Maxie D. Dunnam is President Emeritus of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he also served as president from 1994 through 2004. Widely known as an evangelist, leader, and pioneer in small-group ministries, he organized and pastored three United Methodist churches before becoming the world editor of the Upper Room Fellowship. He created the Upper RoomCursillo that later became the Walk to Emmaus. He was born in Deemer, Mississippi. He was educated at the University of Southern Mississippi and gained a B.Sc. in 1955 then a M.Th. from Emory University in 1958. In 1977 he was conferred a D.D. from Asbury Theological Seminary. Dunnam served twelve fruitful years as senior minister of the six-thousand-member Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. His tenure at Christ Church was marked by a commitment to evangelism, inner-city ministries, housing for the working poor, outreach to the recovering community, and innovative worship. Dunnam’s extensive pastoral experience includes church planting, rural churches, and suburban and regional congregations in Mississippi, Georgia, California, and Tennessee. He has served as president of the World Methodist Council and is currently on its Executive Committee. He also served as chairman of the Methodist World Evangelism Committee. He is a director of the Board of Global Ministries of the UnitedMethodist Church and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Theological Schools. He is recognized throughout Methodism for his commitment to evangelism and renewal. He, along with many other visionaries within the church, were influenced by the teachings and leadership of the Rev. Sam S. Barefield, Jr, Wesley Foundation Director at Mississippi Southern from 1950 - 1957. In 1989 he was inducted into the Foundation for Evangelism’s Hall of Fame. In 1992, he was awarded the Chair of Distinction by the World Methodist Council, and the following year received the Philip Award for Distinguished Service in Evangelism. Dr. Dunnam has authored more than forty books, most notably The Workbook of Living Prayer, which sold over one million copies, Alive in Christ, This Is Christianity, and two volumes in The Communicator’s Commentary series. He is also well known for his radio series "Perceptions." Dunnam is one of the founders and leaders of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church.
