Travis Cox started in ministry, working with youth, later taking on the role of pastor of a small church. Now he鈥檚 serving BBQ and the Gospel as pitmaster of 1701 Barbecue.
Cox graduated from 爱神传媒with a B.A. in Ministry and a minor in Biblical Studies in 2017. For five years, he served as a youth minister in Athens, TX, and later took on the role of pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Groves, TX, just southeast of Beaumont.
Cox learned about 爱神传媒 through the pastor of his church, who was also a 爱神传媒 alumnus.
鈥淲hen I felt the call to ministry, it was a natural progression to end up at 爱神传媒. So, I heard about the school through the local church,鈥� Cox said. 鈥淭here was a short time I didn鈥檛 have a ministry job, but in 2010 I was called to pastor Friendship Baptist. I grew up in Groves, so being able to come home and pastor a church in my hometown was exciting at the time.鈥�
Time spent serving within the walls of a church gave Cox a chance to grow as an ambassador in his community. Those who come to 1701 Barbecue experience Cox鈥檚 style of outreach.
鈥淭he reception I have received has been great. The owner of 1701 Barbecue is a third-generation funeral home director who owns a prominent funeral home in south Texas. Given my background as a pastor and doing hundreds of funerals, we have a connection that doesn鈥檛 have to be explained. I even did a wedding for one of the pitmasters here. The other pitmaster is my cousin. So, everyone knows my background, and they appreciate what I bring to the table,鈥� Cox said.
Serving at 1701 gave Cox a chance to do Kingdom work and develop relationships.
鈥淚 think my position here 鈥� other than pitmaster 鈥� is bringing into work every day the reality and the possibility of the Kingdom of God. Working with people, encouraging them, giving them dignity, listening to what they are saying, empathizing with their troubles, not publicly, but just thinking about them, and being sensitive to their needs, is producing a kind of culture that I think only one who is sensitive to the Spirit鈥檚 presence can bring,鈥� Cox said.
