Doctoral Journey

I don’t know who would want to read this. I am mostly writing it for myself. I mean no harm to anybody but perhaps my story can be an encouragement to someone.

January 25, 2019 It was a Friday night and I had a date! Lindsey and I were in a good place, literally speaking. We had just arrived at the Boathouse in Chattanooga, TN. I remember I ordered the grilled swordfish and it was incredible. But what I remember most is excitement tempered with overwhelming peace about our future because, figuratively speaking, we were also in a good place.

We always enjoyed our annual, weekend trips to Southeast Conclave. It was a time to refresh, a renewal for both of us. The seminars were fruitful and we were able to worship together without worry of logistics. We could just worship and rest. Did I mention we never took the kids with us? Anyway, we especially looked forward to the food. We are adventurous eaters and love to try new places. That’s how we ended up at the Boathouse. We had just been through some of the most difficult times of our lives. We thought we were following God’s plan but realized, rather starkly, the path we were on had some unexpected turns. One thing for certain through, I learned that God’s peace is undeterred by my expectations and disappointments.

Over the last few months of 2018, God used various circumstances to convict me of becoming a better disciple maker. I knew that is what God had called me to do and I knew I could do a better job. But how? After much prayer and conversations with Lindsey, we decided I should apply for school to pursue a doctorate of ministry with a specialization in discipleship and spiritual formation. I wanted to avail myself to the best resources and we both thought this was God’s plan. It was a Friday night and I had a date…and an acceptance letter! We had much to celebrate.

April 30, 2019 A couple of months later, I knew just what my project in ministry would be. For those not familiar, this is not a PhD or Doctorate of Philosophy. Those research-based dissertations often require an advanced degree just to read the title. This is a DMin, which primarily involves a project. After finishing my coursework, I would write a proposal for the project, implement the project, and write a report on the project. Since I knew what I wanted to do, develop a disciple-making strategy for Northside Baptist Church, I simply needed to complete my coursework and get on to the project. My plan was to begin my project at the conclusion of year two and graduate, at the latest, in May of 2022. I enjoyed the process. My first seminar was specifically geared toward discipleship. I learned so much in that seminar and took it upon myself to read additional books not assigned to me.

All along this journey, our church was without a pastor. I was serving as the Associate Pastor, primarily tasked with student ministry so in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, “I sure hope whoever we call as pastor is comfortable with my planning this discipleship strategy for the church.” My “worst-case scenario” would be that I would modify my project to a strategy geared for teenagers. So I kept chugging along and after one calendar year, I had completed my first workshop and three seminars. I was on track!

October 20, 2019 Our church called Aaron Hornsby to be our pastor. I will never forget that day. As I announced the 100% unanimous vote, I cried tears of joy. Our church was united and we had a pastor! God is good. Aaron and his family joined us in December. We had a few months together, getting to know each other and how we would work together in ministry. I think we made a great team. Then March of 2020…well, you know. So, yes, my spring workshop was canceled. No worries though. If I was delayed a semester, I was still learning and growing.

Attending on-campus classes has a few perks over online classes: (1) Online classes don’t buy you that cup of coffee with the professor (2) Nor do they allow time for dinner with fellow pastors to “talk shop” (3) Dinner…did I mention dinner? New Orleans is home to some of the best cuisine in the world! So, needless to say, when my May in-person class was transitioned to an online class, I was bummed. But my sweet wife. She’s awesome. My setup for class was in our bedroom on my laptop. She knew how much I enjoyed traveling and eating the good food so she, unbeknownst to me, had prepared red beans and rice with smoked sausage. When she brought up my dinner, I almost cried. I decided to eat instead.

