When we arrived at Denton Bible around 2008, my hunch was confirmed.
I heard Tommy Nelson preach at a Song of Solomon conference in Midland, TX, around 2003. As a single, college-aged kid, I had no clue how to read, much less understand that Book of the Bible. Here was a man’s man expositing God’s Word, verse-by-verse, with care, compassion, and humor. I knew I’d end up at his church if I were in Dallas. Entering Denton Bible’s sanctuary that first Sunday felt like home.
The choir. The people. The preaching. The opportunities for growing in the faith. What I learned was Denton Bible’s discipleship philosophy. And on. And on.
Fast forward 17 years, my wife and I have brought up three daughters here, I’ve worked full time for 13 of those years, I’ve been ordained as one of the pastors, completed a ThM and a PhD, and have had the privilege of starting three unique ministries that continue to this day.
How did all that happen?
God through Tommy Nelson (and the other individuals he trained).
Tommy inspired and believed in me. He never spoke down to my efforts, questioned my leadership, or pressured me to have a particular ministry program.
What did he offer a young 30-year-old (now 43)? Three things:
- Study.
- Teach.
- Model.
Study.
One time, when Tommy and I were coming back from a trip, I asked him what he made of all this “evangelical noise.” He said, “Drew, it’s like a football game. On the one hand, you have the band, the cheerleaders, and the fans. All they’re doing is making noise, yelling, and jeering. On the other hand, you have the refs and the players. Eleven will line up on one side and eleven on the other. The ref will put the ball on the field, and only those who have been in their Bibles and praying daily will be playing.”
The lesson: If you want a ministry of any significance, you’d best be a man of the Book.
Teach.
During a break on an evening in BTCP, a fellow student talked with Tommy and said, “Tommy, when you were preaching through eschatology, I accepted Christ.” Without hesitation, Tommy responded, “The Word of God.” That was it. No gimmicks or tricks to convince him of his need and Christ’s solution. Only Truth.
The lesson: The pastor needs confidence only in the power of the gospel to teach/preach His Word. Any fruitful ministry is built on God’s Word.
Another time, long before I came on staff at Denton Bible, I was asked to join him at a speaking engagement after having breakfast at Cracker Barrel. When we arrived, I realized he was speaking to a living room full of college students. He quickly found his seat and began right into expositing the Scriptures. He held them for over an hour by simply teaching the Bible.
The lesson: People only want to hear from ministers who study and teach the Scriptures.
Model.
Tommy isn’t perfect—nor am I. Yet his example as a young pastor’s mentor is priceless. Tommy is like a lead Jazz musician, who sets the tone, tempo, and cadence for everyone around him. He played so loud and well, and we keyed on him as we each invested in our ministry responsibilities. He discipled; we discipled. He shared his faith; we shared ours. He exposited the Word; we followed. He modeled the Christian life for me and many others.
The lesson: Model what you expect.
These three qualities sound strikingly familiar. These are the three qualities Ezra possessed in his day after setting his heart. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” Ezra 7:10.
Tommy is an Ezra 7:10 man…visionary…and pastor.
The picture above was taken during my ordination service.
— June 18, 2025