Edwin Louis Cole

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Edwin Louis Cole (born Dallas, Texas in 1922, died August 27, 2002) was the founder of the Christian Men's Network, a religious organization devoted to helping Christian men and fathers. He published many books and preached numerous sermons relating to men and religion.

Most known under the name Ed Cole

1 Early life
2 Religious career
3 Later life
4 Quotes
5 External links

[edit] Early life

After his birth in Dallas, Cole lived with his mother in Texas until the age of four, when he became ill with a severe case of scarlet fever. After being told that he would not survive without sea air and sun, his mother Florence moved to Los Angeles, California with young Edwin.

In Los Angeles, Edwin played an active role in the Angelus Temple of Aimee Semple McPherson, often participating in the Temple's illustrated sermons. He recalls witnessing the miraculous events throughout the Great Depression at the Temple and on Los Angeles's skid row, where he played a trumpet with street corner witnessing teams.

He did not stay in Los Angeles, but instead enlisted in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, and it was at this time that he met his wife, a fellow Coast Guard member named Nancy Corbett. Some time after their marriage, Cole returned to his Christian faith, converting his wife as well. He then began street witnessing again and within two years accepted the pastorate of a church in northern California. This began his prominent religious career.

[edit] Religious career

Cole eventually became the first full-time district men’s minister for a major denomination, but was not satisfied with his work. He spent the next two decades undertaking a number of religious endeavors, including mission trips and evangelizing. In 1977, Cole founded the Christian Men's Network, the legacy by which he is most remembered today. At this time, he was still actively ministering on two Christian television networks, acting as chancellor of a ministry school, and helping to establish a radio ministry. In April of 1984, Cole resigned from these positions to focus exclusively on his men's ministry, which started slowly but gained popularity in the 80's and exploded in the 1990s inspiring the start of many other men's ministries.

[edit] Later life

In 1993, Cole and his wife moved back to Texas to continue ministering. In 2002, he was diagnosed with cancer while being treated for a broken back. When he collapsed on August 25, 2002, he was taken to a nearby hospital and placed in critical condition. He died two days later on August 27, 2002 and was buried at a private ceremony in Newport Beach, California.