Rand Wagner Bio

Education

• A.A.S. in Funeral Service from Mt. Hood College
• B.A. in Intercultural Studies with Biblical Studies minor from Biola University (LaMirada, CA)
• M.A. in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary (Portland, OR)
• M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University (LaMirada, CA)

Rand Wagner grew up in a religious home, but that religion was always in flux, ranging from atheism, to new age, to Roman Catholicism. He was actually named after an atheist capitalist philosopher named Ayn Rand.

When he was young, his family moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he attended Roman Catholic churches at various times and if he was asked his religion, his reply was, “Christian”, although he did not know what that meant other than that he was loosely affiliated with Roman Catholicism. Rand attended Horizon High School in Scottsdale, AZ where he played varsity basketball, football, and baseball. As a sophomore he came to believe that Jesus is God and began actively seeking to grow in the knowledge of God.

After high school, Rand was recruited to play baseball by Arizona State University but ended up choosing to attend Biola University on a baseball scholarship. At Biola, Rand became increasingly committed to the cause of Christ and its impact in the world majoring in Intercultural Studies with a minor in Biblical Studies. At the end of his college days, he became very interested in Apologetics, Theology, and Philosophy of Religion and pursued advanced graduate study receiving two Master’s degrees in Theology and Apologetics from Western Seminary and Biola University Graduate School.

After graduate school Rand also completed technical college training in Funeral Service and went to work at a funeral home in the Pacific Northwest. During this time, Rand founded, Thoughtlife, a non-profit, para-church ministry with the purpose of defending the Christian Worldview and encouraging authentic and thoughtful faith.

In addition to his ministry through Thoughtlife… Rand has worked vocationally in two capacities- serving as a Pastor and as a licensed Funeral Director. Currently Rand is the Owner/Managing Director of McComb & Wagner Family Funeral Home and Crematory. He is married to his beautiful wife, Kaylee, and has three sons, and one daughter.