Thursday, February 15, 2007
- NTS Connection
Earl Lee-Estelle Crutcher Scholarship of Distinction
Raised in India, Rev. Estelle Crutcher was ordained in 1931. She pastored churches in Florida, New York and New Jersey before entering into full-time evangelism, which allowed her to travel the world. Janine Metcalf wrote that she seeks, "the holy boldness of evangelist Estelle Crutcher to preach with power..." (http://www.nazarene.org/ansr/articles/metcalf_janine_04.pdf), as Rev. Crutcher is a mentor to many women in ministry. Rev. Crutcher passed away in 1994 at the age of 97.
Rev. Earl Lee married Estelle Crutcher's daughter, Hazel, and they served in ministry together first pastoring in Maine and New York. The Lees served as missionaries in India. Then, they pastored Nampa First Church and Pasadena First Church.
Both of these individuals left behind an amazing legacy prior to their passing. The Scholarship of Distinction will begin this fall (2005) with full funding for a full-time NTS student.
More information on Rev. Earl Lee
Rev. Earl Lee was a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts and served the Lord through the Church of the Nazarene by pastoring in Rockland, Maine; Flushing, New York; and Kingston, New York. From 1946-1960 Dr. Lee and his wife, Hazel, served as missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene in India in the capacity of teacher and administrator. From India, they returned to the U.S. to pastor in Nampa, Idaho; and in Pasadena, California. In 1970, Earl was honored with the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Pasadena College. In a tribute given at that time, he was described as mastering the “elusive goal of communicating the Word of God in a contemporary style, while preserving its magnificence, beauty and power.” Dr. Lee was also honored as the Staley Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series Speaker in various colleges and seminaries around the country. Dr. Lee was also named NTS Preacher of the Year in 1968. Dr. Lee retired from the active pastorate in 1984.
One of the lasting influences of Earl’s ministry came through the Tape Ministry, “Cassettes for Christ” begun in Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene. His sermons on tape traveled to 90 countries, serving 45 different denominations. A total of 3,000 tapes were mailed out weekly. Dr. Lee was instrumental in raising funds for the establishment of the Lamb’s Club in New York City.
The Lee’s received special recognition from the Nazarene Publishing House for their book, The Cycle of Victorious Living, written by both Earl and Hazel, which has sold over 100,000 copies and has been translated into 6 languages.
Following retirement, the Lees continued to minister globally in local churches and retreat centers.
Dr. E. Dee Freeborn, Professor of Spiritual Formation at NTS, served as an associate pastor under Dr. Lee. Dr. Freeborn comments: “I’m not sure where my ministry began and his ended…he [Dr. Lee] had such a tremendous influence upon my spiritual and pastoral formation. Dr. Lee was nothing short of a model for the way I’ve developed my own philosophy of ministry.”
Dr. Lee passed away October 9, 1998 after a brief struggle with cancer. Hazel Lee, along with the rest of the family, wished to have Dr. Lee memorialized by providing scholarship monies to worthy students attending NTS.