News
Biography of Washington Irving Cook, Jr.
Serving Mt. Gilead Baptist Church since 2002
Who would have known that a little boy born in Mobile, Alabama over 74 years ago would still be serving the Lord at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church as Minister to Senior Adults. The road led him from Mobile to New Orleans to Galveston where he attended junior high and high school. He was saved at 11 years old in New Orleans at the Grace Baptist Church. God moved again in his life when he was called to the ministry after graduating from high school.
In his preparation years he graduated from the University of Corpus Christi and Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth. So in a sense, he and his wife Jo have made a full circle back to Fort Worth after 58 years of ministry where during those years he served churches in Oklahoma, Missouri, and all over Texas.
He and Jo are the parents of six grown childre, 8 granchildren and one great grandaughter. All of them live close around the metroplex.
His positions on a church staff have included Pastor, Minister of Youth, Minister of Music, Minister of Education, Minister of Administration, and Minister to Senior Adults. The church called Irving as Interim Minister of Education in July 2002. He moved to Senior Adult Minister in July of 2004. During his ministry Jo also served in many capacities alongside of him. Through all the ups and downs of ministry God has been faithful to them in their service to the Lord.