Living Reconciled
Living Reconciled, hosted by Mission Mississippi, is a podcast dedicated to exploring reconciliation and the Gospel that enables us to live it out. Mission Mississippi has been leading the way in racial reconciliation in Mississippi for 31 years. Our model is to bring people together to build relationships across racial lines so they can work together to better their communities. Our mission is to encourage and demonstrate grace in the Body of Christ across racial lines so that communities throughout Mississippi can see practical evidence of the gospel message.
Living Reconciled
EP. 77: Biblical Reconciliation with Rev. Stephen Cook
We would love to hear from you! Send us a text message.
Dr. Stephen Cook shares powerful wisdom from his journey growing up in rural Mississippi, serving in the military, and leading in ministry. Drawing from his parents' example and life experiences, he outlines his practical framework for unity—Three V’s (Voice, Vision, Victory) and Four M’s (Meeting, Making time, Meeting needs, Manifestation)—that turns reconciliation into daily practice. With stories of choosing love over hate and building bridges across racial lines, Dr. Cook reminds us that authentic reconciliation begins with presence, listening, and meeting people where they are. Learn how faith, discipline, and compassion can transform communities.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Nissan, St. Dominic's Hospital, Atmos Energy, Regions Foundation, Mississippi College, Anderson United Methodist Church, Grace Temple Church, Mississippi State University, Real Christian Foundation, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Christian Life Church, Ms. Doris Powell, Mr. Robert Ward, and Ms. Ann Winters.
This is Living Reconciled, a podcast dedicated to giving our communities practical evidence of the gospel message by helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured for us by living with grace across racial lines. Hey, thanks so much for joining us on this episode of Living Reconciled. I'm your host, brian Crawford, with my incredible friends and co-hosts Austin Hoyle, nettie Winters. Gentlemen, how are you doing?
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm doing real well. I'm just glad I'm an incredible friend again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, I'm glad to have you as an incredible friend. Nettie, you doing good as well.
Speaker 3:Man, I'm doing great man. I'm like Austin man. I never know what kind of friend I'm going to be until I get over here, but I'm excited to be an incredible friend, I'm glad to encourage you guys.
Speaker 2:Even when we're less than incredible, I still feel counted to at least be known in some measure by Brian Crawford.
Speaker 3:Amen.
Speaker 2:Amen.
Speaker 1:Well, I feel fortunate to be in that number as well as a friend of Austin Hoyle and Nettie Winters, and we got another friend we're going to introduce in just a moment. But first of all, a quick shout out to our friends and sponsors that are listening online Folks like Brown Baptist Church, people like Nissan, people like St Dominic's Hospital, folks like Mississippi College, mississippi State. Thank you, guys, so much for all the encouragement that you have given us and all the support that you have given us, good friends like Ann Winters, bob Ward. Again, thank you, guys for your support of this podcast. It's because of what you do that we're able to do what we do of this podcast is because of what you do that we're able to do what we do. And if you would like to join those and others who support the work of Living Reconciled and Mission Mississippi, it's easy to do.
Speaker 1:You can go to missionmississippiorg, click on the Invest Today button that's normally at the top right of that website and you too can join in investing in the work of reconciliation and investing in the work of this podcast, living Reconciled, where we pull in guests from all over the state and all over the country and have them talk about reconciliation from their particular lane, their particular perspective and vantage point. In fact, we have another individual, an incredible dynamic man, that we're excited to interview here today, reverend Dr Stephen Cook. Dr Cook is the lead pastor at Anderson United Methodist Church. He is a longtime supporter of Mission Mississippi. He is a longtime committed investor in the work of reconciliation. He is a bridge builder, he is a dynamic preacher and we are incredibly excited to have Dr Cook on our podcast. Dr Cook, how are you doing, sir?
Speaker 4:I am doing outstanding. It's good to see each of you.
Speaker 1:Good deal, good deal. Welcome to Living Reconciled. And we'll start by just asking you if you don't mind share a little bit about your story. How did you come to faith in Christ and how did you become passionate about the work of reconciliation?
