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Affiliation | Nonpartisan |
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Name | Frank Cox |
Address | Lawrenceville, Georgia , United States |
Email | None |
Website | http://www.frankcox.org/ |
Born |
January 02, 1956
(68 years)
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Contributor | Thomas Walker |
Last Modifed | Thomas Walker Nov 06, 2008 04:10pm |
Tags |
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Info | Married:
Debbie Holcomb, March 5, 1977 (deceased July 4, 1986, brain tumor)
Mary Roderick, April 4, 1987
Children:
Stephen Franklin,
born January 28, 1982
Jonathan Ryan,
born December 11, 1988
Kristen Noel,
born June 30, 1990
Conversion:
Accepted christ, October 13, 1964
EDUCATION:
Truett-McConnell College, Cleveland, Georgia, 1974-76
Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1976-78, BA degree in Religion
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1978-80, Master of Divinity degree
Luther Rice Seminary, May 1996, Doctor of Ministry
Ministerial Experience:
Minister of Youth & Outreach, Calvary Baptist Church, Lilburn, Georgia, 1975-78
Pastor, Barataria Baptist Church, Lafitte, Louisiana, 1978-80
Senior Pastor, North Metro First Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 1980 to present
Georgia baptist Convention:
Served two years as President of the GBC, 1997 - 1998
Chaired Administration Committee
Served on Executive Committee
Southern baptist Convention:
First Vice President, 1999-2000
Funding Study Committee, 2003 to present
Chairman, Cooperative Program Sub-committee 2003, 2004, 2005
Resolution Committee, 2004
Executive Committee, 1997-2006
Ad Hoc Committee to Revitalize the Cooperative Program, 2004 - present
Speaking:
College & University Engagements:
Louisiana State University BSU, 1987
Mercer University Chapel, 1997
Shorter College Chapel, 1998
Georgia Tech, Atlanta
Truett-McConnell College Graduation 1998
Truett-McConnell College Chapel, 2003, 2004
Brewton Parker College, 1998, 2003, 2005
Liberty University Chapel, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
North Greenville College, Greenville, SC, 2004
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 2004, 2006
Seminary Engagements:
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel (6)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel (2)
Luther Rice Seminary Chapel (5)
Layne Lectures, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel, 2006
Conferences, Camps & Conventions:
Georgia Baptist Evangelism Conference 1993, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008
Alaska Baptist Convention, 1998
Alabama Evangelism Conference, 1998, 2005, 2008
Alabama Pastors Conference, 1998, 2008
Utah-Idaho Baptist Convention, 1998
Bailey Smith Real Evangelism Conference, 1999
SBC Pastors Conference, New Orleans, 2001
Alaska Baptist Evangelism Conference, 2002
Utah-Idaho Baptist Evangelism Conference, 2005
Southern Baptist of Virginia Evangelism Conference, 2006
Indiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, 2007
Books:
Trusting God’s Heart,
Dr. Cox’s first book, was published in March 2000. It is the story of the sickness and death of his first wife, Debbie, and what God taught him through grief, and how God restored his joy.
Legacy: One life to live,
Dr. Cox’s second book, was released in March 2007. It focuses on legacies found in the Bible and also modern-day legacy builders who are making a difference in their world.
I was born January 2, 1956 to Rev. & Mrs. DeWitt T. Cox in Tallahassee Florida. My father was pastoring in the small town of Sopchoppy at First Baptist Church. Being raised in the home of a Southern Baptist pastor, I can never remember not knowing about Jesus. My parents taught me from the first day of my life that Jesus loved me, cared for me and gave His life for me.
However, in October of 1964 in a revival meeting at Milford Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia where my father pastored, for the first time I realized it was not my "preacher Dad's" faith nor my "pastor's wife/Mom's" faith that would get me into Heaven. It all came together for me that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. By faith I knew Jesus had died for me and rose again to give me not only eternal life but also an abundant life here on earth. It was at that point in the revival service that I invited Christ into my life and have been living for Him ever since.
God's Calling
As a teenager I lived a typical teenage life. Like most I was struggling to find my identity in Christ and how that would play out in my life. I wanted to live for Him and at the same time I wanted to be accepted by my peers. The two worlds continued to collide until there was a moment of surrender, a Galatians 2:20 experience of crucifying my Will and allowing Jesus to have His way. When I allowed Jesus to take His rightful place He led me slowly down the journey of faith to hear His call to ministry.
Often I would tell God, "I'll do whatever You want me to do; be a successful attorney or a doctor but I do not want to pastor." However, the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, God called me to preach and all I could do is obey and surrender to His Call.
Serving the Lord, Full-Time
I then pursued my educational training for the ministry knowing the call of God was upon my life. I attended Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia my first two years, and then transferred to Mercer University in Atlanta and graduated in 1978 with a BA degree in religion and a minor in sociology. I then attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated in 1980 with a Master of Divinity degree. A few years later I graduated from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia with a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Upon graduation from New Orleans, I came to and have enjoyed the wonderful privilege of serving North Metro for 27 plus years as Senior Pastor. My ministry here in the early years were challenging as we turned a declining church that was running approximately 150 in Sunday School, around to being a growth church today with over 1,500 plus in Bible study and 2,300 in worship. It has been a humbling experience to see how God has used my life, along with so many others, to change our church's mind set in order for God to be able to use all of us to build a strong church in His Kingdom.
Sharing My Heart
While many would look and see that our ministry has been in their terms successful, I know it has come at great cost in a lot of ways. In 1986, I lost my first wife, Debbie, to a malignant brain tumor. My son Stephen, who was four years old, and I learned more about the grace of God and the provision of God through that one experience. We had to learn that God is too good to be unkind, too wise to be mistaken, and when we could not trace His hand we had to learn to trust His Heart.
A few months after Debbie passed away, God was gracious to bring Mary to Stephen and me to once again restore the laughter in our lives and the heart into our home. In April of 1987 Mary and I were married and God proved to be faithful as our family continued to expand. Along with Stephen, Mary and I are the parents of Jonathan and Kristen. Stephen, now 26 is married to Brooke and expecting our first grandchild in April 2008. Jonathan is 19 and a freshman in College, and Kristen is 17 and will be graduating from High School in May, 2008.
Exciting Times
As our church continued to grow, one of the most exciting times came in 1995 when we led our congregation into a major relocation project. On the first Sunday of August of that year, we moved to our present location and continued to build facilities to house our growing congregation. In August of 2006, we entered our present auditorium seating 2,500.
The Lord has been gracious to allow me to serve for these 28 years as Senior Pastor of North Metro and He has also given me opportunities to serve our denomination as well. I was privileged to serve the Georgia Baptist Convention two years as President, as well as the Southern Baptist Convention for one year as First Vice President. Over the years I have been able to serve on both the Executive Committees of the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention through which I have gained a great appreciation for the ministry God is doing through Southern Baptist around the world. With all that said, the greatest delight of my heart is Pastoring North Metro First Baptist Church.
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