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A charter member of the church, he was recognized for 52 years of service at a reception Sunday
AUSTINTOWN
More than 7,000 people have come through Austintown Baptist Church and been touched in some way during the 52 years Pastor Charles Cole and his wife, Vonda, have been part of the church on Raccoon Road.
“Some left, some died and some we’ll see in heaven,” said Pastor Cole at a reception Sunday for him and his wife celebrating their more than a half century at the church and his retirement.
He preached his final sermon Sunday.
“It’s been a pleasure to work here and see these people make a decision for Christ and allow me to baptize them,” said Pastor Cole, 81, who has been the church’s pastor for 13 years, making him its longest-serving pastor.
A retired general supervisor at General Motors Lords-town, who came to Ohio from Dayton, Ky., to work at the plant, he also is a charter member of Austintown Baptist, which started in a farmhouse in 1965 at the intersection of Burkey and Raccoon roads, less than block from today’s church.
Before he became its pastor, Pastor Cole was director of the youth and adult choirs, and along with Vonda, was in charge of the youth program.
“It’s sad to see him give up the pastorate. I spend a lot of time in the hospital, and he’s always there to encourage me and help me keep the faith,” said parishioner Kay Albright of Austintown.
“Chuck and Vonda were my youth teachers when I joined in 1970. I basically grew up in this wonderful church,” said church member Sharon McAndrews of Austintown.
“I love the way Pastor Cole preaches. I know he preaches the Word, and he really keeps this church going. I’m really sad,” said Debbie Beshara of Canfield Township, who came to Austintown Baptist after the church she was attending, Struthers Baptist, closed.
Pastor Cole and Vonda received certificates of appreciation for “52 years of dedicated service,” which included his favorite Scripture passage, Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you ...”
In addition to the certificates and the reading of the church’s history, written by charter member Jean Warner and read by Rosemary Nolder of Mineral Ridge, chairwoman of the reception, he received a framed, knitted rendering of the “Praying Hands” created by Beth Barnett.
During his comments, he went from person to person laying on hands and telling sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous stories about many.
In an interview before the reception, Pastor Cole, who was in his mid-20s when he helped found Austintown Baptist, said his body is telling him it’s time to retire.
An Air Force veteran, Pastor Cole said that as he was working as director of the choir programs, he felt something was missing in his life. Serving as a guest pastor at an Alliance church for several months helped him decide that was what was missing. So when he retired from GM in 1991, Austintown Baptist asked him to take the church – and that started his ministry.
“I had more fun than I ever had in my life. I do not have a degree. I’m a self-made pastor,” he said with a laugh.
Pastor Cole noted that he has a son, Brian, in Columbus, and a daughter, Rhonda Ellard, in Oklahoma, and three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Now that he is retired, he said his car “will be heading down Interstate 71” – to Columbus – often.
“I believe God had something for me to do. We all go through this journey and know we’ll see each other again,” Pastor Cole said at the reception.
“This church has seen a lot of things, and I’ve enjoyed them all. We’ve had a lot of fun,” he said.
Looking around the room, he said: “I’m done.”