Mike Rakes is an American pastor, educator and academic administrator. He is the fifth and current president of Evangel University. Rakes became Evangel's president in July 2021, taking over responsibilities from George O. Wood, who served as interim president after Carol Taylor retired in November 2020.

Early life and education

Rakes graduated with a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministries from Central Bible College in 1985 and a master's degree in Biblical Literature from the

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) is a seminary located in Springfield, Missouri. History The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary was founded in 1972. The enrollment as of Fall 2006 was 474. In 2010, the school was merged with ...

in 1993. He received a Master of Divinity in 1997 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2000 from

Biola University Biola University () is a private, nondenominational, evangelical Christian university in La Mirada, California. It was founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. It has over 150 programs of study in nine schools offering bachelor's, ...

Career

Rakes started his career in higher education in 1993 as a faculty member at Southeastern University, an Assemblies of God institution and became the school's vice president for student development in 2000. While serving as Pastor at Winston-Salem First Assembly of God, Rakes established Bridges Christian College in 2011 and served as president until 2015. The school is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and prepares students for full-time ministry serving as a precursor to a seminary education. Beginning in 2013, Rakes served on the board of trustees at

Oral Roberts University Oral Roberts University (ORU) is a private evangelical university in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 1963, the university is named after its founder, evangelist Oral Roberts. Sitting on a campus, ORU offers over 70 undergraduate degree programs ...

in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He resigned when he became a finalist for Evangel University president.

Publications

2022-03-03 President Rakes Book Club Social-1

* 2015 ''Slings and Stones: How God Works in the Mind to Inspire Courage in the Heart'' * 2021 ''Surrendered & Unafraid: The Flourishing of Faith During Seasons of Suffering''

Personal life

Rakes is married to Darla Rakes. The couple's daughter, died in 2019 from a rare form of blood cancer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rakes, Mike Evangel University Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Seminary presidents American Assemblies of God pastors Central Bible College alumni Biola University alumni Southeastern University (Florida) alumni Oral Roberts University people University and college founders Year of birth missing (living people) Living people