Retirement: Aaron Dean
Born on the Feast of Trumpets in 1952, my history with the Church began at age two with the Radio Church of God. Dad had a stroke, was anointed and healed, only to die two years later. Mom was told to move to Texas where Church widows were. I could “attend Imperial Schools.” The leading people there became “aunts and uncles” to me.
In 1960 Mom moved us to Pasadena, California where she soon married Jim Snook. I finished Imperial, with instructors who taught at Ambassador College (AC). Having Bible every day, and growing up with all the “evangelists’ kids” would prove helpful throughout my career.
I went to AC in Texas and volunteered to work formal dinners with chefs from the school of Culinary Arts. I learned all formal dishes, wines and flaming desserts. Events had me transfer to Pasadena mid-semester during my sophomore year.
My ministerial trainee plans changed when Mr. Armstrong (HWA) asked me on graduation day to fly on the G-2 airplane. He wanted an AC graduate with a unique skill set. At 8 a.m., three days later, we left for Europe. I served Belgium’s King Leopold and Jordan’s crown prince Hassan and developed a relationship with both. We covered Britain, Belgium, Jordan, Jerusalem, Spain and France. Six weeks later I had to fly back on a commercial flight from Paris to get married to Michelle in New Jersey.
Besides formal meals, I was basically “an embassy” doing visas, reservations, travel prep and some meeting setups during extensive travel (more than 300 days a year).
HWA’s 1977 marriage and later heart attack resulted in less travel. I subbed into various departments on campus while shuttling instructions between Pasadena and Tucson and taking accounting and law classes at CSULA.
On Jan. 3, 1979, California took over the Church with a court appointed Receiver. With all pastors sent to Tucson for a conference, I was asked by our lawyers to organize local Church members for the infamous sit-ins in Pasadena. This was the beginning of the end for the Receivership, and other takeover attempts leading to HWA’s ACE (Advisory Council of Elders) in 1980.
Travel began again in December 1979 and personnel changes led to my becoming HWA’s assistant, the VP of Ambassador Foundation and youngest member of the ACE in 1981. At this point, Michelle, who had worked in Financial Affairs and the Pastor General’s office, began flying on the G-2 as secretary/stewardess.
We worked with all Church departments and helped set up multiple projects in many countries with royalty. I coordinated HWA’s meetings with foreign heads of state and helped him with his final book “Mystery of the Ages.”
HWA’s illness led him to evaluate several successors instead of leaving it up to the ACE. His final choice just prior to his death on Jan. 16, 1986 was Joseph W. Tkach. HWA gave him all titles except Apostle, required him to make many soon-to-be-broken promises and made me his assistant. God was testing His Son’s Bride.
After waiting 12 years for a family, our son was born in 1986 and a daughter three years later.
God began purifying the Bride, as WCG doctrinal upheaval began quickly, and with disagreement I was removed from all promised positions within six months. I was assigned to AC as food service director and business faculty.
Pursuing accreditation required advanced degrees. I finished an MBA with honors at CSULA after attending class four nights a week and finishing 52 units in five quarters. With an MBA in hand, I was asked to move to Texas with the consolidation of campuses in Big Sandy, Texas.
Decredentialed in 1995 for my firmly held beliefs, I held services in my home for employees and students who faced retribution if they attended UCG services. I remained until closure in 1997, refusing to abandon students seeking truth.
Joining UCG, I was elected to the COE in 1998 and helped pastor during ministerial transitions in East Texas. I also spoke at local churches when traveling to agricultural trade shows at home and abroad for 10 years. I was the first U.S. elder to visit UCG Singapore and youth camps in the Philippines.
In July 2010 President Luker called and asked that I be UCG treasurer. Reluctantly giving up my home on Lake Gladewater, I moved to Cincinnati. As treasurer I navigated through the ministerial resignations that formed COGWA and subsequent financial trauma, adding a million-dollar faith line to the budget.
President Kubik asked that I serve as International Advisor, troubleshooting any region in need, and senior pastor for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. I also became Dean of Students at ABC in 2014, where I taught for 12 years. I opened Myanmar with its first UCG Feast in 2017 and I became Senior Pastor for Italy in 2023, working with the remaining faithful brethren.
I remain on the UCG Council of Elders and serve on the Italian and French boards. God has led our lives through a unique and incredible maze. The journey has built our faith, with us aspiring to be an example to all. God’s truth doesn’t change. Hold on to it.
Course Content
Aaron Dean
Aaron Dean was born on the Feast of Trumpets 1952. At age 3 his father died, and his mother moved to Big Sandy, Texas, and later to Pasadena, California. He graduated in 1970 with honors from the Church's Imperial Schools and in 1974 from Ambassador College.
At graduation, Herbert Armstrong personally asked that he become part of his traveling group and not go to his ministerial assignment.
