Cole Peck

Please describe your position and what you enjoy most about it.

My role as Assistant Pastor is a dual role, with my time being split between administrating our Youth Ministry as well as assisting the senior pastor and church with teaching/preaching, administrative duties, and general pastoral tasks. My favorite aspect of my position is the opportunity to teach the Bible and help with the discipleship of people of all ages.

What aspects of your HLGU experience helped you prepare for your career?

My academic and social experiences at HLGU were absolutely critical to my preparation for the pastorate. My course work more than prepared me for graduate work and gave me the necessary tools to begin working within churches as a pastor. Socially, I was able to interact with many people from different backgrounds on a daily basis, which helped prepare me for work in a diverse world.

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

I have enjoyed my opportunities to teach and preach in multiple environments.

Have you or are you currently continuing your education? If so, please list the institution(s) and degree(s) you earned or are working toward.

I have continued my education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have completed my M.Div. with a concentration in Old Testament, and am finishing my Th.M. in Old Testament.

How did HLGU shape you as a person?

I was able to spend some of my most crucial formative years under excellent instruction and was able to receive excellent counsel as I considered future decisions.

Please share a specific example from your career or life when the skills you gained at HLGU helped you most.

Academically, I was challenged at HLGU. This took away the shock of graduate level course work, and I was able to comfortably gain advanced instruction because of my time at HLGU.

What HLGU professors played a part in your success? How did your relationship with faculty help you succeed?

I was fortunate to study under Dr. Morgan, Dr. Bergen, and Dr. Brown. The relationship I developed with each of these professors was absolutely a crucial factor in my development.

Do you have any tips to share with students interested in this field?

I will forever remember a conversation with one of my bible professors when they said, “You will never do better in the pastorate than you will in the classroom.” This is by no means a grade judgement, but is rather a judgement of effort and discipline. Students should learn to work hard and read well.

HLGU’s motto is “knowledge for service.” What roles have these values played in your life?

This motto has defined my philosophy of life. As a Christian, I am responsible to not only learn as much as I can, but to also apply this knowledge as often as I can for the good of the Kingdom.