Sep 1, 2007
The Rev. K. Jason Coker returning to head Wilton Baptist Church
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The membership of Wilton Baptist Church voted Sunday to call the Rev. K. Jason Coker as its new senior pastor, completing a year-long search process that involved review of more than 200 candidates from throughout the United States and from Baptist, Evangelical Free and non-denominational backgrounds.
Mr. Coker will assume the pulpit at Wilton Baptist and lead his first service on Sunday, Sept. 30. Worship services begin at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of the church at 254 Danbury Road.
Mr. Coker, 30, served five years as associate pastor at the church before leaving in the spring of 2006 to take on a role as missions pastor for Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. In that church, with membership of about 3,500, he was responsible for developing a broad-based missions program that included local service projects and regional partnerships, including work on the Texas/Mexico border and involvement in the Mississippi Delta Rural Poverty Initiative.
This summer, he led a group from the church to Africa where they are in partnership with the Buckner Benevolence to build a child development center and medical clinic in Busia, Kenya.
In accepting the call of his former church, Mr. Coker is returning to New England and Connecticut, an area he said he fell in love with while earning his master’s degree in religion from Yale University Divinity School. He also is re-entering the type of community-based ministry that is his true passion.
“All deep and abiding Christian ministry is rooted in trusting relationships,” Mr. Coker said, explaining his desire to minister to people on a personal level. “I have always believed that WBC could be an extraordinarily powerful presence in the community, and I get very excited thinking about what can be accomplished.”
Tim Boyle, chair of deacons at Wilton Baptist, said the decision to call Mr. Coker was the culmination of much consideration and prayer:
“This is not a secular search, one where you look for the best preacher or minister to fill an open position as quickly as possible,” Mr. Boyle said. “It’s a spiritual journey where you seek God’s guidance and wisdom in identifying a divine answer to not just a church’s needs, but as a blessing to the community and world around us. In a very real way, Jason is an answer to all of our prayers in this last year.”
Mr. Coker and his wife, Pamela, have a one-year-old son, Liam. They will reside at the church manse in Wilton. Mr. Coker is completing his doctoral studies in New Testament and Early Christianity at Drew University. Ms. Coker is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s of science in social work from Columbia University.
Wilton Baptist Church is celebrating its 40th year of service on Nov. 10 and 11. Information: 762-2429 or wiltonbaptist.org.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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