Rev. Marvin L. Cole

Rev. Marvin L. Cole, 91, went peacefully to be with the Lord on September 11, 2021.  He was born on August 17, 1930, to D. E. and Aurelia Cole, in DeQuincy, Louisiana, and he held treasured memories of his childhood on Division Street with his precious sister, Melba Cole Perkins.

Bro. Cole would walk to The Pentecostal Church of DeQuincy with his grandmother, Frances Brantley, and at the age of 14, he attended a revival meeting where Sis. Nona Freeman was the evangelist. Bro. Cole received the Holy Ghost in this revival and was baptized in Jesus’ Name by his pastor, Bro. H. L. Bennett.

Shortly after this, during a Camp Meeting in DeQuincy in 1945, he received a definite call from the Lord to go into the ministry. His first revival was in Fields, Louisiana in 1946, where some 30 received the Holy Ghost.  Bro. Cole helped establish churches in Eunice, Opelousas, and Lafayette, Louisiana.

In a revival at The First Pentecostal Church of Beaumont, Bro. Cole met Marie Barbee. They were married in March of 1956 and Marvin W. Cole was born in 1957. Shortly afterwards, Bro. Cole accepted the pastorate of The First Pentecostal Church in Bay City, Texas.

In May 1965, Bro. Cole accepted the Associate Pastorate of the First United Pentecostal Church in Beaumont. In August 1965, Ruth Michelle Cole was born. During the years from 1965 to 1968, while Bro. Cole was serving as Associate Pastor of the First Pentecostal Church, he also was an instructor at Texas Bible College, in Houston. During this same period, he also served as Sunday School Director of the Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church.

In the Spring of 1968, Bro. and Sis. Cole returned to the evangelistic field. They evangelized until October 1969, at which time he accepted the pastorate of the United Pentecostal Church of Sabine Pass Avenue (Old Glory Tabernacle) in Beaumont, upon the retirement of former pastor, Bro. Albert Debes. Bro. and Sis. Cole faithfully led the church family of The Apostolic Church in prayer and consecration for more than 36 years. Their vision for the work of God is not only local, but they traveled extensively, preaching, teaching, and ministering in many countries.

Bro. and Sis. Cole have ministered in approximately 60 countries and have experienced awesome works of the Holy Ghost while abroad. During this time, they also led The Apostolic Church in building numerous churches in foreign mission fields.

Bro. Cole retired as pastor of The Apostolic Church on May 2, 2006 and assumed the title of Pastor Emeritus.  He has continued to attend, support and lead by example The Apostolic Church and was in his final worship service on August 15, 2021, two days before his 91^st birthday.

Words fail to adequately express the impact that this man has made on the lives of men and women of Southeast Texas and around the world.  From humble beginnings, he never lost the spirit of humility.  His manner was one of grace and dignity and his prayers were ones of power and praise.  He will be forever missed by The Apostolic Church and all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie B. Cole, and we know that she was awaiting his grand entrance into that heavenly city.

He leaves behind his son, Marvin W. Cole and daughter, Michelle Cole LaBrie and her husband, Rev. Michael G. LaBrie, his loving church family and Pastor Jason Carr and family, multitudes of brothers and sisters in Christ, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that he loved as his own.

Heaven is richer.  This life has lost a prince, prophet, prayer warrior and praiser.

We will “carry bravely on” until that glad reunion day.

A gathering of Bro. Cole’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at The Apostolic Church, 3333 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at The Apostolic Church, with his interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

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