We met in New Orleans before Ann was old enough to date. We married in 1957 while Bill pastored a church in Mississippi. We have four married children, ten living grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Most of Bill’s ministry has been connected with teaching and pastoring. He served as a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, and professor and dean at Asbury College (University). His pastoral ministry started in Louisiana, then Mississippi and Kentucky, and ended in Indiana at World Gospel Church as senior pastor for 19 years. He retired in 2008.
Ann has connected with pro-life issues and writing. She has found her voice in writing memoirs and personal experiences. You can connect with her writing with her “Blogs” posted in this website: http://www.abcoker.blog Ann has written a companion guide for John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, connecting Scripture and personal life stories. Journey with Bunyan’s Pilgrim is in process with EABooks Publishing. See cover in “Books” on this website.
We’ve been living the ABC’s — Ann and Bill Coker — together for 66 years as of August 24th, 2023. We are one, connected but also individuals. We have served together, yet each has had a different ministry. Bill and Ann are both retired and find pleasure in each day’s opportunity to express our love and to serve others.
Because of Bill’s increasing dementia, we moved in July 2017 from our four-bedroom home in Terre Haute, Indiana, to live as family with our daughter and her husband. We have the East Wing as an apartment, sharing the kitchen and dining area. We also watch lots of sports and movies together in the gathering room. We gave away lots of stuff but have more than we need. We enjoy visits from family members and friends, but during the pandemic we wanted everyone to be safe.
Bill’s sermon series on the Ten Commandments was released December 2020: Words of Endearment: the Ten Commandments as a Revelation of God’s Love. You can find the paperback book and e-book on Amazon.
Bill’s next book was Prayers for the People: from the Heart of a Pastor. This collection of prayers Bill delivered during his pastorate at World Gospel Church, Terre Haute, IN. Included are prayers during Sunday morning worship, weddings, funerals, communion, and benedictions.
An Advent book became available for Christmas of 2021. It’s the series on Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. The title is The Scandal of Christmas: Advent Reflections on Four Unlikely Figures.
Bill’s latest book is Let the Church Be the Church: Participate in God’s Miracle. This book contains 11 messages on the Church, not a series but a collection. The last chapter describes what a church ought to be — one without walls.
Keep a look-out for Bill’s books on Amazon. I also have a supply of books which I stamp with Bill’s signature. Contact me by email: al2.coker@gmail.com All books are free shipping from us.
Bill now has a podcast with content from sermons preached at World Gospel Church. Look for and listen to Words of Endearment with Bill Coker on podcast directories: Apple, Spotify, Castbox, Google, and others.
Photo was taken at Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, a stop on our Amtrak Train tour out West in 2008.
Ann Coker 