Barry Leventhal

Barry Leventhal is the Academic Dean at Southern Evangelical Seminary where he has taught since 1997.  The grandson of Orthodox Jews who immigrated from Russia and Hungary, he was raised in a Conservative Jewish home in Southern California.  As a student at UCLA, Barry was co-captain of the 1965 UCLA Football Team, which won the Rose Bowl in January 1966.  Also active in the band, he was graduated as a Blue Key Honor Graduate.  Most significantly, however, as a senior, Barry came to faith in Jesus as his personal Lord, Messiah, and Savior through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.

With his Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, Barry has helped plant several churches and has pastored two of them.  He has helped found Campus Crusade for Christ’s Athletes in Action and Christian Family Life Ministry, Inc., and has served as co-director of Ariel Ministries.  He has also served as a Professional Christian Counselor, Professor of Theology, and College President. 

Barry has authored many articles and has contributed to several books, including Suicide: A Christian Response and Why I Am a Christian.