The following is an adapted excerpt from Steadfast: The Leadership Journey and Model of David S. Dockery by Andy Pettigrew, releasing by B&H Publishing Group (June 2026).
On the evening of June 14, 1975, David Dockery and Lanese Huckeba married in a beautiful ceremony at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Just one week after graduating with his bachelor’s degree, David was wrapping up a year of service on the Hunter Street church staff. At 22 years old, he was ready to start a new chapter of his life with Lanese, who was 21. The ceremony, led by Tommy Lea, the church’s pastor, was a radiant occasion filled with worship, surrounded by family and friends. The evening unfolded as a blessed, unforgettable event, honoring both their love and faith. The church, an old yet cherished building, overflowed with people representing years of deep family connections and shared memories, making the moment even more special.
On the 14th of June, Lanese glowed as she walked down the aisle. David, who at times could be shy and introverted, could hardly believe that the Lord had provided him with such a wonderful, godly and beautiful bride. Looking back after decades together, the couple marveled at how much their lives had unfolded beyond anything they could have imagined. They had entered marriage with little more than youthful optimism, but the joys they experienced and the surprises that came their way were far greater than they ever expected. The opportunities for service and growth were blessings that they had never anticipated in the spring of 1975.
Both David and Lanese had grown up in working-class families on the west side of Birmingham. Their parents were hardworking people. David’s father worked in the tire business, while Lanese’s father was a steelworker. Their mothers, homemakers by and large, occasionally held jobs. None of their parents had attended college—high school education was the norm, and one of the four didn’t even finish high school.
It seemed unimaginable at the time that David and Lanese’s lives would be spent largely in the world of higher education. Their fathers served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and their travel experiences were limited to their naval assignments. Neither mother traveled far beyond the South, and neither had ever been outside the continental U.S. The privileges they would later enjoy—traveling and serving across the country and the world—were not even a consideration in 1975. Their journey together had begun in Alabama, but it would take them much farther in the days ahead.
One week after their wedding, David and Lanese moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where they spent their first year together. David taught Bible and coached basketball at a Christian high school. During this time, they became involved with the Navigators ministry at the University of Tennessee. Much of their year was spent memorizing scripture and learning how to minister to college students and young couples.
Several seminaries were under consideration as they explored options for theological education. Southwestern Seminary stood out due to their Southern Baptist backgrounds and connections with familiar pastors. However, their journey first led them to the Midwest before Southwestern became part of their story. During their time at the University of Alabama, involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ introduced them to mentors who encouraged them to consider institutions like Dallas Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, or Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Instead, an unexpected opportunity took them to Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, setting a pattern of following God’s direction in major life decisions.
Grace was not the initial choice, but a colleague’s recommendation led to a visit that changed everything. Without knowing anyone at the seminary, the decision was made to study there. The faculty left a lasting impact, shaping a deep appreciation for theological study and the New Testament. Their time at Grace involved both academic and practical experiences. Lanese worked at the Winona Hotel, which served as a dormitory during the school year and took occasional classes at Grace College. David found work coaching women’s basketball, grading for faculty members, and assisting with campus facilities. Teaching a college Sunday school class together at Winona Lake Presbyterian Church became another meaningful commitment, just a short walk from their small apartment through Indiana’s snowy winters.
Grace Theological Seminary was not affiliated with the Southern Baptist tradition, yet it appealed to someone seeking confidence in biblical inerrancy. Grace’s strong commitment to biblical truth provided the reassurance needed after recent struggles with former Baptist churches. A master’s thesis focused on Romans 7 led to graduation in 1979 with Magna Cum Laude honors, along with awards in New Testament studies and preaching.
The experience at Grace solidified Baptist convictions rather than weakening them. A desire for further training in a Baptist context led to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Hard work defined those years, balancing a second Master of Divinity degree at Southwestern with multiple jobs to support a growing family.
