A Legacy of Faithfulness

The Genesis Man Project under the ministry of Abundant Life Gospel Centre caters to males of all ages in their life journey and seeks to serve and honour our mature men.  A series of interviews were held with Bishop Newton Cole to ascertain his thoughts and feelings and to paint a portrait of his person and legacy.

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God’s “Yes Man”

In the beginning…
Newton Cole was born in Saint Anne Hospital in Lime Hall, Jamaica out in the “country”, in the parish of Saint Ann. He grew up in the large community in the main town of Ocho Rios. 

As a young boy, he was not a regular church attendee, but he did go to the Baptist church in Lime Hall.  Newton went to Sunday school and church because his parents made him go and at church he was taught the Word. Newton’s brother, Barrington, was saved in the Church of God at 18 years old when Newton at the time was 16.  He remembered feeling sorry for him because he felt that his brother did not know what he was doing or getting into when he made that commitment to the Lord. Nevertheless, Newton went to his brother’s baptism which was officiated by the female pastor at the church, Evangelist MacLene, and co-Pastor Bro. Adams.

What was his salvation experience like?
One Sunday night, Newton went to church and sat intentionally near the back pew because he decided that he would not go to the altar.  He sat by the door and as it so happened, a young man gave the altar call.  An unusual thing occurred, Newton couldn’t leave, and it felt as if he was physically arrested. He had to go up to the front.

At the altar, Evangelist MacLene asked, “All those who want to be saved, hold up your hands.”  Newton said “Yes” to God.  Newton reflected that not all those who complied with the request seemed to have taken it seriously.  He remembered that one of the young man (named Claude) who had raised his hand, and didn’t come back to church, fell off his bike one day, broke his neck and died.  Newton observed carefully and wondered if he was next.  He didn’t solidify his commitment entirely until after he witnessed this event. However, saying “Yes,” did not mean things were easy.

O’Neil was a friend that lived close to Newton, and they usually went to St. Anne’s Bay to hang out.  On one occasion, Newton remembered this conversation:

O’Neil: “Where are you going Cole?”
Newton: “I’m going to church.”
O’Neil: “Hide the Bible and come with me.”
Newton: “I don’t have any money.” [to go out on the town]
O’Neil: “You don’t need money, hide the Bible and come.”

Newton had a lot of temptations. He had started to smoke, and he also had his first girlfriend.  Nevertheless, he was compelled to make the final decision to fully serve God.  It was as if God drew a line in the sand and challenged him to see if he would go forward.  He said “Yes.”                             

Committed to Church

When Newton decided to commit himself as a young man, he really committed himself.  He became the assistant secretary for the ABM (Assembly Band Movement).   If the secretary was not there, Newton would write the minutes.  He became the ABM leader and Sunday school teacher.  Newton went to different locations to teach children.  He also became the assistant CPMA (Church of God of Prophecy Marker Association – Church Heritage) leader, VLB (Victory Leaders Band – Youth) leader and assistant Evangelist.

Newton doesn’t remember the first time he preached, but he did remember that they really pushed him.  He couldn’t hide; he was called upon constantly to speak!  Street ministers called upon him all the time to say something.  He preached in St. Anne’s, he preached in Claremont, and he preached wherever there was an open air service. Newton didn’t remember one particular message, but as VLB secretary in St. Anne’s, he did remember preaching at a convention in Kingston (Jamaica).

Falling Away
Newton explained that there was a period of time when he stopped following God, but God was faithful and helped him to start all over again. He remembered why it happened.  There was a meeting in Claremont regarding a pastor that didn’t come to church.  There were things that was said about him and there were disagreements which did not leave him feeling good.  Newton himself and others felt that he was not being treated fairly.  Consequently, he never returned. 

Bishop Cole explained that he “feared God”, but was not committed.  In the mean time, he drove a taxi for a about 7-8 years until he immigrated to Canada.  He remembered his father saying to him, “When you go to Canada, settle down.  You won’t have me or your home.” Newton took his advice and when he got to Canada he married Verna Surjue, who was very serious about serving God.