Speaker 4:to join you on this day and I want to give a significant background about my upbringing, as an impact which you've already lifted up. I was born in Lexington, mississippi, to wonderful, dear, precious parents. My mother's name is Juanita and my father's name is Fernando, and in that upbringing I was raised in a place called Carrollton, mississippi. I don't know how many of you are familiar with that place, but that's the place I was raised, which was Carrollton, mississippi, and we went to worship service on a regular basis. I went to Baptist church every fourth Sunday. Every third Sunday we would go to the United Methodist Church, had Sunday school every Sunday and we would go to Bible study, and sometimes those Bible studies they would just seem so long, but, like many people, I faced a season of searching, a season where I was trying to find my identity in life, in this world, through accomplishments and approval of others. Along this journey, but through it all, there was a gentle, persistent pull, and we come to know that pull as the Holy Spirit drawing me to the truth, the way and the life. And one of the most defining moments in my life came not doing a mountaintop experience, but it came doing a valley experience. I was wrestling with uncertainty. I was burdened with heavy responsibility, being success-driven and questioning if I was enough.
Speaker 4:But then Jeremiah Jeremiah, chapter one, verse five. This says before I formed you, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. This verse stopped me in my track. It reminded me that my story is just not a random story, but it's a story that's written by God Almighty. God knew me, he formed me and he called me, not because I was perfect or polished, but he called me because of who he is and what he was calling me to be in life. Since then, my journey has been about surrendering, letting go and letting God just have his way in my life, whether through pastoring, teaching, counseling, community outreach, simply sharing coffee and conversation with others to help them through encouraging words. I've learned that ministry isn't just about the platform, but ministry is about being there for others, just being present. And one of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs, chapter three, verses five through six. This is trusting the Lord, that God lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways, acknowledge him and he will direct our path.
Speaker 1:Hey, pastor man, thank you for sharing a little bit about your passion for reconciliation. And how did you, how did how did your life really move from the space of ministry that you, that you, that obviously the Lord has called you into? You talked about that Jeremiah type of call. How did your, how did your life move from just that embracing that Jeremiah level call to moving specifically into seeing racial healing in the course of your ministry?
Speaker 4:As I mentioned earlier, I grew up in the Carrollton Mississippi area, which is a rural area, part of Mississippi, and my life it was simple but not easy, and let me just emphasize again it was a simple life but it was a life that I embraced because of the upbringing of my parents. We didn't have a lot of distraction but we had what mattered, we had family, we had faith and it worked for us and it continued to work for me and my family, but through the quiet, grounded environment that I grew up in. My Christian faith it took root Not just through church but through the daily example of my parents, and I emphasize heavily my parents, my mother and my father. My father was a dedicated worker. He worked for a company called Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, which eventually became Canadian National Railroad. He worked for the railroad company for over 35 years and then he retired. My father showed me what it meant to be committed, to work hard, to show up on time and give your best, even when no one was watching. He taught me that faith isn't just what you say on Sunday morning, but it's how you carry yourself Monday through Saturday. What you say on Sunday morning, but it's how you carry yourself, monday through Saturday. Watching him reminded me of Colossians 3 and verse 23, which says whatever you do, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, working for the Lord, not for human.
Speaker 4:And my mother, god bless her soul. She's the heart of our home, the heart of our family. She's a faithful homemaker. Her ministry was in the daily, preparing meals, praying over us, filling our home with scripture. She lives that type of lifestyle that we call the Proverbs 31 type of woman with grace and consistency. From her I learned that faith doesn't need a stage to be powerful. You just need love and discipline and humility. Powerful, you just need love and discipline and humility. She often reminded us, as her children, about Deuteronomy, chapter six, and she told other children about this. These commandments that I give you today, let it be on your heart, impress them on your children, talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. So she passed it along to us as her son, and to her daughters, and we thank God for her each and every day Together.
Speaker 4:My parents just didn't teach the Word of God. They modeled it, and that formed a foundation for the things that I'm serious about, even to this day. They gave me the root. They gave me the solid foundation, even though I had questions along the way about my path. Gave me the solid foundation Even though I had questions along the way about my path, which I have chosen, and have had mistakes along the way. But thank God for his mercy, thank God for his grace and thank God for his loving kindness.
