teaches in the College of Theology and Christian Ministries. Always a strong advocate for education and preparation for ministry, in the middle of his ministry years, Tharon went back to school and completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

The Daniels family has started the Daniels Family Ministry Scholarship to honor the life and ministry of Tharon H. Daniels.  NNU and the Northwest region has now been home for four generations of the Daniels Family.  The ministry legacy of the Daniels Family also includes Harold (a former DS on the Colorado District and a former NNU Board Member) and Edith, Bert (a former DS on the Washington Pacific District and a former NNU Board Member) and Lola.

The Daniels Family Ministry Scholarship will help NNU students preparing for ministry who are committed to service within the Church of the Nazarene, have a long term goal of pursuing ordination and serving in a lead/preaching role within a Nazarene church.

If you would like to donate to the Daniels Family Ministry Scholarship, please click the button below.

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