Rodrick Sweet
Site Director at the Jefferson City Correctional Center; Instructor of Christian Studies
Rodrick听Sweet is an Instructor of Bible and Theology in the Christian Studies Department. He has served as Site Director of Freedom on the Inside at Jefferson City Prison Program since July 2020. Before coming to HLGU, he was the senior assistant to the director and adjunct professor at the听Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary鈥檚 Darrington Prison Program from 2013鈥�2019, as well as an adjunct professor at the College of Biblical Studies-Houston from 2016-2022.
Director Sweet received his Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary鈥檚 Houston Campus and is completing doctoral work in Homiletics and Biblical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Before joining the HLGU staff, he served in ministry for many years as a youth pastor, young adult pastor, and senior pastor.
He is an active member of the Evangelical Theological Society, Evangelical Homiletic Society, and the Society of Gospel Haymanot. Director Sweet and his wife Cozette are the parents of one daughter. He is an avid sports fan and loves football, basketball, and taekwondo.
Educational Background
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Homiletics and Biblical Theology Emphasis, ABD
- Dallas Theological Seminary – Master of Theology, 2016
- College of Biblical Studies-Houston – Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership, 2008
Memberships
- Evangelical Theological Society
- Evangelical Homiletic Society
- Society of Gospel Haymanot
Awards & Achievements
- Awarded the President Scholarship at the College of Biblical Studies 2006-2007
- Acton Institute, Action University Oikonomia Fellowship Scholarship June 19-24, 2017
- First recipient of the S.M. Lockridge Scholarship SWBTS Fall of 2017-2020
Publications/Academic Blogs
鈥淟earning to Preach from Martin Luther King鈥� (February 4, 2019)
鈥淭he Narrative that Works: How to Make Story Unforgettable鈥� (September 23, 2018)
鈥淗ow to Make Sermon Illustrations Genuine鈥� (February 23, 2018),
鈥淐hrist-Centered Preaching a Text-Driven Approach鈥� (February 3, 2017),听
鈥淗ow to Resist Temptation鈥�听The Alum News Magazine听College of Biblical Studies September 2012
Conference Papers
- Exploring the Theological Foundation for Black Preaching in the 21st听Century: A Systematic Approach Evangelical Homiletics Society October 11-13, 2018
- Theological-Rhetorical Analysis of Deut. 32:1-52 Evangelical Theological Society Southwest Regional Meeting March 2-3 2018
- Hope for the Broken Hearted: An Examination of eschatology within the Black Church Evangelical Theological Society Southwest Regional Meeting March 31-April 1, 2016
- W. E. B. Du Bois: Double Consciousness, the Negro Problem, and The Black Political Pulpit Evangelical Homiletics Society October 13-15, 2016