Trailblazing for the Kingdom

Trailblazing for the Kingdom

(United Theological Seminary/Reginald Worthen Photography)

Suzan Johnson Cook has been blazing a trail throughout her career, breaking down barriers and making a way for others. Best of all she gives God all the glory.

Rev. Dr. Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook’s career has been one of firsts. At the age of 26, Dr. Johnson Cook became the first female pastor of the oldest Baptist church in Manhattan, making her the first African American woman to serve as a pastor in the American Baptist Association. She served as the first female chaplain to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), a role she held for 21 years, ministering in the wake of 9/11 and bridging relations between the NYPD and New York’s diverse communities.

With a gift for making connections and building relationships, Dr. Johnson Cook became known as “America’s Chaplain.”

“God says build bridges,” Dr. Johnson Cook says. “Build relationships. Because somebody has to make the call. Somebody has to open the door. Somebody has to make an introduction.”

Dr. Johnson Cook later became the first and, to date, only female president of the historic Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, the largest gathering of African American clergy in the world. In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed her U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom — the first woman, African American and pastor to hold the position. Her responsibility was to protect religious freedom globally, with 199 countries in her portfolio.

When Rev. Johnson Cook entered United’s Doctor of Ministry program in 1987, she joined the first class of fellows to study under the mentorship of Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor. This past January, Dr. Johnson Cook returned as a featured preacher during the Doctoral Intensive focused on Women in Christian Leadership.

As she spoke to current doctoral students, she emphasized the need for prayer, a strong support network, self-care and persistence, especially in seasons of adversity.

Every step in her journey prepared her for the next. She has learned that in order to move to the next level in a career, ministry or faith, you must learn not only to listen for God but to act in God’s time.

“Do something with what you’ve got,” she told students, “because God rewards faithfulness.”

She also recognizes the importance of seeking God’s vision: “Trailblazers don’t look at what the picture is now. They look at what it can be.”

Dr. Johnson Cook is quick to recognize all the people God placed across her path to open doors for her, many of whom were older men. Some were African-American, others were Caucasian. Some held similar beliefs, others the complete opposite, but they recognized God’s calling on her life and the way she lived with integrity.

“I’ve been in many places you’ve not, but you will be in places others are not. Every one of us is set apart,” reminds Dr. Johnson Cook.

Dr. Johnson Cook left students with a powerful charge to steward the anointing God has given each one of them, quoting the Ashanti proverb, “The responsibility of power is like holding an egg. Grasp it too tightly and it will drip through your fingers; hold it too loosely and it will drop and break.”

As Dr. Johnson Cook paved the way for others, may we continue to do likewise, bravely following God wherever and whenever God calls.