Internationally Beloved Minister Jack Coe Jr. Dies at 74

Internationally beloved minister Jack Coe Jr. died Jan. 21, 2019. He was 74.

“The Coe family is saddened by their loss but thankful that Jack is now completely healed and celebrating with his Lord and Savior. Jack was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend and will be greatly missed,” according to a Facebook post on the Jack Coe International Ministries page.

According to the official obituary, Coe Jr. is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Frieda Coe; son, Jack Edward Coe III and wife, Joyce; daughter, Jill Thompson and husband, Duane; mother-in-law, Dorothy Holder; brothers, Steve Coe, John Coe; sisters, Joanna Herndon, Juanita Wilson; grandchildren, Justin Thompson, Jared Thompson, Rachel Lopez, Ashley Herndon, Andrew Herndon; great-grandchildren Jayde Thompson, Anne Elise Thompson, Levi Thompson, Declan Thompson, Allison Thompson, Arianna Lopez, Amaya Lopez, Bentley Synder, M.J. Herndon, Braelyn Kendall.

Coe Jr. is the son of Jack Coe Sr., who was one of the greatest revivalists in the 1940s-50s.

Coe Jr. was born in 1944 and was incredibly close to his father, according to the Jack Coe Ministries website. Coe Sr. died from an illness linked to extreme exhaustion when Coe Jr. was 12.

Coe Jr. worked in ministry from 1961-1965. By 1969, he established his own ministry, where many people compared him to his father.

“Of course, holding his father in such high esteem, Jack felt that he could never measure up to that standard. As a result, he experienced many doubts about his own gifts and calling. For the next twelve years, he was in and out of the ministry, always struggling and praying to establish his own identity in Christ. During this time of inner turmoil, Jack and Frieda were divorced. They remained separated from each other for eight years. However the prayers of their twin children, Jack III and Jacqueline (Jill), prevailed. Jack and Frieda were remarried in 1979,” according to the ministry site.

In 1983, he left ministry to go into business. In 1986, he was diagnosed with cancer and given six to eight months to live.

“Jack began to seek the Lord afresh, praying in earnest for direction for his own life and for his family. On Father’s Day of that same year, while lying in a hospital bed, Jack felt the Lord speak to his heart. God showed him that if he would return to his original commitment to help evangelize the world, He would heal him completely. Immediately, he surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and felt the healing power of God go through his weakened body,” according to the ministry website.

“Just a short time later, Jack was released from the hospital. Doctors marveled at his speedy recovery and renewed strength. Six months later, after a thorough checkup, he was given a clean bill of health. However, this lengthy stay at the hospital left Jack and Frieda broke, so they borrowed $100.00 and a car and once again started to evangelize. Since that time, Jack has been faithful to keep his promise to God, preaching in churches, auditoriums, and tent crusades. Miracles have occurred in his services, with many cancer patients being healed after hearing Jack’s testimony and receiving prayer. Broken marriages have also been restored as a result of the Coe’s [sic] story,” the site says.

Coe Jr. continued in ministry until his death early Monday morning.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2:00 p.m. at Metro Fellowship (1136 Beltline Road, DeSoto, Texas). There will not be a graveside service.