Spiritual Restart
In Canada, he attended the Kitchener COGOP (Church of God of Prophecy).  Newton was called upon to be a Sunday school teacher and he also drove the church bus.  He got up early every Sunday morning to pick up kids.  One Sunday after church the bus broke down, and he felt quite discouraged and alone.  It was like the devil said to him, “Everybody is at home and you are stuck out here.” Newton’s thoughtful response was, “Somebody has to do it!”

Newton was not appointed as a minister, but he was a deacon.  His job was to boost BTI (Bible Training Institute) and he did so during one particular convention. The presiding Bishop of COGOP Eastern Canada at the time (Overseer Van Deventor) said to him, “You are not a deacon!  Go to your pastor and tell him that you are not a deacon but a minister!”

His pastor agreed and Newton was appointed as a minister in the COGOP.  He was supposed to go to Winnipeg, but he did not feel the full consensus of his wife.  They moved instead from Kitchener to Ottawa.

In Ottawa, he served in the church to the best of his ability while working part time at a hotel to support his family.  The fellowship there had more females than males, with a population of about 35 saints.  House visits were a big part of the ministry.  He was only there, however, for 3 years and was moved to Oshawa.

The Temptation of Discouragement
During his service, Newton faced many verbal discouragements – how would you feel if someone called you a fool for committing and continuing to minister at a church? Regardless, he was resolutely determined and rested in the sufficiency of God and never wavered.

Pastoring in Oshawa at first was difficult. There was much hindrances and the desire of the laity to work did not seem evident.  Newton did much of the work on his own because he just could not allow God’s agenda to wait.  He did whatever he needed to do.  This meant painting the church, fixing and cleaning the washrooms, or maintaining the basement.  He used his family -Kevin and Francine- his two children, and his wife to work together for the physical maintenance of the building.   Incredibly enough, he was not discouraged.  Why?  Newton developed a personal philosophy of “doing what needed to be done”.  He often felt the searing blade of sharp criticisms, but he ignored this and kept focused.  Perhaps it was the “bus experience” that prepared him to work alone when the need arose.

Newton’s definition of ministry was, “Doing any work that was related to the maintenance of the church”.  He cleaned the washrooms every Sunday morning.  The positive thing about persistence and a good work ethic is that it can become contagious.  He noticed that the laity began to work with him, and when they saw the way he preached and talked and walked, it was inevitable.

Yes there was resistance.  Yes there was testing.  Yes there was a period of time of “feeling out” the Pastor.  He even remembered one night when a member flat out asked him, “Why are you here?”

At one point during his ministry, Bishop Cole felt as though he should resign.  He spoke to Overseer Phillips, who after looking at his records commented that he had been one of the ministers that had been the most faithful.  Bishop Phillips counseled him to wait for two weeks and seek God in prayer.  Bishop Cole consented. There were things in the church that was bothering him and negatively affecting his family, so he prayed to God in order to make the correct decision.  The Lord showed him a vision. 

There was a highway that was jammed, and the very front was a mule that was causing the traffic congestion. 

Bishop Cole knew that there was an obstacle that needed to be removed.  God was faithful and He made things right in His own time.

Bishop Cole has always been a “dreamer”.  There were many times during his ministry where God communicated to him quite vividly in dreams.   He remembered one dream where Jesus came to him and said, “Come Bro. Cole, help me lock up [the church].”  He remembered seeing ladders going up to heaven.  He was troubled because he saw people sitting around despite him telling them to come.  The people just did not listen.  Bishop Cole went and told Jesus this, noticing baskets going up to heaven and returning back to earth empty.  Jesus said, “Come anyway!  It’s time to give up the key.”

This dream said to him in a very powerful way that he needed to keep doing God’s work, to keep going forward in spite of the reactions of others.

[During the interview while I watched Bishop Cole speak, he would shift forward and backward on his chair, and I wondered if he would fall out of his chair as he passionately spoke, punctuating and emphasizing statements with the clapping of his hands.]

Throughout his ministerial tenure Bishop Cole ministered and traveled to Africa, Cameroon, Paris, Israel and Jordan. He also made many contributions to the community life in Oshawa and the Durham Region. On July 26, 2012, he was presented the Diamond Jubilee Medal for exceptional contribution to our province and country.

Towards the End of a Pastoral Ministry
At 71 years, (the time of the interview) Newton thought that he would be involved in pastoral ministry well into his 80’s.  Oshawa was his home, an he was committed to do whatever God wanted him to do. His clarion and humble call was:

“I want to be a blessing in the church.  I want to count for God.  I want to be a good man, I want to be a righteous man for Christ.”

