DR. RANDALL DOWNS
College of Theology
Title: Worship Arts Coordinator/Department Chair
Years at GCU: 1.5
Academic degrees: Undergraduate: B.S. in Worship Leadership and a B.A. in Music (Performance) from the University of Mobile (Mobile, Ala.); Master of Divinity with a Concentration in Missions from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (Memphis, Tenn.); Ph.D. in Church History with Minors in Missions and Biblical Counseling from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
Faculty scholarship (publications, scholarly presentations, fellowships, etc.): I’m still new in the world of academia. I presented my first (post-grad) scholarly presentation at Evangelical Theological Society in San Diego on Nov. 22, 2019. The title of the paper was “Cyril of Alexandria: Christ in the Book of Malachi.”
Notable research in your field: I am praying to grow in this area over the near future. Because of my dissertation topic, I’ve spent a great bit of time studying the Moravian Church and their mission efforts. These were remarkable men and women who were willing to give their all for the sake of the Gospel.
Notable employment in your field: I have served as a worship pastor in various churches for more than 20 years. Currently, I am the worship pastor of CrossLife Church in Anthem. We are a church plant that meets in Canyon Springs Elementary School.
What are you most passionate about in your field? I love building relationships. GCU provides the opportunity to build relationships with other colleagues, students and various pastors throughout the Valley. I am also an avid fan of music, whether performing or listening. It is a blessing to have a job doing what you love.
What aspect of your teaching style is the most distinctive and/or memorable? I enjoy lecturing but am also an fan of group work and discussion. I find it helpful to present on a topic and then have the students discuss and work on different aspects of the lecture. In my experience, this helps the material solidify in one’s memory.
What do you like to do for fun in your spare time? I am a big movie fan! My wife and I have AMC A-List passes, so we go see 2-4 movies a month. My favorite movie of all-time is "Jaws," with "Jurassic Park" coming in at a close second (both by Steven Spielberg and both animal movies).
What is something interesting about you that most people don't know? I play in a folk group called Loser’s Way Home. I am the songwriter, vocalist and guitarist. We have had the opportunity to play at some remarkable venues and events through the years.
