Book Cook
The Church at Grace Park
gracepark.org
I was born in Springfield, TN, April, 1946, into the home of a Baptist minister and wife. I grew up with two sisters, one sister a year older...the other one a year younger. I gave my heart and life to Jesus when I was six years old, and totally surrendered my life to Jesus at the age 16, the summer before my junior year of high school.
The next year, I surrendered to vocational Christian ministry. I began college pursuing music and continued to do so, until my junior year when God called me to preach. I graduated from Tennessee Temple College in 1969 and from Temple Theological Seminary in 1972 with my M. Div. and M.R.E.
Upon finishing seminary, I pastored my home church, Tabernacle Baptist Church. I have now pastored Tabernacle's mission church for 47 years, The Church at Grace Park. In 1981, Grace Park became affiliated with the Nashville Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2002, the church founded and opened the Christian Community School which continues to this day with approximately about 375 students.
What is your favorite local Nashville restaurant?
Wanda and I are simple salad lovers...we like Cheesecake Factory and Rafferty's.
How would you spend a day off with no ministry responsibilities?
Either working around the house...or reading.
What Bible verse or passage is particularly meaningful to you right now?
I am more of a 'book' guy than a 'passage' guy...the Book of Colossians has been a rich study in recent weeks.
Is there a quote that has stuck with you and influenced the way you have thought or behaved?
We should begin every day looking at life and the world (and our relationship with it) through the gospel window. Four words shape my faith: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration...thus everyday, I am called to live in a "redeem and restore" posture with this world.
What is one exciting thing God is doing in your church right now?
We have divided our congregation into "Summer Squads" through Labor Day Weekend. Our theme is: "Summer Fun in the Son," and every squad member is challenged to focus on 7 areas: Pray, Attend, Serve, Give, Huddle, Invite, and Share!
Many special fellowship activities and outreach events have been planned. It continues to be a great summer!!!
This article originally appeared in the August 2023 edition of the Baptist Beacon. To see your pastor featured in an upcoming issue, please contact adarnell@nashvillebaptists.com.