Centennial History Writer, History Instructor
Box 3000, Hesston, KS 67062
620-327-8248
johns@hesston.edu
Office Location: Smith Center 131
Courses taught:
History of World Civilizations I
History of World Civilizations II
Hesston College Centennial Pages
Faculty Profile
About John Sharp
John E. Sharp has been hired by Hesston College to write the college's centennial history book. The college, which opened its doors in September 1909, will celebrate its centennial during the 2009-10 school year. He will teach one World Civilizations class each semester.
Sharp began his new job August 8, 2005. He left his position as director of the Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee and Archives in Goshen, Ind., after 10 years.
Sharp is a 1973 graduate of Hesston. He holds a bachelor's degree in communication from Goshen (Ind.) College (1976), and a master of divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind. (1983/2005). He served as assistant to the chaplain at Hesston College 1972-74, and served in church relations and admissions 1973-75.
Sharp has also been a pastor. He served as youth pastor at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston 1977-80, as minister of Christian education at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., 1980-81, as lead pastor at Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, Pa., 1983-89, and pastor of Mennonite Church of Scottdale (Pa.) 1989-95.
Sharp has been an instructor of elderhostel classes on Amish life and culture; a tour leader for Anabaptist heritage tours to Europe; an author of various articles; and editor of the Mennonite Historical Bulletin (1995-2005) and Gathering at the Hearth: Stories Mennonites Tell, published by Herald Press in 2001.
He is married to Michele Miller Sharp, a 1974 graduate of Hesston College, now a physician assistant in family practice. They have three adult children: Erin is a graduate of Goshen College, teaches elementary music in Denver public shools, and plays violin in the Denver Philharmonic Orchestera; M. J. (Michael) is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, and is director of the Military Counseling Network, Bammental, Germany; and Laura is a graduate of Hesston College, and is currently a junior at Goshen College.
Papers
"They started here. Now they are everywhere - a Pastoral Ministries retrospective"