Shenk, Stanley C. (1919-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Sep 13 p. 3

Birth date: 1919 Mar 30

text of obituary:

Goshen professor shared love of Bible Shenk interpreted 'splendor' of God working in history

By Goshen College staff

GOSHEN, Ind. — Stanley C. Shenk, professor emeritus of Bible at Goshen College, who shared his love of Scripture as a teacher, pastor and writer, died Sept. 2 at Greencroft Healthcare Center in Goshen. He was 91.

Teaching at Goshen from 1965 to 1985, Shenk was known for his love of inductive Bible study, and he taught many students to use that method to unlock the Scriptures for themselves.

Through many trips to the Middle East, he developed a keen interest in the region. He led about a dozen tours to the Holy Land, including several Goshen College Middle East bible Seminars.

"We have lost a great servant of the church and Goshen College," said Goshen College President James E. Brenneman. "Generations of students, church members and others who have studied in the classroom or traveled with Stanley on one of his Middle East learning tours, as I had the privilege to do, remember him as one of the most engaging teachers of Scripture they ever had.

At the time of his retirement from Goshen College, Shenk said: "I'll miss the thrill of sharing special Bible passages with students in my survey course and interpreting the splendor of God working through history. I'll especially cherish the opportunities I had to encourage students who were considering the ministry."

Shenk was born to Coffman and Icie Pearl Shenk on March 30, 1919, in Denbigh, Va. He grew up in Washington; Versailles, Mo.; and Biglerville, Pa.