The Life and Ministry of Billy and Shirley Cole

[Sam]

A while back we had a thread on here about Billy Cole and his health. He was in a hospital with congestive heart failure and we prayed for him. Thank God, he was later released.

In that thread there was mention of a book titled "The Life and Ministry of Billy and Shirley Cole" and some mentioned that they were going to procure a copy. I got a copy and read it. It's not a long book (227 pages), the print is large and it has lots of pictures so it can be read pretty quickly. I have read it and would recommend it. I like biographies/autobiographies.

I have only heard Billy Cole twice, both at Calvary Church (UPC) which is a couple of miles from my house. Once was just when he was visiting and once was when he preached the funeral of Sis. Paslay, one of the pastors. Calvary Church was formed in 1968 when there was a split. Bro. and Sis. Norman Paslay had a falling out with Bro. F.E. Curts so they and part of the congregation left and formed Calvary Church. The Church is now pastored by their son, Norm Paslay. Some of my wife's relatives go there. When I first met Pastor Norm Paslay he was about two years old. He's now an adult and is a fine man and pastor. I just couldn't go there and have him as my pastor but that's my problem, not his.

I'm going to post some quotes from Billy Cole's book. I'm sure many accept him as an Apostle and great man of God with a unique ministry.

[Sam]

In pages 210 to 217 Billy Cole has a section titled My Heroes. He says:
"I have had several heroes in my lifetime that deeply impacted me and greatly influenced my ministry. Every one of my heroes was a minister."

He starts out by telling about his Mother, then his father and then lists about 17 others.

One that he lists is T.D. Jakes. This is what he says about T.D. Jakes:
"Brother T.D. Jakes was a plumber and a preacher while he was in our fellowship in Charleston, West Virginia. It is phenomenal how he has become so influential today, so quickly. To the best of my knowledge, he has not compromised the message of the Oneness of God, water baptism in Jesus name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. We are proud that his children attended our church school, and that he and his wife were married in our church building. Some call him a compromiser, but in my opinion he is just full of wisdom regarding how to speak to people."

[Sam]

There has been some discussion on AFF about tongues and whether people who speak in tongues speak in known languages or not. Here is a passage from pages 98 and 99 which mention that:

"We saw some that, when they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues, spoke in English perfectly, even though they did not know a word of English! Some of these were jungle people that had never been to any school even a day in their lives, even little children and teenagers. I remember what one little girl in particular said when she spoke in English as she received the Holy Ghost. Her native tongue was Laotian. She did not even know the Thai language, let alone English. She had never been to school a day in her life, but when she got the Holy Ghost she said, 'This is so wonderful. I am so happy. I magnify the name of Jesus.' Brother Oscar Vouga, missions director, was there and witnessed that miracle."

[Sam]

On page 98, Bro. Cole says this about "Signs, Wonders, and Miracles"

"After these people received the Holy Ghost, many signs, wonders, and miracles began to occur. We saw the lame miraculously healed! Oh, how they would walk. We saw deaf ears opened! Oh, how they could hear. Often each notable miracle would result in a church coming into existence, usually with about thirty or forty members. The Thai people would not believe without a miracle, but many would believe when there was a miracle."

[Steve Epley]

No comment.

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

No comment.

My understanding is that in some circles, people accuse him of making up stories where many got the Holy Ghost? Have you heard that? If so why, would people say that about Billy's Testimonies?

[Sam]

I can't find it now but I think the Coles were in Thailand about three years before anyone received the Holy Ghost baptism. Many were baptized in Jesus' name but people just were not receiving the Spirit baptism.

On pages 97 and 98 he says:

"In the very first service where converts received the Spirit, the Holy Ghost came in suddenly, just like on the Day of Pentecost! The converts there were seated on split-log benches, (They had taken logs, split them in half, and made benches with no seat backs. The benches had been placed under a building made of bamboo and grass.) The Holy Ghost fell on them all at once, and it was accompanied by a sound like a rushing mighty wind! Several Buddhist neighbors came running, because they thought an airplane had crashed. When asked why they thought that, they said they had heard a sound come down that sounded like 'WHOOO!'".

Then on page 125 he says:
"After the breakthrough in Thailand, we averaged probably one hundred people per month receiving the Holy Ghost. We would seek out those who needed a miracle, and work with them and pray for them. The Lord would heal them, and people would be converted as the result of the healing or miracle."

[Sam]

from page 125:

"When we finally left Thailand, we had baptized 6,000 people, the majority of which were Buddhists. At first we baptized Christians (Presbyterians and Christian Missionary Alliance members), However, eventually we baptized far more Buddhists than nominal Christians."

[Innocuous]

Bro. Cole has a great sense of humor and an incredibly contagious laugh. He's a great preacher, although personally he can be a pill at times. I enjoyed the times he spent in our home as a kid. Great man of God.

[Pastor Keith]

I think Billy Cole to be a remarkable man, I am sorry that his health is bad. In my opinion another reason to practice stewardship over our earthly tabernacle. How much more effect we can have when we feel healthy and are strong/