Fall 2021 18 AARON COOK Aaron Cook Lives as Evidence of God’s Grace By Kathryn McDonald Cedarville University is unique because of the people who are most involved in the community. Many people work behind-the-scenes to create a vibrant, Christ-centered community. Invariably the behindthe-scenes moments go unnoticed yet are the lifeblood of this ministry. Aaron Cook is one of the biggest players in these behind-the-scenes moments. In his role as Director of Discipleship, Cook is responsible for managing Discipleship Groups, Fit to be Tied—a premarital counseling course, Tied and True—a mentorship program for married couples, and the student chaplains. Cook’s time at Cedarville began in 1995 when he enrolled as a student. He said that this is simply evidence of God’s grace in his life. Before visiting Cedarville with his youth group as a senior in high school, Cook said, “I wasn’t planning on going to Cedarville. I didn’t know anything about it.” After graduating from Cedarville in 1999 with a degree in Bible Comprehensive/Christian Education, Cook began his ministry at Scioto Hills Christian Camp, where he loved the ministry he partnered with. Before God called Cook and his family back to Cedarville, Cook did not anticipate leaving Scioto Hills. “I loved it. Thought we would stay forever,” he said. Eventually, God compelled Cook to go back to Cedarville where it seemed that “Cedarville would be the greatest place to leverage his talents for the Gospel,” said Cook. It has now been seven years since Cook began serving as Cedarville’s Director of Discipleship, and it is evident that God has been using Cook in a mighty way for His Kingdom. Jon Wood is the Vice President of Student Life & Christian Ministries, Assistant Professor of Theological Studies and a close friend of Cook’s. Wood explains that he loves how Cook refers to the Discipleship Council as “dear ones” because they are truly dear to him. “I think he means they are dear to God as well,” said Wood. “And ‘dear ones,’ recognizing that whether there are 12 or 14 or however many on any given discipleship council, that he’s acknowledging he values and loves each one of them individually. His very way of expression, ‘dear ones,’ is conveying his heart for ministry and discipleship.” Cook’s unique ministry to students is reflected in the unusual opportunities for relationships to be built between the students and the faculty and staff. “I need partnerships with faculty and staff to do my job, and a major component of Fit to Be Tied is the mentorship couples. Even with my chaplains, I have different faculty and staff come in and interact with them on a regular basis,” Cook said. It is this intergenerational component that is designed to prepare students for future ministry opportunities in their own local churches, both now and after they leave Cedarville. The heart of all discipleship ministries on campus is the desire to foster the growth of individuals within a Christ-centered community. Cook and his partners in ministry use Psalm 1 as one of the key passages to illustrate this growth. Cook said, “We want to cultivate individuals who look like that tree that’s planted by streams of water.” Down to the very logo of discipleship ministries on campus, the goal is to display flourishing. Cook also points to John 15 where Jesus uses another tree-type metaphor for the Chrisitan life. Jesus Himself is the vine, and His followers are the branches. And out of that relationship comes fruitful flourishing. For Cook the mission does not stop at multiplying these fruitful followers, but rather “multiplying multipliers.” He said, “That goal of spiritual transformation means helping individuals understand how that works and then understand how to help others grow. And that is directly transferable into the local church.” All discipleship ministries are engaged in preparing to see more people multiplying and discipling others beyond Cedarville. What does that look like? Cook said that this kind of success has no recipe. “We just keep walking alongside them pointing to truth, trying to counsel with truth,” Cook said. “And there is no formula for that. It’s just taking them to the Word, pointing them to the Gospel and then asking and praying in that time. ‘Spirit of God, please reveal this truth to them Photo – Trey M Lahmers
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=