Speaker 4:And when I felt a call to ministry, it wasn't a dramatic lightning bolt experience. It was a quiet clarity that has been forming for years. I saw that the same work ethic that my father had been living out and my mother had truly embraced by living out as well, that caused me to live the type of lifestyle I live now, being respected and loving everybody. I never heard my mother or father say anything in a disdaining manner against anyone, of any hue color. All they demand is respect from others, no matter who they are and where they come from. So that has impacted my life in such an influential way that I choose to live a life of integrity based upon what I saw from my parental upbringing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, your mother and your father seem to have incredibly influenced and shaped the man that you are today, and whether it's whether it's ministry, whether it's just her hard work, work, ethic, discipline, whether it's reconciliation and healing across divides, it seems like your mother and father just played this prominent role in the man that God has shaped you to be. So praise God for that. Dr Cook, let me turn your attention a little bit to your story about Mission Mississippi. You've been involved in the work of Mission Mississippi for a number of years now. Tell us a little bit about how you got started there.
Speaker 4:Well, I got started through Mission Mississippi, through one of the persons on this podcast this morning, nettie Winters and Dolphus, where they came to Greenville, mississippi, I read something about grace greater than race, and so I went to a church I think the name of it is Pilgrim Rest.
Speaker 4:I don't remember the pastor who was pastoring at that time, but I received the invitation and I said to some of our church members let's go over here to this rally that they're having. And because of that rally and what I heard at that rally, I said to myself I want to be a part of that. I wanted the church that I was pastoring at that time, rebels Memorial United Methodist Church, and I used to say at Rebels, the church where everybody is somebody. I said, well, let us be a part of what Mississippi has started, let us embrace it, let's host prayer breakfast, let's go to other things that are going to host throughout the state of Mississippi, and so I've been a part of it ever since. I love it. I love what we're doing. It's a continued work that is necessary for such a time as this.
Speaker 1:And amen, amen, nettie, awesome. I know you guys probably got some questions.
Speaker 2:Feel free to jump in with anything you might have, yeah well, well, steve, I've known you for a couple of years and I actually you're. You are who I got involved in my my work through Mission Mississippi, and so I'm excited to be talking with you. All the connective tissue is there.
Speaker 1:It's all right here. The doctor cooked the Austin. That's amazing. That's amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:One of the things I always admired about you was the significant amount of order and organization you're able to offer, and a lot of that comes from, I think, a lot from your military background, and now that I'm hearing more about your parents, I see your dad's work ethic in this as well, ad's work ethic in this as well, and so you've moved from military to pastoral leadership, and I think you've also had a couple of other industries here and there that you've been able to engage in, and you've also emphasized the ministry, referencing Proverbs 3, trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Speaker 2:I think this presence is absolutely vital for the ministry of reconciliation, where bringing divides requires trust, humility and active engagement. And I guess I'm just I'm wondering. So what are some of these other experiences you've had throughout your life, military, other sectors? Obviously, the ministry is significantly important for the reconciling work that you're doing with Mission Mississippi, but in what ways have some of the other experiences you've had, these practices, be able to just present within your ministry, within this reconciliation that you're talking about, having such a passion with the prayer, breakfast, all of that and how does those experiences help to facilitate that work of reconciliation you're currently doing, because it must have been significant as well.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you for posing that, austin, it is good to see you as well. Well, thank you for posing that, austin, it is good to see you as well. Drawing from my military experience, of course, some of you already know this I graduated from Mississippi State University, and I graduated from Mississippi State University in 1983. And upon graduation from Mississippi State University, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, and so I did a lot of traveling. Within my four years as a commissioned officer, I went from Petersburg, virginia, to Colorado Springs, colorado, fort Carson, Colorado, to going overseas to a place called Pusan, korea, the Camp Haleah in Pusan, to my last duty station, which was at Fort Hood, texas, and throughout my time in the military, I saw a team of people, various teams, that I worked with throughout the military that we came together and we were stronger together because we depended on one another to accomplish the mission. As part of the military and the units that I were a part of in the military, we didn't play around when it came to whether you were Black or white. We focused on being together, whether we were playing basketball in the gym, whether we were playing flag football, whether we were playing softball for a particular unit or a company in the military, we focused on what we could do together to achieve a win. And even when we didn't achieve the win, we still remained together because we knew that that was vital and important.
Speaker 4:So how does that play a role in what I do today and live in a reconciled life?
