Portland,
Oregon, in 1940. At that time, while he was a
pastor, he continued his education, receiving a
Th.B. degree from Western Baptist Theological
Seminary in 1943. He later received a B.S. degree
from Lewis and Clark College in 1947. In 1950, He
moved his family to Chicago to pursue more studies.
There he received the degrees of B.D. and Th.M.
from the Northern Baptist Theological
Seminary. He
pastored a nearby church for the next eleven
years. It was in a densely populated urban area.
He worked there pastoring many emotionally
hurting people.
In 1956, Dr. Wagner became part-time chaplain at the Downey V.A. Mental Hospital, just north of Chicago. He served there for over four years. As he ministered, he took special notice of how Bible truths solve the emotional needs of people, both in and out of the hospital. His experience as a pastor-counselor and chaplain stimulated him to pursue research in the application of Biblical truth to human experience.
In 1961, he left his Chicago pastorate to accept the challenge of being the first counselor at the Narramore Christian Foundation, in California. (the origin of The Rosemead School of Psychology in La Mirada, CA) While he was a full-time counselor, Dr. Wagner studied and received the degree of Ph.D. in 1969 from the Southern California Institute of Psychology in Beverly Hills.
In 1979, Dr. Wagner moved to Atascadero where he began the Mid-Coast Counseling Service. In 1989, he retired from counseling. He devoted his time to writing, preparing practical studies which apply biblical truth. Shortly after retiring, he founded Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., so that his writings would be a blessing to many.
In July of 2005, while writing, his heart failed and the Lord took him home. He left his writings and his desire to mature the church to his son, Maurice T. Wagner, who seeks to faithfully publish and communicate the truths Dr. Wagner discovered.
In 1956, Dr. Wagner became part-time chaplain at the Downey V.A. Mental Hospital, just north of Chicago. He served there for over four years. As he ministered, he took special notice of how Bible truths solve the emotional needs of people, both in and out of the hospital. His experience as a pastor-counselor and chaplain stimulated him to pursue research in the application of Biblical truth to human experience.
In 1961, he left his Chicago pastorate to accept the challenge of being the first counselor at the Narramore Christian Foundation, in California. (the origin of The Rosemead School of Psychology in La Mirada, CA) While he was a full-time counselor, Dr. Wagner studied and received the degree of Ph.D. in 1969 from the Southern California Institute of Psychology in Beverly Hills.
In 1979, Dr. Wagner moved to Atascadero where he began the Mid-Coast Counseling Service. In 1989, he retired from counseling. He devoted his time to writing, preparing practical studies which apply biblical truth. Shortly after retiring, he founded Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., so that his writings would be a blessing to many.
In July of 2005, while writing, his heart failed and the Lord took him home. He left his writings and his desire to mature the church to his son, Maurice T. Wagner, who seeks to faithfully publish and communicate the truths Dr. Wagner discovered.
Dr.
Wagner was a pioneer Christian counselor. His work
began near
Dr.
Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M.,
Ph.D.
1914 † 2005
1914 † 2005