Olen Henson

Olen Henson serves the Community of Christ in the office of Evangelist.  He was ordained to this ministerial role in 1979.  Prior to his call to serve as an Evangelist, Olen has also ministered in the offices of  Priest, Elder and High Priest.  He has also served as congregational pastor and counselor, as well as on the Stake High Council.

Olen, and his wife Emma, attend the Xenia IL congregation.  They have two children:  a daughter, Linda Espiritu Santo; and a son, Donn Henson.

Olen brings to his ministry a strong educational and work experience background, including a Masters in educational counseling, and a Masters in Social Work.  He has served as a Mental Health worker and Director of the Head Start program, done administrative work at Drake University, as Director of New Careers with the disadvantaged.  He has also served as a pilot in the US Air Force.

Olen has traveled extensively in his ministry, sharing the gospel message in Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, England, Israel, New Jersey, Georgia, South Dakota, Florida, Nebraska, etc.

His favorite scripture comes from the Bible's I Corinthians 13:1-3, paraphrased:  "Though I speak in tongues of men and angels, though I have the gift of prophecy, though I give myself to be burned, if I do not have love, I am nothing.  This, Olen says, is "the core of my theology".

Olen tries to proclaim Christ by accepting everyone - the "down and outers", the crumbs of society, by helping them to see their worth to him, and more importantly, their worth to Christ.  "I see Jesus' weeping eyes in the saddest, and the laughing eyes in the happy.  I must see them as Jesus sees them - they are all of worth to Him.  I have tried to do away with my judgmental nature."