Arnie Cole, EdD
Author | CEO of Back to the Bible — Chief Research Officer of the Center for Scripture Absorption
Arnie Cole (EdD, Pepperdine) is the CEO of Back to the Bible and Chief Research Officer of the Center for Scripture Absorption. With his passion for research and helping others, Dr. Cole has been active most of his professional life in developing methodologies, processes, and best practices to instill significant behavioral change in individuals. A serial entrepreneur, Arnie pioneered disruptive organizations in California that successfully moved violent patients with developmental disabilities out of institutions and safely into the community and employment. Dr. Cole has also served with YWAM’s Business as Missions group in the Middle East, CEO of Mega Voice LLC, and Vice President of Development for Mission Aviation Fellowship. Today,as CEO of Back to the Bible, his mission is to help Christians experience significant and enduring spiritual breakthroughs. For the past 22 years, he has done life transformation research and field work on the spiritual lives of people from around the world as it relates to biblical engagement and spiritual formation. Additionally, he leads a research team that developed the SALT Index, a research-based framework that measures spiritual growth across key dimensions such as Scripture engagement, obedience, Christlike character, and relational impact; it provides pastors and ministry leaders with a clear, data-informed picture of how their people are growing spiritually, and offers actionable insight that helps churches strengthen discipleship, identify needs, and celebrate measurable transformation. Dr. Cole is the co-author of several books, including Unstuck: Your Life, God's Design, Real Change; Worry Free Living; Tempted, Tested, and True, Pivot Driven Devotionals and The Significant Difference. Arnie and his wife Char are the parents of adult children. They operate Still Waters Equestrian Academy, which is an equestrian ministry that serves as a community outreach. The Coles live near Lincoln, Nebraska.