Speaker 4:I'm intentional, just as I was when I was in the military. I am serious about the team truly being a team. I am a person who truly embrace these words and if we say that we are Christian, then let us be about love of God and love of neighbor as thyself. And when I see people not going in that direction, I don't throw them under the bus, but I have a serious conversation with them about how can we do better to model what we need to see in this life, and that is letting our light so shine that others may see our good work and glorify the Father, which is in heaven. So, in a nutshell, what I saw in the military, what I saw through my parental upbringing I'm living that out today we're stronger together when we live according to teamwork and breaking down these isms such as racism, sexism and all these other isms that so easily divide us, and being more intentional and impactful in a way to help this world be a better place.
Speaker 1:Amen, hey, Nettie, jump in on us. I think you're on mute brother.
Speaker 3:Yeah, your integrity, your straightforwardness and your honesty and your intentionality has become really intense in many instances as I watch you. You know, being born in Lexington, holmes County, being raised in Carroll County, carrollton Mississippi, being in Washington County, carrollton Mississippi, being in Washington County, you know a lot of those places are known for their segregationist, their racism, their divisiveness. All of those things would be confronting you as you work there, as you live there. Tell me how comparison to then and now and how that's working out for you as you travel across the state. You know you were district superintendent for the United Methodist folks. You did a lot of traveling things.
Speaker 3:So tell me how, this intentionality that you have, how do you help others get to where you are? I guess that's the bottom line. How do you get them to get to where you are in terms of? I know that you walk up right, you do the right thing, you live out the reconciliation, so, but you know a lot of your um people that you got to work with both in the church and outside of the church. They'll always get there, so, so, so help. You know Mr Mississippi is trying to encourage the body of Christ to walk that out. So tell us in a way that the body can be that team that you're talking about.
Speaker 4:Well, I'm going to mention several things here. I'm going to use the three V's, I'm going to use the three M's, and we'll actually the four M's, and then I'm going to talk about three other M's.
Speaker 4:I can't wait to hear them, brother, to help me unpack what you have lifted up from a question perspective how to live that out in the here and now. I hearken to the voice of God, following the direction that God has called me to be intentional about. Number two, the vision of God. I believe God has a preferred future for the church and that is definitely what Mission Mississippi is about, day in and day out, and I love what we're doing and what we will continue to do. So voice vision and I choose to walk in victory, even though there are some things happening on the news even right now that some of us have already seen today and last night and will happen even later on today and tomorrow. I choose to walk in victory, even though we see some sad looking situation. I know that greater days are coming. So voice vision and victory. And then the 4M I choose to meet people where they are in life and after.
Speaker 4:Meeting people where they are may not necessarily like all what they say at time, and sometimes they may not like exactly what I'm saying, and so we have to be careful with our tone and our tenor when we are talking to people.
Speaker 4:But I choose to meet people where they are, I make time to listen to their story. Sometimes we choose to say we're listening, but we want to get our words in and we have our thought process already at work even as somebody else is talking, because we're just waiting for them to finish so we can say what we need to say. So I make time to listen to what they have to say because their story is important just as well as my story. So I meet people where they are, I make time to listen to their story and then meet felt needs. We need to be a people that meet felt needs along the way as it relates to this journey and then, if we do all those three, then we'll see the manifestation of the kingdom of God here on this earth, if all of us choose to live that out more in an impactful, intentional and a way of integrity. And then three other M's I know you may be getting tired of all these.
Speaker 3:V's. I'm loving it, man. I'm taking notes, man, so I can remember the V's and the M's man, You'll hear them again.
Speaker 4:So, in addition to the four M's, I want to lift up three M's Memory, to recall where I've come from, to not forget the journey, to not forget that there was a time when I was in a store as a 16-year-old, on my way to being 17. I was working in a store, a grocery store, and I heard a little boy call me the N-word, and this little boy was a son of the store manager. I never heard that store manager say anything ill towards me, but his son came in the store one day and I was in the back room getting ready to take some grocery items to put them out on the shelf and this manager's son said the N-word to me. So I remember that's memory, but I didn't let that impact me in such a way that I live in this here and now, or even during my college days, when I matriculated over to Mississippi State University, or even in the Army that caused me to have so much hatred in my heart because one little boy said some words, said one word called the N word, because he was taught that at home.
