The Science of Ministry

Bishop Donald Cook II, PhD, ‘21 MSCM always knew he would do some type of mission or evangelism work. His father, the late Bishop Donald Sr., had founded Harvest Tabernacle Bible Church in Los Angeles in 1976 and the church was an integral part of the young Dr. Cook’s life.

After graduating from Morehouse College with a degree in business management, Dr. Cook answered the call to ministry and researched programs that would provide the skills needed to run a successful church. “There were MBA programs and Master of Divinity programs, but I needed something in between the two, so I prayed for guidance,” he says. That’s when Dr. Cook discovered the Master of Science in Church Management program (MSCM) at Villanova. “It was the answer to my prayers,” he says.

According to Dr. Cook, “Everything I was able to do in the Church Management program was impactful to my ministry.” He says one of the most meaningful elements of the program was that his professors emphasized that the assignments and class projects would not work unless he coupled it with his real-life experiences. “This allowed me to connect the dots with what was happening in my own ministry,” he says.

When his father was getting ready to retire, Dr. Cook began to discuss the possibility of repurposing the church property. After much prayer, Dr. Cook was inspired to redevelop the land for the betterment and growth of the ministry. He also wanted to maintain a presence in the area. “Everyone else sold and left, but I wanted to make sure we kept a footprint in the community,” says Dr. Cook. Using the skills and tools he learned in the MSCM program, Dr. Cook was able to obtain buy-in from the community and move forward. “Villanova gave me the tools, the space, and the teaching- with facts and data - to make sound decisions,” he says.

“We are doing what the Bible has instructed us to do. Jesus asks: ‘When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I didn’t have a place to stay, did you house me? When I needed help, were you there for me?” Dr. Cook says. He acknowledges that the work is not always easy but draws on his deep faith and conviction in the mission. “We know that we are following in the footsteps that God has instructed us to do,” Dr. Cook says. “At the end of the day, God will equip us to do work. And that’s exactly what I believe He has done through the Villanova program. He has equipped me to be better prepared to do His work.”

Originally published in the Summer 2021 Issue of Villanova Business magazine.