1. WILLIAM I. “SKIP” COOK JR.
5431 86th Avenue North
Pinellas Park Florida, 337 82
Dear Pastor Search Team:
I have prepared this letter and the attached resume for your prayerful consideration. I am seeking to make myself
available for God’s work as a senior/lead pastor in your church. I pray that through God’s guidance and direction
that I may be used for His service in His church. My personal mission statement is “To exalt the Savior, equip the
saints and evangelize the sinner.”
My wife and I met and were married in Hudson 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.
The desire of our heart is to relocate to a church wherever God leads so we may all work together fulfilling Gods
vision in reaching the community and the world.
Visit www.gatewaybc.org to listen to my recent sermons.
As I send this in prayer, I will also pray for you as we move through this process,
Yours in Christ,
2. Cook Page 2
5431 86th Ave.N.
Pinellas Park, Fl. 33782
(727) 432-3350
www.gatewaybc.org
pastorskipcook@gmail.com
WILLIAM IRVIN COOK JR.
OBJECTIVE To glorify God by obeying the great commission in making disciples
through the preaching and teaching of His Word while equipping His
Church to work together as we reach out in unity.
POINTS OF
INTEREST
Played College Baseball
Coached High School Football & Baseball
Jog 3.5 miles 5 days a week.
2014 - My personal testimony was recently published in JUST AS
YOU THOUGHT HE WASNOT LISTENING by Andre and Deirdre J. van
Rensburg. Chapter 13 “Let Jesus guide you.”
GIFTS & ABILITIES Preaching, Teaching, Leadership, Shepherding, Evangelism, Church Growth
Teamwork, Visionary, People Person, Self-Motivated, Good Listener.
PERSONAL Born in Lakeland Florida on May 12, 1952.
Nickname: Skip
Family: Married to Veanna Faye Hughes on November 24, 1983.
Adult Children
Michael Scott Cook
Robin Diane Glardon
Shonna Leigh Wilson
Samantha Meagan Lister
William Daniel Cook
MINISTRY
EXPERIENCE
LEAD PASTOR, GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, 7700 16TH STREET N. ST. PETERSBURG FL 33782
June 4, 2006 - Present
Developed and Established A Four Fold Ministry of The Church
1. Up-Reach: The church reaching up by communicating and giving to God.
(Praising, Prayer, Worship, Missions, Stewardship)
2. In-Reach: The church reaching in to those inside the church.
(Encouragement, Fellowship, Member Care, Missions, Stewardship)
3. Down-Reach: God reaching down by communicating and giving to the
church. (Bible Study, Preaching, Teaching, the Holy Spirit, Missions,
Stewardship)
4. Out-Reach: The church reaching out to those outside the church.
(Evangelism, Missions, Stewardship)
3. Cook Page 3
Re-Gathered a scattered flock.
Averaging 9 Baptisms per year.
Led Church to reach out to a changing community without changing the message
Led Church to establish community events such as Harvest Festival Pig Pickin,
Easter Eggstravaganza (Christ centered egg hunt), Community Christmas
Candlelight Service
PASTOR, ELAM BAPTIST CHURCH, PO BOX 37 GUMBERRY NC 27831
June 2, 2000 – June 1, 2006
Ordination into Ministry July 9, 2000
Averaged 3 Baptisms per year (Rural farming community)
Re-gathered a scattered flock (Church grew from 12 to 128)
Led Church to build a new fellowship hall (Paid in full in 5 years)
INTERIM PASTOR, ELAM BAPTIST CHURCH, PO BOX 37 GUMBERRY NC 27831
September 19, 1999 – June 2, 2000
Began healing process of a scattered flock
LICENSED IN MINISTRY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE, DADE CITY, FL
33525
November 12, 1997 by Dr. Waylon B. Moore
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH, 7600 FALLS OF NEUSE RD,
RALEIGH, NC 27615
1996 – 1999
Taught 5th & 6th grade boys and girls.
Two boys surrendered to full time ministry and are presently in
Seminary
CALLED INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE,
DADE CITY, FL 33525
February 1996
Moved family to Wake Forest NC to attend Southeastern Baptist
Theological College & Seminary in Wake Forest NC
OUTREACH DIRECTOR, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE, DADE CITY, FL
33525
1992 - 1996
Developed and led church-wide visitation program where we had
an average of 40 people going out on Monday night visitation
Staffed and operated the welcome center during all services.
Conducted ongoing witnessing and counselor training.
Served on the assist team to organize and train counselors for County wide crusade
called “Good News Gulf Coast” with Evangelist Rick Stanley (Elvis Presley’s Half
Brother) in March 1993.