Speaker 4:But I chose to live a different way, a way of love, and I choose to live that way with my wife, my beautiful wife, and our two daughters. With my wife, my beautiful wife and our two daughters, we have instilled that within them to love everybody. We may not like their ways, may not like what they say all the time, but choose to love. So, memory, but also movement, and what I mean by movement. When I move from place to place, when I'm called to go from place to place, when I'm called to speak at various places, I do it in such a way that I move according to the spirit of the living God. I choose to be obedient, without hesitation. I choose to go to places with a mindset that says, even though we see some things that are going on that is just not right. We believe that change is coming and change is coming for the better.
Speaker 4:And then one last M the message. We have a message to carry, and that message is a message of salvation, not only for those who are African-American, not only for those who are Caucasian, but we have a message for African-American, latino, hispanic, black, white. Doesn't matter what color you are, whatever hue you have. It's a message for the entire world. It's a message that says God has spiritually gifted all of us, but we need to tap into it and we need to have some attitude adjustment and realize that God has been so generous, not only to all of us that on this podcast but to others as well. So let us carry that to all the nations. Let us go beyond the state line of Mississippi, because we have a message to tell to the entire world.
Speaker 3:Man. You came out putting a bow on it there. Brother Crawford, I thought you did it, didn't you?
Speaker 1:Amen, amen. I heard every single alliteration man. I heard every single alliteration Voice vision, victory, amen, amen. That was incredible, that was incredible. And those M's, those four M's, in particular Dr Cook, really resonated with me in terms of the idea of making time but also creating opportunities to meet, felt need, meeting people where they are and then watching the manifestation of the Lord if we adopt those M's. And so that was incredible. You know Nettie talked about mentioning those things somewhere down the road. You know there'sie talked about mentioning, mentioning those things somewhere down the road. You know there's. You know there's three levels, there's three levels to attribution. You know, the first time, the first time that he mentions it, he'll say you know, dr Cook used to say these three M's. The next time he'll say I heard, I heard, want somebody say these, these three M's. And then the last time he'll say you know, like I always say, you know these three M's.
Speaker 3:Well, I want you to know, man, I've already developed the V's from vision and those things that he talked about. You know, in terms of that, I've added vessel to that. So you know, I'm going to be the willing vessel for the other V's to work through right, I'm working on the fifth M and the fourth M. So you know, I'm not going to take it completely away from you, I'm going to add a little bit to it. You know, yeah, the Bible talks about since you're on that subject, mr President, listen, the Bible talks about taking what your mentor gives you and then add what God has given you and you'll be better than your mentor, right, and so that's classic.
Speaker 3:Now listen, you laugh, but it's classic with Paul and Barnabas. You know, for a long time, with Barnabas and Saul, barnabas, and all of a sudden, man, you get to the 15th chapter. Between the 14th and 15th chapter it's Paul and Barnabas becomes the father at that point. So you know, keep up the good work. Dr Cook, I love the way you set that up. I love the way you described that. For us at the Body of Christ, you know, we capture it in a nutshell God's grace is greater than race and isms and all those other things that you have, and so I think that's a way to recap that. Thank you for that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Amen. Dr Cook, how can we keep up with you? And Anderson, united Methodist Church, where is your webpage, your social media? Give us some direction as to how we can keep up with you guys.
Speaker 4:Well, you can go to andersonumcorg and follow us for the latest things that are happening at Anderson, what we have forecasted for, what's upcoming down the road.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen. It is a blessing Always. I am always enriched and encouraged anytime I spend time with you, and this time was no different, and so we are incredibly blessed and fortunate to be able to grab a few moments from your busy schedule and to glean some wisdom from you. So thank you so much, dr Cook, for your time and thanks to the listening audience joining us on this episode. Please feel free to share this podcast with any of your friends and family and coworkers and church members. You can always visit Mission Mississippi by going to missionmississippiorg. You can always share this podcast by going to any podcast app out there and searching on Living Reconciled to subscribe and share, and we would love for you to do that Again. It was incredible to have our friend Dr Cook on this episode of Living Reconciled and, on behalf of my good friends, austin Hoyle, nettie Winters I'm Brian Crawford signing off saying God bless.
Speaker 4:God bless.
Speaker 1:God bless, the journey continues. Thanks for joining Living Reconciled. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of the ongoing work of helping Christians learn how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured how to live in the reconciliation that Jesus has already secured, please visit us online at missionmississippiorg or call us at 601-353-6477. Thanks again for listening.
