Dr. Darrell Wesley (’88)

2020 Distinguished Alumni Citation

By Katie Noah Gibson
ACU Today Fall-Winter 2021

The academic résumé of Dr. Darrell Wesley (’88) is impressive. The retired U.S. Navy chaplain and full-time minister holds four master’s degrees and two doctorates, in addition to his undergraduate degrees from Southwestern Christian College and ACU. But Wesley, now the senior pastor at Amos Temple in Riverside, California, said his academic journey began with “profound intellectual insecurities.”

Always interested in philosophy and theology, Wesley struggled academically and personally once he transferred from SwCC to ACU. Though he had great respect for his professors (and gained some valuable early preaching experience), Wesley found it difficult to be one of the few Black students among white students and faculty on the Hill.

He persevered, earning master’s degrees from ACU and the University of Tennessee, but he knew he lacked the philosophical chops – and the confidence – to enter a Ph.D. program. Wesley instead joined the Navy as a chaplain, enrolling in a Doctor of Ministry program during his active service. He served 23 years, retiring with the rank of captain. Although there are few Black officers in the Navy, Wesley had several mentors of different races who provided valuable support during his career.

While in the Navy, Wesley earned a D.Min. degree, then decided to make another attempt at a Ph.D. program. He enrolled in an analytic philosophy class to brush up, and after struggling initially, decided to find the confidence he needed to succeed – even if he had to fake it at first.

“For the rest of that semester, on my 50-minute drive to class, I told myself, ‘I am brilliant’ over and over, even though I didn’t believe it,” Wesley said. “But the rest is history.” He went on to earn a master’s degree from Yale University, a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University and an M.A. in national security and strategic studies from the Navy War College.

This year, Wesley has conducted much of his ministry work virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a definite switch from shipboard life in the Navy, but he praises his colleagues in both places for their intelligence, drive and support. “We miss in-person worship, Bible classes and meetings,” Wesley admits. But he and his colleagues continue to pursue the church’s “NFL” vision: growing in numbers, faith and love.