Introduction
I am called to serve the people of God in the office of Pastor/Teacher. I do so with humility, passion and a desire not for personal gain or recognition, but to give my best to His beloved people. My mission is to equip and encourage the church for the work of ministry through. This mission is carried out through formational instruction and participation in and the nurture and love of the local church.
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19)
Roderick Earl Cochran was born in Birmingham, Alabama, 1969. He is the youngest son of Rivers, Sr (deceased) and Elvira Cochran. He has two older sisters, Carolyn and Anita, and an older brother, MSGySgt Rivers L Cochran, Jr (USMC Ret.). He is the husband of 29 years to Dr. Nicole Cochran, EdD. Roderick received his B.A. in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s in Business with emphasis in Leadership from Fresno Pacific University.
He also served as On-Site Instructor/Lecturer and Facilitator and trainer for Fresno Pacific University-Office of Spiritual Formation, under the leadership of Dr. Angulus D. Wilson, Ph. D. While serving there, he received Certification in Restorative Justice as a Practitioner, as well as serving as Campus Pastor for the Merced Regional Center-Fresno Pacific University. He has attended Tuskegee University, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Regions University, Southern Christian University, College of Biblical Studies Houston, Texas.
Roderick has over 29 years of ministry experience; 25 years of that experience is Pastoral. He served as Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Marion, Alabama, Agape Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, Texas and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Merced California.
He has served as Symposium Speaker and facilitator for Wheaton College/Billy Graham Ministries/Eleventh Hour Conference, Uganda, Africa, Guest lecturer and speaker, Center for Community Transformation Visiting Scholars program 2016, Angelos Biblical Institute as Adjunct Professor, Conference Instructor and Preacher, and Co-Founder of The AWAKE Foundation , whose mission is to create connected communities by facilitating training, workshops and community public forums dealing with Implicit Bias/Restorative Justice training. Listed are the following professional and ministerial associations and qualifications:
Christian Associations
Minister with the Evangelism team of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College during the Eleventh-Hour Conference Uganda, Africa
National Baptist Convention USA Inc.
Southern Baptist Convention
Baptist Pastor’s Conference of Central California
Leadership Experience
- Twenty-five years of service missions and youth development
- North America rural and urban missions development
- International school development in Africa, Russia and Europe
- National and International forum development
- University Professor in Outreach and Service projects
- National and International conference speaker and teacher
- Leadership Experience 2000-Present
- Serving Christian Universities in teaching, preaching, evangelism, and integrating faith and learning through exploring mission and vocation.
- Develop national and international leadership conferences for all ages.
- Organize and structure a school of ministry for bi-vocational Pastors.
- Senior Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church Marion Alabama 1997-2005
- Senior Pastor of Agape Baptist Church Houston, Texas 2005-2009
- Senior Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Merced, California 2009-2017
- Teaching Pastor at New Beginnings Community Church, Fresno California 2017 to Present
- Mentor/Instructor Army of Victory Fresno, California 2018 to Present
