Biography
Educator, Pastor, Coach, and Servant-Leader
Dr. Donald L. Ward’s life reflects a lifelong commitment to education, leadership, faith, and service. Across the classroom, athletic field, college campus, council chamber, and pulpit, he has consistently sought to prepare others for lives of conviction, responsibility, and purposeful service.
Known throughout the Church of God community as Dr. Donald Ward, he has served as a teacher, coach, college administrator, pastor, Council chairman, writer, broadcaster, and mentor. His influence has reached several generations of students, ministers, and church members. His public service is especially associated with Ambassador College, later Ambassador University, Ambassador Bible College, and the United Church of God, where his contributions to biblical education and leadership development have remained central for decades.
A Journey of Faith
A life anchored in Scripture, carried forward by God’s grace.
-
1938Dr. Ward is born
-
1956Married Wanda
-
1961Earned Bachelor of Science Degree – Delta State University
-
1968Earned Master’s Degree – University of Southern Mississippi. Head Baseball Coach, and Offensive Coordinator in Football Coach at Delta State University
-
1973Earned degrees in Bachelor of Arts in Theology – Ambassador College, Doctorate in Education – East Texas State University, 18 graduate hours in theology – Southern Methodist University
-
2021Retired from active roles as a pastor, educator and church leader
-
2026Celebrated 70th Wedding Anniversary
Life in Pictures
A glimpse into the moments that shaped Dr. Ward’s life, family, and ministry.
-
1956 Celebrating his high school graduation
-
1956 Posing in his Chicago Cubs uniform
-
1956 Dr. Ward and Wanda celebrating their wedding day
-
1957 Named All-State and Honorable Mention All-American in junior college football
-
1967 Accepting roles as head baseball coach and football offensive coordinator at Delta State
-
1968 Coach Donald Ward and his Delta State University Baseball Team
-
1968 A member of Delta State’s coaching staff for three years
-
1968 Ready for the College World Series
-
1969 A look back at a memorable baseball season at Delta State
-
1969 A snapshot from the baseball days at Delta State
-
1969 Donald Ward as Coach and Deltans review winning era
-
1974 Poised to throw a football pass at Big Sandy
-
1976 Dr. Ward and Wanda at home in Big Sandy
-
1984 Four generations of the Ward family
-
1987 A nice catch of fish by Dr. Ward at Lake Loma
-
1987 - 1995 Dr. Ward served as president of Ambassador University
-
1988 Conversing with participants in the Japanese program
-
1989 Visits Ambassador University project in Jordan
-
1990 Showing off an impressive largemouth bass catch
-
1990 Dr. Ward at Big Sandy’s administration building grand opening
-
1990 Dr. Ward at a Big Sandy barn dance with his grandchildren
-
1990 - 1991 Big Sandy theology teachers pictured together with Dr. Ward
-
1993 The grandchildren enjoying a happy moment with Dr. Ward
-
1997 Enjoying a barn dance at Big Sandy
-
2006 The Wards celebrate 50 years of marriage
-
2008 Dr. Ward teaches first class at ABC in Cincinnati
-
2016 Mr. and Mrs. Ward celebrate 60 years of marriage
-
2026 The Wards celebrate 70 years of marriage
1 / 0
Early Years
Student-Athlete and Coach
Long before becoming a college president or church elder, Dr. Ward distinguished himself as a student-athlete at Delta State University. He was inducted into the Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 for his accomplishments in both football and baseball.
As a center fielder for the Statesmen in 1960 and 1961, he led the team in triples in 1960 and home runs in 1961, finishing the two seasons with a .304 batting average. On the football field, he played quarterback and defensive safety in 1959 and 1960. He helped lead Delta State to an 8–1 record and the university’s first postseason bowl appearance in 1959. During his football career, he intercepted 14 passes, threw seven touchdown passes, and averaged 19.1 yards per punt return.
A New Chapter at Ambassador College
The Ambassador Journey
In July 1969, Don and his wife, Wanda, moved their family to Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas. The move marked the end of what the United Church of God later described as a successful teaching and coaching career at Delta State University and the beginning of more than five decades of service connected with Ambassador and the Church of God.
Dr. Ward attended Ambassador College beginning in 1969 and served as both a student and faculty member from 1970 to 1972. In 1974, he became Dean of Faculty. He was ordained into the ministry on June 18, 1977.
Educational Leadership
Advancing Academic Excellence
One of Dr. Ward’s most important institutional contributions was his work toward accreditation and state certification. His efforts helped Ambassador College receive accreditation and obtain the authority necessary to confer degrees, enroll international students, make federal student loans available, and allow students to transfer credits to other institutions.
Although these achievements involved extensive administrative and technical work, their impact was deeply personal and practical. They helped students use their Ambassador education as a foundation for graduate study, professional careers, ministry, and service beyond the campus.
Expanding the Mission
Building Programs and Expanding Education
Dr. Ward’s influence extended far beyond formal administration. He founded or helped develop a number of educational, athletic, ministerial, and publishing initiatives, including Youth Education Services, Ambassador College’s intercollegiate athletic program, the Labor in the Word ministerial training program, World News and Prophecy, and the Ministerial Journal.
Ministry and Services
Service in the United Church of God
Following the formation of the United Church of God, Dr. Ward continued serving as an educator, pastor, and church leader. He pastored congregations in Texarkana, Tyler, Big Sandy, and Houston, Texas, as well as Ruston, Louisiana.
He also taught at Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he taught the institution’s first class and eventually instructed nearly every education and theology course in the curriculum. His Fundamentals of Theology course was later recorded for distribution through the church’s website and congregation libraries, allowing his teaching to reach audiences far beyond the classroom.
Retirement and Legacy
Family, Retirement, and Continuing Service
In 2021, Dr. Donald L. Ward retired after approximately 52 years of service connected with Ambassador College and Ambassador University in Big Sandy and Pasadena, Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati, numerous Worldwide Church of God congregations in Texas and Louisiana, and the United Church of God’s Council of Elders. The United Church of God honored Dr. Ward and his wife, Wanda, for their decades of faithful service, leadership, teaching, hospitality, encouragement, and commitment to students, ministers, and church members. The East Texas congregation also held a reception in their honor, giving members an opportunity to express their appreciation for the example and influence Don and Wanda had provided over many years.
Retirement, however, did not mean stepping away from Dr. Ward’s lifelong calling to teach and serve. He has continued to study Scripture, preach, teach, and serve as opportunities arise, maintaining the same commitment to biblical education and spiritual growth that characterized his active ministry. Don and Wanda have now been married for 70 years and have two daughters, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Their family has also endured the loss of their oldest daughter, Sherrie, to breast cancer. Through both seasons of service and personal hardship, their lives have reflected perseverance, faith, and a lasting dedication to serving others.
Live by the three C's:
Conviction, Commitment, and Courage
