35 Years of Service: Randall Younker

Professor of Archaeology and History of Antiquity, Department of Old Testament

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Randy Younker is an outstanding archaeologist, researcher and communicator, whose contribution to the illumination of biblical backgrounds and history is internationally well known among scholars and many others. He has continued and expanded the work of the Siegfried H. Horn Archaeological Institute by leading excavations at Tall Jalul in Jordan and San Miceli in Sicily.

His passion for discovering new data and insights relevant to the Bible is contagious. Randy has a passion for upholding the authority and historical reliability of the Bible, and in illuminating its teachings through discoveries made in archaeological excavations. He has given spirited and insightful lectures on the Bible and archaeology in many and varied venues throughout the world and also has contributed to numerous prestigious publications that have been supportive of the historicity of the Bible records.

Randy has upheld the highest standards of archaeological fieldwork, demonstrating to the scholarly world the excellence of “the Adventist way” of doing archaeological excavations. His research on issues in origins has inspired Seminary students in his Issues in Origins class and he has advanced the understanding of the opening chapters of Genesis through his publications on this subject.

His influence has gone far beyond the confines of Andrews University and the Seventh-day Adventist community. Randy has been in leadership positions at the highest levels of archaeological societies and has frequently engaged in collaborative efforts with non-Adventist archaeologists.

Randy’s congenial, enthusiastic spirit and warm comradery with his colleagues at Andrews University and fellow archaeologists in other institutions, have made a profound and lasting positive impact upon all those who have had the privilege of working with him. As a teacher, colleague and friend, he is warm, energetic and has a great sense of humor. There are no dull moments with Randy Younker.

May he continue to flourish and benefit many people. Thank you, Randy, for 35 years of dedicated service at Andrews University.