Dwight Ozard's Bio Sketch

Dwight Ozard is a writer, speaker and organizational consultant.

Dwight’s writing has been published around the world, earning him a reputation as a passionate advocate and agitator for culturally relevant, playfully faithful and socially redemptive Christian living. Particularly interested in the intersection of social activism and the creative life, Dwight has been heralded as a pioneering cultural critic, pop theologian and commentator on current events.

”My motto and goal in all that I do--whether writing and speaking,” says Ozard, “is ‘make them think twice,’” and that’s exactly what his work has done.

His editorials, essays and music criticism for PRISM magazine has been honored by the Evangelical Press Association, while his writing for other publications, including while his oft-published essay, "The Seven Deadly Sins of Contemporary Christian Music," has been heralded by CCM Magazine and other media critics as “crucial must-reading.”

Much of Dwight's writing for PRISM and other publications, as well as several unpublished pieces, are available at his website, www.dwightozard.com.

Dwight is also a respected and highly sought-after expert in communications, marketing, public relations and "creative relationship building," having earned a reputation as one of the most sensitive experts in matching non-profit organizations and causes with celebrities and artists who are seeking to find ways to creatively use their position to serve. Throughout his career, he has worked both privately and publicly to empower entertainers, musicians and celebrities to serve the needy and stay true to their callings as artists and communicators.

His firm, Dwight Ozard Consulting Services, helps non-profit social service ministries, the entertainment industry, governmental organizations and individuals develop creative strategies for communications, marketing, public relations, special events and fundraising.

Dwight is the former Executive Director of The Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, a venture philanthropy foundation started by former Clinton counselor and advisor Tony Campolo that nurtures and mentors young ministries to at-risk children and youth in inner cities and the developing world. He also served as Director of Public Affairs for Habitat for Humanity International, the world's largest private, non-profit housing provider, where he helped the organization construct an inclusive but unapologetic language to describe its Christian foundation and commitments, as well as developing the organization’s high profile entertainment industry/celebrity partnerships and guiding all of its media and advocacy work. Dwight was also Director of Promotions and Publications for Evangelicals for Social Action, where he helped create (and then served as Senior Editor of) the award-winning PRISM magazine. While at ESA/PRISM he earned an international reputation as a writer and advocate of extraordinary sensitivity and courage, heralded for his insights into both popular culture and the American religious landscapes.

As a speaker, he has been a regular at the Cornerstone Festival other large Christian music events, and has preached in colleges and churches around the United States and Canada. From 1989-1992 he pioneered a youth ministry at Metropolitan United Church in London, ON, Canada's largest mainline congregation.

Dwight is also a cancer survivor, living with Multiple Myeloma, currently undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments. His four-plus years of journals, letters and internet "updates" are available on his website: www.dwightozard.com.

Since starting his consulting firm, Dwight has worked with a wide range of clients, including DATA, Habitat for Humanity International, Sojourners, World Vision International and World Vision Canada, Graham Kerr (the former Galloping Gourmet), Visionledd (a Canadian ministry focused on HIV/AIDS activism in Africa), Curb Records, Atlantic Records and The Town of Markham (ON, Canada).

He is currently developing or writing several books, including a compilation of old and new essays and editorials (old and new) for publication as How To Be A Worldly Christian (and not go to Hell), and a collection of his journals and speeches chronicling his battle with cancer.

A native of London, Ontario, Canada, Dwight studied at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, the University of Western Ontario/Huron College, The University of Toronto/Wycliffe College and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dwight lives in Devon, PA with his wife, Sheri Blick Ozard, where, when his health allows, he spends most of his free time playing golf and doing field research on how to be a Worldly Christian.

Revised: 6/23/2005 3:09:41 PM