Testimonies

Welcome to Grace Community Church Testimony Page

This page provdies our members an opportunity to testify to what the Lord has done in their lives.

We invite you to make a record of what he has done for you!

Pastor William "Skip" Cook:

I was born in Lakland Florida and raised in Dade City where I graduated from Pasco High School in 1970. I attended College in Ocala where I played baseball. In 1972, I went into the United States Air Force and spent three years stationed at McDill AFB. In 1979 I started work for Withlacoochee River Electric Co-op in Dade City. In 1983 I met Veanna Hughes. I accepted Jesus Christ on Tuesday October 23, 1990, when a co-worker of mine invited me to attend a luncheon at his church. I reluctantly accepted. At the luncheon, I heard an Evangelist named Rick Engel. He shared some of his testimony which sounded just like my life. He had achieved many accomplishments with no lasting satisfaction. I wanted to hear more so Ve Anna and I went that evening to the revival service. During that service I felt that he was speaking directly to me. When it was time for the invitation, I found myself in front of the Pastor, not reallly knowing why I had walked forward. He told me he knew why because the men of the church had been praying for me for several months. We had a short prayer and I went into a private room where I prayed and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. In 1996 I submitted to Gods Call for me to go into full time miinistry. I attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. While there several professors encouraged me to become a pastor as they said I had a pastor's heart. I am motivated to remain in full time ministry through the deep convention I have that God has called me to be a pastor. I feel this way because of the burden I have to see people come to Christ and to help those who already know Christ to learn Gods word and grow in a closer relationship with Him in order that they may fulfill Gods Will for their lives. My Spiritual gifts lie withiin the area of pastoral ministry. Perhaps that is why I enjoy being with people so much. God has given me a pastor's heart which helps in the totality of pastoral ministry. Whether I am at the hospital or in a home, or at a park or in a mall God gives me opportunity to spread His love. God has iven me the ability to lead with compassioin which is why I am a servant leader who respects the opinions of others and will serve alongside of the congregation. I also have an insatiable thirst for Gods Word which helps in my sermon preparation.

I have dedicated myself to do what God desires of me. I feel called to be the shepherd of an assembly of Christians who are energetic for the cause of Christ. My desire is to be the pastor of a church that wants to reach out and not be afraid to grow. I get charged up when I see God’s people have a vision to reach out in evangelism and ministry. My personal mission statement is “To exalt the Savior, equip the saints and evangelize the sinner.” I believe we must have a well balanced worship with God as our total focus. I believe that the Bible holds the absolute authority and is completely without error. Being a senior pastor has given me the opportunity to gain much knowledge in the area of ministry. My education gives credence to my desire to lead God’s church. I do not feel that my education has ceased; my longing is to pursue further education to better equip myself and God’s people.

My wife and I met and were married in Florida. After determining Gods call to ministry, we moved to Wake Forest North Carolina to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The choice to attend Southeastern was an intentional one. I wanted to study at a Southern Baptist seminary that was traditional theologically yet taught non-traditional methodologically.

For the past 5 years I have been shepherding and leading Elam Baptist Church in Gumberry North Carolina. The church’s small size and relationally-based plant strategy have necessitated that I spend the bulk of my time maintaining the church and having to develop and organize the churches records where none existed. As a result I have developed my organizational skills with regard to church administration and have developed a deeper understanding of what it takes to operate a church from an organizational standpoint. My natural gifts, skills, and desires are more suited for a pastorate where I can pursue my teaching and equipping gifts without the added diversion of performing all of the churches administrative duties.

The desire of my heart was to come to a church that is passionate about reaching its community for Christ. This church will be willing to follow Gods vision and be structured to empower all of its members to minister, be committed to spiritual & physical growth, be in or near a growing community, and not be afraid of using innovative methods, this is why we are coming to Grace.