Crandall University is pleased to welcome Dr. Isaac Soon as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies (NT). Dr. Soon (PhD, University of Durham, UK) will begin his time at Crandall University this summer. His appointment will help fill the need in the Religious Studies Department created by this year’s retirement of Dr. Stephen Dempster, who has served Crandall University for thirty-seven years.

Under the supervision of Professor Jane M.F. Heath, Dr. Soon recently defended his doctoral thesis entitled, “A Disabled Apostle: Impairment and Disability in the Letters of Paul.” His current research focuses on the disability and health of figures in the New Testament. It looks at how Christian texts and art depicted the physical appearance of key Christian leaders and what such portraits tell us about disability, gender, and trauma. His primary assignment at Crandall will focus on introducing undergraduates to the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament in its Graeco-Roman, Jewish, and early Christian context.

Prior to his studies at Durham, Dr. Soon earned an MPhil in New Testament from the University of Oxford, an MTh in Theology from Excelsia College (Sydney, Australia), a Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry from Alphacrucis College (Sydney, Australia), and a Diploma of Worship Ministry from Hillsong College (Sydney, Australia). He has published articles in the Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha and Reformed Theological Review, and has a number of forthcoming studies in Novum Testamentum, Early Christianity, Vigilae Christianae, the Journal for the Jesus Movement in its Jewish Setting, and the Journal of Disability and Religion.

Dr. Soon’s formative years were in the Canadian Brethren movement. His undergraduate and graduate work was undertaken at Pentecostal and Wesleyan institutions, and his study at Oxford and Durham connected him to the Anglican tradition.

“I look forward to joining Crandall University where I can continue to collaborate and learn from students and faculty from a variety of evangelical Christian traditions,” shared Isaac. “At Crandall, I would draw on my thirteen years of ministry experience at Hillsong Church. It will be a pleasure to continue this service in the local church community in Moncton.”

Dr. Jon Ohlhauser, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, was quick to share his enthusiasm: “We’re extremely excited to welcome Dr. Soon to our team. He comes to us, not only with high academic qualifications, but he also brings with him a wealth of experience with different Christian traditions that will no doubt be of great benefit to his students and the Religious Studies department as a whole.”