Harold Ockenga

== Pastoral career ==
Ockenga began his pastoral ministry in [[New Jersey]], at two Methodist churches. In 1931 he accepted an invitation from [[Clarence E. Macartney]] to become a pastoral assistant at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. During 1931 both Machen and Macartney recommended Ockenga for the position of pastor at Point Breeze Presbyterian church, in Pittsburgh. Ockenga went to be the associate pastor at [[Park Street Church]], Boston, MA in 1936.

In 1937, at the death of Park Street's longtime pastor, [[Arcturus Z. Conrad]], Ockenga was appointed his successor. He continued in that post until 1969. During his pastoral career at Park Street, Ockenga delivered many sermons that later formed the substance of various books he wrote. In all he wrote a dozen books dealing with biblical themes, and pastoral commentaries on biblical texts and bible characters. His congregation thrived during much of his pastorate as he exercised considerable talents as a preacher, evangelist, leader and organizer.

In 1950, [[Park Street Church]] hosted [[Billy Graham]]'s (first mid-century transcontinental) evangelistic crusade, which was regarded as highly successful. On the strength of that event, both Graham and Ockenga then conducted an evangelistic tour of [[New England]]. Ockenga later assisted Graham, [[Nelson Bell]] and [[Carl F. H. Henry]] in organizing the evangelical periodical, ''[[Christianity Today]]''. He served as chairman of the board of the magazine until 1981.