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William H. “Billy” Cole was born to Reverend Jewel C. and Reverend
Mary S. Cole in Newark, Ohio, on July 28, 1934. He was baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ at 7 years of age and received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit at the age of 12 at the Buckeye Lake
Camp in Ohio. Nathaniel Urshan was the evangelist and S. G. Norris
was the daytime Bible teacher.
At the age of 19, Billy married Shirley Ann Kelbaugh in Parkersburg,
West Virginia, on December 22, 1953. After moving to Weirton, West
Virginia, for work in the laboratory at Weirton Steel, he recognized
that God was calling him to preach. God revealed this to his wife
while Billy was away working the night shift. One night God awoke
Shirley and she heard an audible voice ask, “Are you willing to
sacrifice if I call your husband into the ministry?” She was frightened
and didn’t answer. The second night it happened again, and she
Mary S. Cole in Newark, Ohio, on July 28, 1934. He was baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ at 7 years of age and received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit at the age of 12 at the Buckeye Lake
Camp in Ohio. Nathaniel Urshan was the evangelist and S. G. Norris
was the daytime Bible teacher.
At the age of 19, Billy married Shirley Ann Kelbaugh in Parkersburg,
West Virginia, on December 22, 1953. After moving to Weirton, West
Virginia, for work in the laboratory at Weirton Steel, he recognized
that God was calling him to preach. God revealed this to his wife
while Billy was away working the night shift. One night God awoke
Shirley and she heard an audible voice ask, “Are you willing to
sacrifice if I call your husband into the ministry?” She was frightened
and didn’t answer. The second night it happened again, and she
responded in the same way. The third night it happened, God’s voice came to her three times, very
loud and strong. Shirley leaped out of bed and told the Lord, “If this is really You and I am not having
some kind of illusion, cause Billy to say something to me this morning when he comes in.” Sure enough
he did, and she was convinced.
They began their ministry by going door to door witnessing. Pastor Allen Cayton came to them after a
Sunday morning service and asked, “Why haven’t you told me God has called you to preach?”
Later, without notice, Pastor Cayton called upon Billy to preach. After his first sermon, a Catholic lady,
whom the Coles had brought to church, received the Holy Ghost.
Brother and Sister Cole’s first major effort was to open a new church in Ravenswood, West Virginia. Not
a single Pentecostal of any sort resided in the whole county. They began by pitching a small tent and
preachingevery night for a month, resulting in 16 adults being baptized in Jesus’ name.
In Ravenswood, they saw their first great healing miracle. One day they received a call that Sister
Barnes, who had been baptized and had received the Holy Ghost, was dying, and the doctor was
on the way to the house. Rushing there, praying all the way, Billy believed God had promised to heal
her. However, when he got there, the house was filled with people. The doctor had already closed
her eyes and covered her with a sheet. The doctor said, “You’re too late, Preacher; she’s gone!” But
Billy, believing God to heal her, told the family he would pray for her anyway if they wanted him to.
Pulling the sheet down to her shoulders, he prayed. Nothing happened. He prayed louder but still
nothing happened. Billy turned to the wall and began praying in tongues even louder, but still
nothing happened. Then he got angry and shouted, “Sister Barnes, get up!” She sat straight up in bed
and was healed. Reverend Ziegler, her former United Brethren pastor who was there, fell face down
on the floor.That church is now pastored by a convert of Brother Cole’s, Reverend T. J. Johnston. There
is now a wonderful congregation there, housed in a beautiful new building.
After pastoring in Ravenswood a few years, Brother and Sister Cole traveled as evangelists. A number
of people received the Holy Ghost and were baptized. During this time they also witnessed several
notable apostolic events. Then they pastored a church in Spencer, West Virginia, with a congregation
of one hundred people. The church was debt free when the Coles moved on. The Coles were invited
to Elyeria, Pennsylvania, to preach for their former pastor, Brother Cayton, who was starting a new
home missions church. One day while Brother Cayton was at work and Sister Cayton and Sister Cole
were shopping, Brother Cole was studying the Book of Esther in the Cayton’s apartment. Brother Cole
answered a knock at the door to find a visitor holding a note with the address of the Cayton’s
apartment. He said, “I am Reverend Boon Mark Gittisan, the general secretary for the Presbyterian
Church of Thailand. I have been in Detroit, New York City, and Toronto, Canada. I don’t know who
gave me this note or for what reason.” Brother Cole was afraid of him but invited him in anyway,
thinking about the verse of Scripture, “Some have entertained angels unawares.”Brother Cole
checked to see if Pastor Cayton’s address was in the church directory, but he was still listed 150 miles
away at his old address. He looked for the church’s address, but it was so new it was not listed at all.
Brother Cole then asked Brother Gittisan, “Have you ever heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and
speaking with other tongues?”Brother Gittisan said, “Yes, I speak with tongues; there are six of us in
Thailand who do.”Brother Cole then intended to ask, “Have you ever heard of being baptized by
immersion in the name of Jesus?” But Brother Gittisan interrupted Brother Cole and said, “Oh yes, I
have been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
Brother Cole asked, “Reverend Gittisan, what is the name of the Son?” Reverend Gittison was
stunned. As tears filled Brother Gittisan’s eyes, Brother Cole asked, “Are you having a heart attack?”
