Dr. Frank B. Rice Jr.

Dr. Rice was saved at Houston Assembly of God in Houston Arkansas in 1938. He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on his 12th birthday, July 28, 1939. He was baptized in water the summer of 1939. He was ordained with the by the Arkansas district October 15, 1953. Dr. Rice is survived by two sisters, Gertrude & Glola. He was preceded in death by his brother, Norman & sister, Violet and his beloved wife, Ernestine.

Dr. Rice, who originated from Houston, Arkansas, received his B.S.E. at Arkansas State Teachers College in 1951. He then received his M.A. in 1962 from Memphis University. He earned his PhD at Washington State University in June 3, 1973.

He pastored 3 churches in Arkansas in his early years of ministry. Dr. Rice’s ministerial career is no less significant than his academic training. Ordained in the Assemblies of God in 1953, he served on the faculty of Southwestern Assemblies of God College in Waxahachie, Texas. He then served as Education Director at the First Assembly of God in West Memphis. His ministry touched youth early in his career.

He served as C.A. (Christ Ambassadors) representative for four years and as a Sunday School Representative for three years in Arkansas. His career in education was not only in the church, but it interfaced with public education in Arkansas where he taught for four years in the public schools in Arkansas. Dr. Rice transferred from the Arkansas District Council to the Northwest District Council (now known as the Northwest Ministry Network) in 1962. Dr. Rice began teaching classes at Northwest College (now known as Northwest University) in Kirkland, Washington in 1962. He became the academic dean at Northwest University from 1967-84.

Dr. Rice’s skills as a writer have found expression in such publications as the Pentecostal Evangel, Paraclete, and The Educator.

In academia, Dr. Rice has been widely recognized. He was given membership in Alpha Chi in 1951, he was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1973-74. In accrediting and intercollegiate circles, Dr. Rice’s services have been widely and actively sought out. He served on numerous examining teams for the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the American Association of Bible Colleges. He served on the Accrediting Commission of the American Association of Bible Colleges and served on such commissions as the Intercollegiate Relations Commission in the State of Washington and many important committees.

Dr. Rice was an Elder, associate Sunday School teacher and choir member at Neighborhood Church Bellevue, Washington where he was loved and esteemed. He also shared speaking engagements and engaged in overseas ministry when possible and edited for ICI. He also ministered in prayer ministries at Missionary Renewal Asia Pacific (MRAP) with Dr. Jack Rozell.

Above all else, Dr. Rice was a man of the Spirit. He was a man who knew God and emanated the qualities of being that transcended the temporal including his education training skills and professionalism. He was a man of prayer. Perhaps these qualities marked and distinguished him in a way that make his professional career at Northwest University something infinitely significant. He pre-eminently personified the finest values and traditions of Northwest College, which is grounded in the gifts and the callings of God.

Frank Rice, together with his wife, Ernestine, had a vast spiritual family of young people whose lives they have touched in the cause of education and pre-eminently in the cause of the Kingdom of God.