Sunday School grew from 350 average to 750 average in 3 years 93-96
4. Cook Page 4
DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING TEACHER, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE,
DADE CITY, FL 33525
1992 - 1996
Taught a variety of discipleship classes such as The Baptist Faith
and Message, The Book of Revelation, Christian Apologetics, Main
line cults such as Jehovah’s Witnesses’ and Mormonism
ORDAINED DEACON, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE, DADE CITY, FL
33525
October 25, 1992
Served on Deacon Board 1992-1995
Chairman of Properties Committee 1992-1994
Chairman of Personal Committee 1994-1995
BUS MINISTRY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DADE CITY, 37511 CHURCH AVE, DADE CITY, FL 33525
1991 - 1993
Oversaw and Developed one of three bus routes to bring over 100
people to church on Sunday Mornings
SECULAR
EXPERIENCE
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TECHNICIAN, WAKE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP COOP, WAKE FOREST NC
1996-2000
Designer for Major Projects, Substations and Transmission lines
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TECHNICIAN, WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER ELECTRIC COOP, DADE CITY FL
1979-1996
Designed Substations and Transmission lines
SUPERVISOR OF FRUITYARD OPERATIONS, LYKES PASCO PACKING, DADE CITY FL
1976 - 1979
Supervised 57 men and women to unload all citrus for processing into juice
AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT REPAIRMAN, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, MCDILL AFB,
TAMPA FL
1972 - 1976
Repair and maintain electrical generator sets for ground support of F-4 fighters
Obtained the Rank of E-4 Buck Sargent
EDUCATION MASTER OF DIVINITY WITH LANGUAGES CANDIDATE 1998 - 2002
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest NC
Student Grader
12 hours advanced Greek classes
Collated and Translated an Original Manuscript of The Gospel of John
BACHELOR OF ARTS BIBLICAL STUDIES 1996 - 1998
Southeastern Baptist Theological College, Wake Forest NC
Student Class President 1997-98
Student Marshall 1997
Student Grader
5. Cook Page 5
ASSOCIATES OF ARTS BUISNESS ADMINISTRATION 1978 - 1980
Pasco Hernando Community College, Dade City FL
ASSOCIATES OF ARTS BUISNESS ADMINISTRATION 1970 - 1971
Central Florida Junior College, Ocala FL
Played Baseball
Played Trumpet in an ensemble band
Left school early due to being drafted into Armed Forces (USAF)
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA 1967 - 1970
Pasco High School, Dade City FL
Football lettered 3 years
Baseball lettered 4 years
Band 4 years
DENOMINATIONAL
COMMITMENT
I am personally committed to supporting The Southern Baptist Convention
its International and North American Missions work along with its
ministry endeavors through State and Local Associations as it seeks to
bring the lost to Jesus Christ and disciple those who have come to a saving
faith in Christ.
DENOMINATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
2014-Present Member of Guidance Team, (Suncoast Baptist Association)
2012-Present Health and Wellness Director, (Suncoast Baptist Association)
2003/2004 Member of Visioning Team (West Chowan Baptist Association & North
Carolina Baptist State Convention)
2002 Vice President of Ministers and Wives Group (West Chowan Baptist
Association)
1993 On the Assist Team for Good News Gulf Coast simultaneous Revival. (Pasco
Baptist Association)
REFERENCES DR. ERVIN L. MCWILSON
Associational Director, Suncoast Baptist Association,
6559 126th Ave. N. Largo FL 33773
(727) 543-2077, emcwilson@suncoastbaptist.com
REV. LAWSON E. JOLLY JR.
My former Pastor at FBC Dade City
11541 Arlhuna Way, Dade City FL 33525
(352) 437-4573, ljollyjr@tampabay.rr.com.
MR. TONY RUSS
Evangelist, Key Ministry
1005 Ridgemeadow Lane, Rocky Mount NC 27803
(252) 908-4601, keyflyer@embarqmail.com
DR. BRUCE ASHFORD
Provost and Dean of Faculty, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
120 S. Wingate St. Wake Forest NC 27587
6. Cook Page 6
(919) 761-2100, bashford@sebts.edu
REV. WILLIAM HILD
My former Pastor at FBC Dade City, currently Lead Pastor FBC Sarasota FL
1661 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 320-7964, pastorbill@firstsarasota.org
REV. ABIDAN SHAH
Adjunct Professor of Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Lead Pastor, Clearview Church, 3485 Highway 158 Business, Henderson,
North Carolina 27537
(252) 432-7757, ashah22@nc.rr.com