Brother Gittisan answered, “No. You see I can quote the entire New Testament. When you asked me
that question, all the scriptures finally came together. Like a curtain being rolled back, I could see
Jesus Christ as He really is.” Reverend Gittisan was baptized the next day.This miraculous visit led to
the Coles’ being sent to Thailand as missionaries. In seven years they baptized nearly 6,000 Buddists
and witnessed a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost. One of their first converts, Reverend Chaiyong
Wattanachant, has been superintendent of the Thailand churches for more then 35 years.
While in Thailand, Brother Cole suffered a stroke, which paralyzed his left arm. The Coles returned to
the USA. However, upon his being healed, they returned to Asia as evangelists. Thousands were
baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. When Sister Cole became sick, they returned to the USA
again. When her health improved, they went to Wheeling, West Virginia. They gathered together six
people who were baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost, and in four years they
baptized another 450 people and prayed them through to the Holy Ghost. The Wheeling church is
now pastored by Reverend David Forsythe, an elder mentored by Brother Cole.
Seven elders who came out of the Wheeling church under Brother Cole are
1. Jack Cunningham, who became General Home Missions Director for the UPCI;
2. David Ward, who became superintendent of Tanzania;
3. Robert Kelley, who became superintendent of Ireland and Scotland;
4. Jerry Burns, who became superintendent of Costa Rica;
5. Eugene Kelley, who pastors in Ohio;
6. Rondel Moss II, Brother Cole’s son-in-law, has assisted him in various capacities since 1972. For the
past 23 years he has acted as music director and preschool director for the North Charleston Apostolic
Church.
7. Danny Scott Jr., who became pastor of a large church in Arizona.
After leaving Wheeling, the Coles returned to evangelizing overseas. When Brother Cole’s father asked
him to come home to help build a new building in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he did. When this
building was finished, the Coles moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1981 to pastor the North
Charleston Apostolic Church. They have remained in Charleston for over 23 years. Three years ago,
Brother Cole’s grandson, Reverend Anthony Moss, took over the church upon Brother Cole’s retirement.
Brother Cole preached many camp meetings and revival services, seeing many filled with the Holy
Ghost. The last ten years of his ministry, he preached crusades at home and overseas. Sixteen times,
more than 3,000 received the Holy Ghost in a single service. The Coles preached for 50 years and
were just short of seeing one million people receive the Holy Ghost. They were diligent in training many
young men, too numerous to mention, to carry on their ministry.Brother Cole served on the Executive
Board for two terms, and he also served on the Foreign Missions Board, where he is currently an
honorary member.
loud and strong. Shirley leaped out of bed and told the Lord, “If this is really You and I am not having
some kind of illusion, cause Billy to say something to me this morning when he comes in.” Sure enough
he did, and she was convinced.
They began their ministry by going door to door witnessing. Pastor Allen Cayton came to them after a
Sunday morning service and asked, “Why haven’t you told me God has called you to preach?”
Later, without notice, Pastor Cayton called upon Billy to preach. After his first sermon, a Catholic lady,
whom the Coles had brought to church, received the Holy Ghost.
Brother and Sister Cole’s first major effort was to open a new church in Ravenswood, West Virginia. Not
a single Pentecostal of any sort resided in the whole county. They began by pitching a small tent and
preachingevery night for a month, resulting in 16 adults being baptized in Jesus’ name.
In Ravenswood, they saw their first great healing miracle. One day they received a call that Sister
Barnes, who had been baptized and had received the Holy Ghost, was dying, and the doctor was
on the way to the house. Rushing there, praying all the way, Billy believed God had promised to heal
her. However, when he got there, the house was filled with people. The doctor had already closed
her eyes and covered her with a sheet. The doctor said, “You’re too late, Preacher; she’s gone!” But
Billy, believing God to heal her, told the family he would pray for her anyway if they wanted him to.
Pulling the sheet down to her shoulders, he prayed. Nothing happened. He prayed louder but still
nothing happened. Billy turned to the wall and began praying in tongues even louder, but still
nothing happened. Then he got angry and shouted, “Sister Barnes, get up!” She sat straight up in bed
and was healed. Reverend Ziegler, her former United Brethren pastor who was there, fell face down
on the floor.That church is now pastored by a convert of Brother Cole’s, Reverend T. J. Johnston. There
is now a wonderful congregation there, housed in a beautiful new building.