Newton would have liked to have seen Erie Street Gospel Centre (renamed Abundant Life Gospel Center), where he pastored, moved into a new building, but it would not be on his terms.

  “I believe in God and whatever God wants to do, that is what He will do!” 

He often thought about taking out the dividing wall between the fellowship hall and expanding the sanctuary to  make room for a nursery.

“I believe in using what we have.  Use what is in your hand.  Moses had a staff and used it to part the Red Sea!”

Bishop Cole learned to wait on God. 

“There is nothing we have to do but wait on God, and He will act.”

Advice to Young Ministers
His advice to young ministers is to commit their ways to the Lord.  If you want to see something accomplished, talk to God about it.  God will allow that person to know His ways. He warns young ministers to avoid the motive of trying to get rich from ministry.  “You have to work for a living.”  Early in his ministry , the church was in a position to give him compensation, but he often used the money to loan back to the church to make improvements.  He gave back to the church more than what was given to him.

“People must be ready to give to God, give the best to God before you expect to receive from Him.”

Changing Times and Ministry?
Has ministry changed?  Bishop Cole wouldn’t say that ministry has changed, but people have changed.  He felt that people used to carry the Gospel, and “run with it.”  Nowadays, it seemed that people needed more motivation to “move”, more specifically, they often needed to see monetary provision before they acted.  Bishop Cole believed that people needed faith in “our God who provides.”  In our more affluent society, maybe Christians depended less on God’s provision because they have more.  If one knows God, he can look to God to provide for him.

Was It Worth It?
Were the years of ministry worth it?  The hardship, the discouragement, the labour…  Bishop Cole’s response is as follows:

“God loves me so much.  I look at it that I could have died already because of cancer, and God spared my life.  God said to me ‘Bro. Cole, I love you and you are faithful.’  God doesn’t take anyone before He is ready.”

[I asked Bishop Cole (rather reluctantly) about the fairness of getting sick.  His response was…] 

“Are you alive?  We are not to be bitter about the ‘fairness’ of what we perceive.  We need to consider about the goodness of God!  God has not promised us perfect health.”

When I asked Bishop Cole what he enjoyed the most about ministering, he replied…

“…to see people who are blessed by God.  That makes my day.”  

[He then started to preach!]

“Blessed means this; last night I was very sick and couldn’t talk, today I can speak!  God shows Himself!  There were three men in the furnace –Daniel’s friends, and they needed Jesus and he showed up!”

What is your Favourite Topic?
When asked what is his most favourite topic, Bishop Cole revealed that he loved to preach on the “Sufficiency of God”.  “God is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think,” is one topic he loves to share.  God is able to do more, though we make it seem impossible!  God is able to provide and help in all things.  Nothing is too big or too small for God!

In terms of a most memorable moment, there was a member of Bishop A.R. Morrison’s congregation, who lived in Pickering Ontario and he was asked to visit her. During the time he was encouraging her, she encouraged him more and cheered him up!

Satisfaction
Looking back at a life of ministry I asked if he would change anything or do anything differently. He said…

“…no, I would not change a thing.”  Based on the approach of a willing heart, one can only feel satisfaction upon reflection. 

Bishop’s mantra was:

“I’ll do whatever I can do to be a blessing… I’ll do whatever is God’s will…”

Bishop Cole said to me [Israel Harriott]:

“Give yourself to the Lord and God will change you.  You’ll never know how much God can do.”

 [As a young man under his pastoral care, I always knew that Bishop Cole had a way of turning a conversation into questions that would put you right on the spot.  It forced me to think clearly and rationally before coming to him.]

Bishop and Sister Cole have thoroughly enjoyed their life of ministry, and although at times things were not easy, serving the Lord was and is always a blessing and a joy!

Bishop Cole’s life is, and always will be a model of faithfulness.  He will always be seen as the man who would say “Yes” to God, regardless of the request.

Newton Cole went home to be with the Lord March 20, 2013. and is survived by his wife, children – Pastor Kevin Cole, Nadine Cole, Francine Harriott, seven grandchildren and extended family. We honour his memory on this Family Day.

Newton & Verna Cole

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