Harold Shank currently works as a consultant with faith based organizations. He provides services including writing Bible study material, offering support for those working with troubled children and families, and helping Christian leaders around the globe to obtain advanced educational degrees in the US.
He serves as the national spokesperson for the Network 1:27 (formerly known as Christian Child and Family Services Association, CCFSA). He has advocated on behalf of Christian child care since 1996.
In his role with Network 1:27, Harold speaks and writes articles and books promoting Christian child care. His work to promote Christian child care raises the awareness among churches and Christians nationwide.
Harold’s latest books take up the biblical perspective on children. Listen and Make Room–Joining God in Welcoming Children (Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2020) has 44 short chapters on children. The book takes up the mission to children, listening to children, listening to what God says about children, making room and hope. A whole section of GodWorks—Joining Jesus on the Journey (Nashville: 21st Century Christian, 2016) reflects on the next generation. In Listening to His Heartbeat–What the Bible
Says about the Heart of God (Joplin, MO: College Press, 2009) the climatic chapter looks at how God has vulnerable and unwanted children at the core of His heart. His commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy (forthcoming) gives voice to the concerns about children in the fifth book of the Old Testament.
Harold has preached the Gospel for over fifty years. He has served as president of Ohio Valley University in Vienna, West Virginia; professor at Harding School of Theology and Oklahoma Christian University; and for 32 years he was associated with the Highland Street Church of Christ in Memphis, TN. In the latter role he led in church planting and developing ministries among the poor.
Harold is a 1972 graduate of Oklahoma Christian with a B.A. in Bible. He received his M.A. and M.A.R. from Harding School of Theology. His Ph.D. in Theology is from Marquette University.
He is also the author of Loosening Your Grip (1st ed. Fort Worth: Sweet, 1994. 2nd ed. Nashville: Welverst, 2000); Up Close and Personal: Embracing the Poor, with Ron Bergeron and Anthony Wood (Joplin, MO: College Press, 2000); Children Mean the World to God (Nashville: 21st Century Christian, 2001); The Minor Prophets, Vol. 1, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press, 2001); It’s All About God with David Ralston (Nashville: 21st Century Christian, 2004); Introduction to the Pentateuch (Searcy, AR: Truth for Today 2018); and Judges and Ruth, Truth for Today Commentary (Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2021). He provided several chapters in Unfinished Reconciliation: Justice, Racism, and Churches of Christ, edited by Gary Holloway and John York (Revised Edition, Abilene: ACU Press, 2013).
Harold and his wife Sally are both members of the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, OK, where Harold serves as an elder. They have two adult sons. Daniel married to Victoria is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO, while Nathan married to Manda is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. They have four grandchildren–Carina, Hannah, Amos and Mailon.