After pastoring in Ravenswood a few years, Brother and Sister Cole traveled as evangelists. A number
of people received the Holy Ghost and were baptized. During this time they also witnessed several
notable apostolic events. Then they pastored a church in Spencer, West Virginia, with a congregation
of one hundred people. The church was debt free when the Coles moved on. The Coles were invited
to Elyeria, Pennsylvania, to preach for their former pastor, Brother Cayton, who was starting a new
home missions church. One day while Brother Cayton was at work and Sister Cayton and Sister Cole
were shopping, Brother Cole was studying the Book of Esther in the Cayton’s apartment. Brother Cole
answered a knock at the door to find a visitor holding a note with the address of the Cayton’s
apartment. He said, “I am Reverend Boon Mark Gittisan, the general secretary for the Presbyterian
Church of Thailand. I have been in Detroit, New York City, and Toronto, Canada. I don’t know who
gave me this note or for what reason.” Brother Cole was afraid of him but invited him in anyway,
thinking about the verse of Scripture, “Some have entertained angels unawares.”Brother Cole
checked to see if Pastor Cayton’s address was in the church directory, but he was still listed 150 miles
away at his old address. He looked for the church’s address, but it was so new it was not listed at all.
Brother Cole then asked Brother Gittisan, “Have you ever heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and
speaking with other tongues?”Brother Gittisan said, “Yes, I speak with tongues; there are six of us in
Thailand who do.”Brother Cole then intended to ask, “Have you ever heard of being baptized by
immersion in the name of Jesus?” But Brother Gittisan interrupted Brother Cole and said, “Oh yes, I
have been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
Brother Cole asked, “Reverend Gittisan, what is the name of the Son?” Reverend Gittison was
stunned. As tears filled Brother Gittisan’s eyes, Brother Cole asked, “Are you having a heart attack?”
Brother Gittisan answered, “No. You see I can quote the entire New Testament. When you asked me
that question, all the scriptures finally came together. Like a curtain being rolled back, I could see
Jesus Christ as He really is.” Reverend Gittisan was baptized the next day.This miraculous visit led to
the Coles’ being sent to Thailand as missionaries. In seven years they baptized nearly 6,000 Buddists
and witnessed a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost. One of their first converts, Reverend Chaiyong
Wattanachant, has been superintendent of the Thailand churches for more then 35 years.
While in Thailand, Brother Cole suffered a stroke, which paralyzed his left arm. The Coles returned to
the USA. However, upon his being healed, they returned to Asia as evangelists. Thousands were
baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. When Sister Cole became sick, they returned to the USA
again. When her health improved, they went to Wheeling, West Virginia. They gathered together six
people who were baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost, and in four years they
baptized another 450 people and prayed them through to the Holy Ghost. The Wheeling church is
now pastored by Reverend David Forsythe, an elder mentored by Brother Cole.
Seven elders who came out of the Wheeling church under Brother Cole are
1. Jack Cunningham, who became General Home Missions Director for the UPCI;
2. David Ward, who became superintendent of Tanzania;
3. Robert Kelley, who became superintendent of Ireland and Scotland;
4. Jerry Burns, who became superintendent of Costa Rica;
5. Eugene Kelley, who pastors in Ohio;
6. Rondel Moss II, Brother Cole’s son-in-law, has assisted him in various capacities since 1972. For the
past 23 years he has acted as music director and preschool director for the North Charleston Apostolic
Church.
7. Danny Scott Jr., who became pastor of a large church in Arizona.
After leaving Wheeling, the Coles returned to evangelizing overseas. When Brother Cole’s father asked
him to come home to help build a new building in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he did. When this
building was finished, the Coles moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1981 to pastor the North
Charleston Apostolic Church. They have remained in Charleston for over 23 years. Three years ago,
Brother Cole’s grandson, Reverend Anthony Moss, took over the church upon Brother Cole’s retirement.
Brother Cole preached many camp meetings and revival services, seeing many filled with the Holy
Ghost. The last ten years of his ministry, he preached crusades at home and overseas. Sixteen times,
more than 3,000 received the Holy Ghost in a single service. The Coles preached for 50 years and
were just short of seeing one million people receive the Holy Ghost. They were diligent in training many
young men, too numerous to mention, to carry on their ministry.Brother Cole served on the Executive
Board for two terms, and he also served on the Foreign Missions Board, where he is currently an
honorary member.
Bishop William H. "Billy" Cole
The Life and Ministry of
Billy and Shirley Cole --
Their long awaited
memoir is in print, but
only a few copies are
left in stock! Order now
at www.BillyColeBook.
com! The Life and
Ministry of Billy and
Shirley Cole
The inspiring true story
of the Cole’s journey
with God is filled with
miracles & wonders of
nearly every
description. Their long
awaited memoir is
finally off the presses
and in stock, ready for
immediate shipping!
Paperback, 256 pgs,
illustrated with over 90
photos!
Billy and Shirley Cole --
Their long awaited
memoir is in print, but
only a few copies are
left in stock! Order now
at www.BillyColeBook.
com! The Life and
Ministry of Billy and
Shirley Cole
The inspiring true story
of the Cole’s journey
with God is filled with
miracles & wonders of
nearly every
description. Their long
awaited memoir is
finally off the presses
and in stock, ready for
immediate shipping!
Paperback, 256 pgs,
illustrated with over 90
photos!
