Our Pastor and Father in the Gospel
Bishop Phillip Coleman, Sr.
Forever Missed, But Never Forgotten. . .
The voice of one of Jackson’s most influential men of the cloth lured thousands of people inside the sanctuary of Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church on Saturday, October 13, 2007. The celebration commenced at 10:00 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. Three large screens showed Bishop Phillip Coleman, Sr., founder and pastor of Greater Bethlehem Temple, talking about his life and encounters with the Lord. Those present learned that in 1954 Elder (then) Coleman moved his family back to Jackson and started in 1955 the first apostolic church in the Metro Jackson Area. With five members the church began in Coleman’s parents’ home. In 1955 Coleman purchased three lots on Lynch Street in subdivision No. 2 and structured a church that had a seating capacity of 150.
Over time the congregation grew to more than 800 members, and in 1970 moved to the present facility at 1505 Robinson Street. In 1997 an honorary doctorate in theology from the Pentecostal Bible College, Tuskegee, Alabama, was bestowed upon Coleman. The combined Greater Bethlehem Temple Church Mass choir and the Southeastern District Council choir moved well-wishers to their feet with loved tunes. Among the songs were “Jesus I Love You;” Will You be Ready When Jesus Comes?” “Lord I Will Lift Mine Eyes to the Hills;” “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired;” and “Going Up Yonder.” Amidst the songs were thunderous hand clapping and foot stomping from members of the dais to onlookers in the aisles. Additionally, Coleman’s homegoing celebration produced numerous accolades from his family, congregation, city officials, and pentecostal leadership.
His devoted spouse and first lady, Sarah L. McNeil Coleman, explained that it was difficult for her to adjust to him not being around, but “Bishop left with dignity. The smile [he left with] is still on his face.” With humor she added, “I’m going to live as long as I can and I’ll die when I can’t help it.”
Married into the family, Ramona Jones, commented in an interview that she and her husband, Lonzell (Coleman’s nephew) were concerned that a physician thought that their oldest daughter, Monica LaJoy (now 21) would never walk when she was three-years-old. “Bishop Coleman prayed and instructed us to go to the doctor. He said the doctor would not find anything because Monica was healed. When we went to the doctor, he didn’t find a problem. Monica is actively engaged and has her own dance ministry for the Lord.”
A member of Greater Bethlehem Temple since 1988, Glenda Webster (49) mentioned that Coleman and his family took her in their home and treated her like she was one of them. She reflected, “Bishop Coleman was a man who loved God and people. He opened himself up to help anyone in need, despite race, color, or creed.” Webster continued, “He taught us [the congregation] what we needed directly from the Holy Bible…Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates don’t measure up. He made himself available to us…”
Among officials in attendance were Mayor Frank Melton, City Councilman Marshand Crisler of Ward 6; Hinds County District Attornry Elect Robert Shuler Smith, Chief of Police Shirlene Anderson; Hinds County Coroner Sharon G. Stewart, Hinds County Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun, former City Councilman Robert Williams; former Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy; and gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves.
Among the bishopric were Lewis Stallworth, Sr. of Stockton, California; Charles Ellis, III of Detroit, Michigan; Michael E. Ford, Sr. of Louisville, Kentucky; John T. Leslie, Jr. of Washington, D. C.; J. E. Moore of Joliet, Illinois; and Alfred Singleton, Presiding Bishop of Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith (P.C.A.F.) from Lansing, Michigan.
In his eulogy Singleton focused on ICorinthians 15:58 and Matthew 28 for walking the narrow path. He reminded the congregation that the church of Corinth had problems. But like Paul, ministers “should preach according to Scriptures.” “Death,” he noted, “shall be done away with. No more dying, no more trouble, no more cancer, no more diabetes, no more heart trouble. Thank God for Jesus. Death will be destroyed and the sins of it.” Singleton charged all in attendance to be baptized like Coleman, in the name of Jesus: “There’s blood in that pool, and when you go down in the body of Jesus, you get up with a change in mind, until you’re filled with the Holy Ghost.”
In keeping with Singleton’s stance, Minister J. C. Johnson, Jr. asserted that the vision God gave Coleman extended far beyond Greater Bethlehem Temple: “It is for the people of God everywhere, all over this country and world.” This vision, as recalled by a grandson of Coleman’s, was expressed in Coleman’s own words to those who were with him during his last days: “If you’ve got God, keep Him. If you don’t have Him, get Him.”
By Dr. Janice K. Neal-Vincent
Contributing Writer
To See A Video of the Life and Legacy of
Bishop Phillip Coleman, Sr.
[CLICK HERE]