A third master’s degree followed at Texas Christian University. Further academic pursuits culminated in a PhD in 1988 from the University of Texas system, specializing in hermeneutics and history. The dissertation, guided by scholars from various Christian traditions (such as B. K. Lackner, a Roman Catholic church historian; Lenore Langsdorf, an Anglican hermeneutician; and Robert Longacre, a Presbyterian language and linguistic specialist), examined biblical interpretation in the early church, reflecting a commitment to rigorous theological inquiry.
Dockery’s passion for learning and dedication to deep study opened the door to higher education. His solid theological foundation laid the groundwork for future Christian scholarship. But that would come later. During college, a pivotal experience unexpectedly drew him toward a unique, cross-cultural opportunity in pastoral ministry.
Dockery’s passion for learning and dedication to deep study opened the door to higher education. His solid theological foundation laid the groundwork for future Christian scholarship.
More than a decade earlier, in 1973, Dockery spent nine days with the University of Alabama men’s basketball team in New York City for the National Invitation Tournament held in Madison Square Garden. The city’s towering skyline and bustling streets left him in awe as he wandered through its magnitude. During the trip, he sat beside the legendary Coach Paul Bryant, who had come to cheer on Alabama’s athletes with his trademark enthusiasm. The experience was unforgettable for a young man from the South, offering a glimpse into a world far beyond his familiar surroundings. Unknowingly, though, God was also preparing him for his first major ministry assignment.
After Dockery had completed his studies in Texas, he visited the seminary career center to explore the next steps in a pursuit of ministry. Jimmy Nelson, director of the center, told Dockery of an opportunity in Brooklyn, New York, to pastor Metropolitan Baptist Church. The church expressed interest not only in a pastor but also in someone serious about teaching the Bible. During the visit to the church in that fall season, the congregation had fallen in love with Lanese. After a somewhat reluctant visit to inquire about the opportunity, Dockery led his family to plant their lives there until 1984.
Before moving from their home in Texas, they welcomed their third son into the world, which would ultimately complete the number of children for David and Lanese. Now complete with three sons––Jon, Ben, and Tim––David and Lanese sold their home in Fort Worth and moved with their three children to the church’s parsonage on 85th Street in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge/Bensonhurst neighborhood.
During this time, David developed his skills in preaching, shepherding, and leading a congregation, gaining a deeper understanding of ministry in an ever-changing urban environment. Lanese coordinated various church ministries, drawing from her strong upbringing at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. The loving congregation embraced their family and truly became an extended family for them, surrounding them with care and support.
During this time, David developed his skills in preaching, shepherding, and leading a congregation, gaining a deeper understanding of ministry in an ever-changing urban environment.
Life in Brooklyn, in the heart of one of the most densely populated and culturally diverse areas in the country, brought challenges and opportunities. Raising three small children in a parsonage next door to the church meant constant interaction with the community and a deep immersion in ministry. Looking back, those years proved to be a formative season, filled with lessons in faith, leadership, and the beauty of serving in a city rich with diversity and spiritual need.
The tenure of David and Lanese at Metropolitan Baptist Church shaped the next thirty years of their ministry. The church gathered in a community filled with people from different ethnicities, including Jews, Haitians, Hispanics, and Italians in the neighborhood. Thus, the multinational congregation stretched the Dockerys in this new field of ministry. At the time of their arrival, the church reported fewer than 100 in weekly attendance. However, over their span of ministry, the church grew to nearly 250 on many Sundays and piqued the curiosity of Southern Baptists regarding its numerical growth.
Visitors from various Southern Baptist groups began arriving at the church, drawn by its remarkable growth and unique approach to ministry. Unlike most churches in the area, which averaged around 75 to 80 attendees, this congregation had more than doubled in size. Their strategy set them apart, prompting curiosity from pastors and leaders eager to understand what made their approach so effective. Many would call ahead, announcing their plans to drop by, while others simply showed up, eager to witness firsthand what was happening. However, this strategy was built simply on consistent Bible teaching, biblical community, and a vision for God’s mission in and through the church.
New York City had become home.
