Meet DMin Student Eric Moffett

Eric Moffett is a student of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Baylor's Truett Seminary. He has had the joy of serving as a pastor for the last seventeen years in Arkansas and recently (in January of 2023) answered a call to serve at Coryell Community Church in Gatesville, Texas, where he serves as Lead Pastor and his wife Sherrill serves as the Connections Pastor. Moffett and his wife have been married since 2006 and have a "bright, beautiful, and compassionate" daughter named Madelynn. In a recent conversation with Moffett, we asked him a few questions about his time at Truett and in the DMin program. 

1. Why did you decide to attend Truett Seminary?

From a distance, I observed that Truett is a place where a serious commitment to Scripture is coupled with serious scholarship. Setting out on the Doctor of Ministry journey, I knew it was going to be a major commitment of both time and resources for my family and me. That being said, I wanted to study at a seminary where I would be challenged and equipped for this next stage of ministry. Truett was a natural fit! 

2. What are some parts of your seminary journey that have been the most impactful for you?

While I expected to be stretched academically, I did not expect to gain lifelong friends! The DMin program is based on a cohort model and within this cohort, I found an immediate connection with fellow ministers. This rich connection, sparked by common academic work, has flourished into meaningful friendships. It has been within the context of those meaningful connections that I have experienced the most growth through the program. 

3. What are some of the lessons you have learned in seminary that you believe will inform and shape your future ministry work?

Since I’ve been pastoring for seventeen years, I’ve been in ministry long enough to realize that cultural shifts in society are so connected to the church that they cannot really be untangled. The DMin program has helped me to better understand where society is and has given me a sense of hope for the coming years. There are ways to connect to people that I had never even considered before! 

4. What drew you to the DMin program and how are you using what you are learning in your current serving capacity?

I knew that the program would be informative. I did not expect the DMin program to be so immediately practical to my ministry. After the very first seminar, which involved a robust study of how we proclaim God’s Word, I saw growth and renewed fruitfulness in my preaching. Some church members even mentioned that they could see a new spark in my ministry! This spark re-energized me towards my culminating project which dealt with using 2 Corinthians as a lens through which to understand and navigate political division within the local church. The DMin program equipped me to reimagine how God’s Word connects with real life and that is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. 

5. What would you say to someone considering applying to the DMin program at Truett?

If you are considering applying to the DMin program at Truett - just do it! You would be hard-pressed to find a more vibrant, grounded, and practical program anywhere else! If you are trying to figure out how to lead in the church in the secular age, then you need to be studying at Truett!