The elders of the Bear Valley Church of Christ are pleased to announce the appointment of Denny Petrillo as the 8th Director of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver.
Brother Petrillo has been on staff at the Institute since 1985. He has served as Dean of Students, Dean of Academics and most recently as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Denny’s educational background is extensive. He graduated from the Bear Valley School of Preaching in 1999, received an Associate’s Degree from York College, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible from Harding University, a Master’s Degree in Old Testament and New Testament Studies from Harding Graduate School and a Ph.D. in Religious Education for the University of Nebraska. In addition to his academic achievements, brother Petrillo has also gained many years of practical experience preaching in Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska and Colorado.
Petrillo is not only familiar with the student side of academic life, but has taught at Magnolia Bible College (Kosciusko, Mississippi), York College (York, Nebraska) and has a number of classes available through World Video Bible School (Maxwell, Texas). This is in addition to the 18 years of teaching here at Bear Valley. Denny has also written extensively and has published exegetical commentaries on 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, as well as the Book of Ezekiel, soon to be released.
You do not have to be around Denny for too long to know that he loves the work of training preachers. When asked about his work at the Institute, brother Petrillo replied, “There is no greater, more effective work we could be doing for the Lord’s church than to be training sound men to go into the world to preach the gospel.” His passion and dedication to this work and to service to the Lord is a true strength.
Denny and his wife Kathy have been married for 26 years and have three children: Lance (23), Brett (18), and Laura (13). He replaces J.J. Turner, who served as President of the Bible Institute for over seven years. Brother Turner was instrumental in establishing a number of extension schools, spearheaded a drive for new facilities in Denver, and acquired approval for offering degrees from the Colorado Board of Education as well as a host of other projects. He has returned “home” to Georgia, accepting work with the McDonough Church of Christ in the Atlanta area.
The Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver has been training men and women for service in the Lord’s Kingdom since 1965. It currently has main facilities in Denver, Colorado with Extension Centers in Pikeville, KY and Scottsboro, AL and Foreign Extension Centers in Kramatorsk, Ukraine and Arusha, Tanzania.
Denny Petrillo graduated from the Bear Valley School of Preaching in 1969, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Bible from Harding University, a Master's Degree in Old Testament and New Testament Studies from Harding Graduate School and a Ph.D. in Religious Education from the University of Nebraska.