A Georgia Baptist Institution
Dr. Aaron J. Werner
Dean of the Chapel and Assistant Professor of Religion
706-233-7321
awerner@shorter.edu
Dr. Aaron Werner is the Dean of the Religious Development and an Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Shorter College. After graduating from high school in Maine, Dr. Werner studied at the University of Maine and then earned a B.S. in Biology from Liberty University (1994). Later, he attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a M.Div. (2002), and a Ph.D. (2007).
Occupationally, Dr. Werner has pastored at churches in Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, and California including the 16,000-member First Baptist Church of Springdale, Arkansas. Dr. Werner has also held various secular jobs such as being a professional SCUBA diver, an EMT, a collegiate NCAA Division I Track & Field coach, a high school math and science teacher, and a commercial lobsterman on a boat that makes “The Deadliest Catch” look like a summer vacation. In fact, from 1981to 1996 Dr. Werner captained his own lucrative lobster boat off the coast of Maine. Consequently, he learned early in life that financial success cannot bring happiness. Shortly thereafter, God called him into fulltime Christian ministry. Athletically, Dr. Werner is a competitive cyclist for the Harbin Clinic / Rome Velo Cycling Team. Recently, he competed in an Ironman 70.3—a triathlon consisting of 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. In his college days, Dr. Werner competed in the decathlon—track & field’s most demanding event—and was ranked as one of the best in the NCAA division I. |
 |
He is, however, not the only athletic person in his family. His wife, Kathy, is also a competitive athlete. In fact, she turned down a full soccer scholarship at the University of Kentucky to play basketball (her second sport) at a different NCAA Division I University. Presently, she is a competitive runner winning most of the races she enters. Dr. Werner proposed to his wife while skydiving above the Florida Keys. The Werners are the proud parents of four young girls—the eldest was born in 2003 and the youngest was born in 2008.
In his free time, Dr. Werner enjoys deer hunting, kayak surfing, freedive (breath holding) spearfishing, and reading apologetics or philosophy. He is currently working on a book titled “Good Answers to Great Questions.” It attempts to answer questions such as “Does God Really Exist?” and “If God Exists, Why Is There So Much Evil in The World?” Dr. Werner also writes athletic devotionals for the Christian magazine “Sports Spectrum.” One can find additional information regarding Dr. Werner and his work on his website, which is www.aaronjwerner.com
For website problems or questions, please email dthompson@shorter.edu