Draft:Dean Odle

• Comment: Please ensure any WP:COI is addressed. Greenman (talk) 11:15, 5 June 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: It doesn't seem this individual meets WP:NPOL automatically by running against the incumbent... the question becomes whether the coverage listed is major enough. Utopes _{(talk / cont)} 07:21, 19 January 2024 (UTC)

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Dean Odle
Dean Odle during the 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial Campaign
Born	(1967-12-29)December 29, 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Alma mater	Pilgrims University (Honorary Ph.D.) Troy University
Occupation	Evangelist Pastor
Website	deanodle.org

Dean Odle is an American author and preacher who has ministered in churches in Africa, Washington D.C., and Alabama. In 2022 Odle became a political figure when he ran for Governor of Alabama in the gubernatorial Republican primary against incumbent Kay Ivey.

Early life

Dean Odle is an American pastor and religious leader based in Alabama. He was raised in the Auburn area and has been active in Christian ministry for over 38 years.

Odle has described his early life as marked by a "reckless" lifestyle. In June 1987, during a visit to his father in the Midwestern United States, he experienced a religious conversion, which he characterized as a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. According to Odle, during this experience, he heard the words: "Son, you can have everything the world has to offer and go to hell, or you can surrender your life to me and live forever." Following this event, he abandoned plans for a potential acting career, which included casting opportunities in the film Die Hard and a selection of television soap operas, to pursue a vocation in ministry.

Throughout his career, Odle has served in various capacities, including as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, educator, author, and counselor. He also taught Bible and civil government classes to students through a homeschool co-op. In 2009, he founded Fire & Grace Church in Opelika, Alabama, where he currently serves as senior pastor. The church focuses on themes such as eschatology and spiritual warfare. Odle also established the Fire & Grace School of Ministry, an educational program designed to prepare individuals for roles in Christian ministry.

Ministry

Pastor Dean Odle has become a well-known figure in the world of controversial Christian theology, particularly for his bold and unapologetic biblical teachings. His ministry has gained considerable attention for promoting the idea of a biblical cosmology, often referred to as the "flat earth" belief. Odle asserts that the Bible describes a stationary, flat earth enclosed by a firmament, in accordance with his literal interpretation of Scripture, directly challenging the mainstream scientific consensus. His outspoken stance on this issue has brought both criticism and a devoted following, especially among those who feel alienated by mainstream science and modern churches that have strayed from biblical truth.

In addition to his views on creation, Dean Odle teaches a post-tribulation rapture perspective, which holds that believers will endure the great tribulation before the return of Christ. This eschatological stance contrasts sharply with the more widely accepted pre-tribulation rapture theory. By emphasizing the need for spiritual endurance and preparation for hardship, Odle resonates with believers who are disillusioned with what they perceive as watered-down, comfortable Christianity. His teachings often stress spiritual warfare, persecution, and a remnant church that will stand in the last days.

Another cornerstone of Odle’s ministry is his belief in the continued operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, and demon deliverance ministry. He frequently teaches on spiritual empowerment and holds deliverance services where people are set free from demonic oppression. These experiences, combined with testimonies of miraculous healings and supernatural encounters, have made his ministry particularly attractive to Pentecostal and charismatic Christians seeking a deeper, more experiential faith.

Odle also explores fringe biblical topics such as the Nephilim, fallen angels, and global conspiracies through a scriptural lens, linking them to end-times prophecy (Eschatology) and spiritual deception in the modern world. By addressing taboo subjects with conviction and scriptural backing, Odle has built a loyal audience that appreciates his fearless approach. His ministry continues to grow through online sermons, conferences, and appearances in documentaries, where he challenges Christians to examine their beliefs in light of what he believes is a return to true biblical doctrine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean Odle gained further attention when Fire & Grace Church remained open despite government lockdown mandates. While many churches across the country temporarily closed their doors, Odle stood firm in his belief that gathering for worship was essential and biblically mandated. In addition, his outspoken stance against vaccines—particularly the COVID-19 vaccines—further fueled his reputation as a controversial but courageous leader. These decisions significantly increased his visibility, drawing in followers who admired his refusal to conform and who viewed him as a bold defender of faith, freedom, and truth in a time of global uncertainty.

Political career

2022 gubernatorial campaign

Odle ran as a Republican candidate in the 2022 Alabama gubernatorial election. He positioned himself as a conservative alternative to incumbent Governor Kay Ivey, focusing on issues such as religious freedom, state rights and the 10th Amendment, along with opposition to any COVID-19 Mandate (international law). Regardless of gaining 63% of the popular vote in the Alabama Republican Gubernatiorial debate straw poll, Odle received 1.7% of the vote in the primary election, leading him to raise awareness to election integrity while continuing his fight for Alabama with a “write-in campaign."

2026 lieutenant governor campaign

In January 2025, Odle announced his candidacy for the 2026 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election. He is running in the Republican primary, which includes other candidates such as Secretary of State Wes Allen. Odle's campaign continues to emphasize conservative Christian values and opposition to what he perceives as government overreach.

Publications

Dean Odle has authored several books focusing on Christian theology and critiques of modern church practices:

• The Holy Spirit: Tongues of Fire (2007): A small synopsis on the gifts of the Holy Ghost, mainly focusing on tongues and what the scriptures state about the gifts during the modern era.
ISBN 979-8-35090-712-4

• Grace Abuse: One of the Greatest Hindrances to Genuine Revival (1998): This book addresses the concept of "eternal security" and argues against the belief that salvation is irrevocable regardless of one's actions.
ISBN 978-0967122106

• The Polluted Church: From Rome to Kansas City (2012): In this work, Odle critiques the influence of Eastern meditative practices and what he perceives as false prophets within the modern church.
ISBN 978-1-6192709-1-6

• Like Clay Under the Seal (2019): This book explores Odle's views on biblical cosmology, including his belief in a flat earth, supported by interpretations of scripture and various sources.
ISBN 978-1-54398-751-5

Filmography

Odle appears in the 2017 documentary Scientism Exposed 2, directed by Robbie Davidson. This film serves as a follow-up to the original Scientism Exposed, aiming to challenge the prevailing scientific worldview by highlighting what it describes as a spiritual agenda and deception in modern science. Odle, along with other figures contribute to the documentary's exploration of these themes.

In Scientism Exposed 2, Odle shares his perspectives on the intersection of science and spirituality, particularly critiquing the concept of scientism—the belief that science is the ultimate path to knowledge. His participation underscores the documentary's intent to question widely accepted scientific narratives and to propose alternative viewpoints that incorporate spiritual considerations.

Notable events

On December 2, 2023, Dean Odle participated in a public debate with Pastor Greg Locke at Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The debate centered on the shape of the Earth, with Odle advocating for a flat earth based on his interpretation of biblical texts, alternative science, and subject matter experts who were in the audience. Locke on the other hand supported a spherical Earth model backed by the common everyday mainstream science against the topic. The event garnered significant attention within Christian communities for lasting nearly 4 hours and ending with Greg Locke throwing Odle and his supporters out of the church in frustration.

External links

• Dean Odle's Homepage

• Dean Odle's Church Homepage

• Dean Odle's Campaign Homepage