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Sharonda Cooper is a Bible teacher whose passion is evangelism. With degrees in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she is now working toward an M.Div. in apologetics and philosophy from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to her work for a Christian non-profit, Cooper is a workshop leader, fitness instructor, and author who has contributed to Fruitful: Cultivating a Spiritual Harvest That Won’t Leave You Empty and Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions About the Messiah. She has served on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee and is currently the convention secretary. Cooper is a wife, mom, and active member of Emmaus Church in Georgetown, where she enjoys serving on the praise team.
What victory has your church been able to celebrate lately?
One huge victory is Sports Camp, which we run every summer. We had a record number of children—185—from the area attend in 2024. Response from the community was positive. Lots of parents want their children to participate in church activities over the summer. At Sports Camp, kids receive a meal, solid Bible training, and select a sport and train in that sport all week. The theme this year was “None Greater,” where we taught kids about the attributes of God. Non-believing parents come to [a wrap-up] event. They get to hear the gospel as a pastor gets up, explains why we do this, and invites them to church. The whole church helps.
As a member of Emmaus Church, what’s one thing your congregation is praying will happen over the next year?
One thing we really desire is an elder who is older. We are a young church … a church plant. We also have young pastors. It’s wonderful. We are asking the Lord to send us a man who has been in ministry for many years with that wisdom and life experience.
Based on your experience as a curriculum writer, what’s the connection between one-on-one Bible study and evangelism?
After I married and moved to Texas … I was teaching a fitness class at an Austin gym and joined a conversation with participants who complained about having to go to church on Easter because they were Catholic. [Eventually] I asked one woman if she would like to start reading the Bible with me. Over the course of the next two years, we met off and on. At the end of the time, she came to faith. Now she is a Bible study leader. Her husband and children are saved. An entire family was transformed simply because God gave me the courage to start reading the Bible with a non-believer. Most people will agree to it if you’ll ask.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your life and ministry you know you’ll never forget?
The easiest way to share the gospel with another person is through one-on-one Bible study. People need an encounter with the Word. They need to know the real Jesus, not the one they’ve seen depicted in the media.
How can other SBTC churches be praying for your church?
Pray that we would be mobilized to share the gospel with the lost in Georgetown, where over 60% would check “none” on a questionnaire about religion. Pray that we Christians at Emmaus will have compassion for the lost and find winsome ways to engage people who don’t have Christ on their radar.