September 6, 2020 Aaron and I were standing at the front of the church just a few minutes before worship. I had just reviewed the annual church budget that would be voted on later that evening. Through the worst of the pandemic, God’s faithful people had continued to give. Financially, our church was strong. I looked over the congregation. While we still had some of our most vulnerable staying home, many families had made their way back to regular church attendance. I was smiling, reflecting on God’s goodness. That’s when Aaron informed me we had a few folks lined up for baptism over the next few weeks. The deacons prayed over both of us and I made my way back to my seat. And that’s when it happened. It wasn’t an audible voice and I can’t exactly explain it but somehow, I knew the Lord was speaking to me, and it was just one word, “Ok.”

“Ok?” What does that mean? Ok?”

The best I could discern, God was telling me that everything was ok and that it was ok for me to look at other ministry opportunities.

“But things are good. Lord, you wouldn’t let me leave when I wanted to but now? Why now? Things are good! The church is healthy and growing. The ministries have some great leaders in place. My own kids are just now coming into the youth ministry. Lindsey and I are happy. And what about our kids? If we move…they love their school. NOW? Not now. Three years ago sure, but now?” That’s what I remember from worship that morning.

Sometime later that week, I received my copy of The Western Word, the monthly newsletter of the Western Baptist Association. In the section with open church positions, I saw First Baptist Church in Senoia was looking for a senior pastor. That one caught my attention. Lindsey and I had visited Senoia a number of times, mostly for date nights. There are some nice restaurants in town. The church was across the county. That meant it was far enough from Northside that we felt comfortable yet close enough that the kids wouldn’t need to change schools. Again, Lindsey and I prayed and I felt led to apply.

At this point, it seems appropriate to mention how incredible Aaron was throughout the process. He was supportive and I even listed him as one of my references. I’ve heard horror stories of pastors who treated staff like hirelings, but Aaron is a shepherd and a friend.

April 18, 2021 After a series of interviews and phone calls, lots of 9×13 casseroles, meeting with staff and deacons, and a mediocre sermon, FBC Senoia called me to be their pastor. Wow, what a journey! In many ways, this was the easy part. The hard part would be the week ahead.

April 25, 2021 At the conclusion of morning worship, Aaron called me up and I climbed the steps to the pulpit at Northside. The sanctuary seemed especially quiet to me. I typically use notes when I preach but this time, I had a full manuscript. I cleared my throat, fought back tears, and announced my resignation. It hurt because my family had grown to love Northside, and we still have many friends there today. I told them it felt like home and they were like family. Yet there was a sense of peace because were so confident in God’s guidance.

April 30, 2021 I applied for an emergency withdrawal from my spring workshop at NOBTS…my final workshop before beginning my project. I was on track. If I had kept going, I would might have graduated just as I had intended. But God had other plans. The seminary stipulates that before beginning a project, the student must have been at their current church for at least one year. Had I remained at Northside, I could have continued on. Since was transitioning to First Baptist Senoia, I would take a year off.

This might sound unfair but it’s really for the best. First of all, the project is to be practical within the student’s current context and not a theoretical project for a hypothetical church. Therefore, the students should know and understand the needs of the current congregation. We need at least a year to get this idea. Secondly, in a pastor’s first year, there simply isn’t enough time to dedicate toward a project. Though I would be graduating later than I had hoped, I was grateful for the break.

April 2022 I finally completed that workshop and began working on my project proposal. In February 2023 I reached out to six church members who would become my strategy team. Together, we began working on a disciple-making strategy for First Baptist Church of Senoia. On October 26, 2023 I met with my Academic Advisor and two others for an exit interview. After the interview, I walked back into the room and all three were standing. That meant I had passed the interview! Dr. Hall said, “Congratulations Dr. Cobb.” I graduated about 6 weeks later, in December.

The story of the project itself is hard-bound in the Library of Congress and NOBTS. In a nutshell, the team and I developed a disciple-making strategy based upon various sized groups. Jesus preached to masses, taught small groups, was especially invested in a very small group, and spent time alone with his father. We looked at our church and noticed this very small group was missing. We have called them “discipleship groups” and have now been utilizing them for a year. God is good.