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John Cofield, A Good Man
Our brother and friend, John Cofield, passed from this life last week. Because of the significant impact he had on each of us and the church as a whole, I thought it would be appropriate to write a few words about this good man.
I first met John when I “tried out” for the work here in Feb., 1979. I had contacted another church in Orlando who was looking for a preacher but they said they were not yet ready to hire a new preacher. I called Ed Pauley and he invited me to come over that Sunday to preach. It was a small group, about 45 in attendance if my memory is correct, and the men wanted to talk to me that afternoon to ask me questions. I don’t remember any of their questions, except for one. John asked me what my opinion was on women wearing the head covering. You may wonder why John asked that question. At the time, I was preaching in North Alabama and several women in that area wore the hair covering. John must have known that and so he asked me. I replied that if a woman wanted to wear the hair covering that was up to her but I didn’t think she had to wear it. I believe the reason John asked that question was because he was concerned about the safety of the church. He didn’t want a hobby-riding preacher to come in and destroy the unity he and others had worked so hard for. That was John’s MO over the 42 years I have known him. Always looking out for the good of the church even if it meant he had to make sacrifices to make sure that happened. Even before he became an elder, he had that concern for the church and I believe that’s what made him such a highly efficient and respected elder of the church here for 35+ years.
John had a strong will and character. Before I became an elder, when the elders met, since I was the preacher, they wanted me to come in and discuss matters concerning the church. I would be remiss if I were to indicate that we were always in 100% agreement. Sometimes John and I disagreed with various issues but I always found him to be well-versed in whatever position he took on an issue. Sometimes, in the future, because he was an honest-hearted man, he would change his viewpoint. He studied God’s Word deeply and never took any man’s word in place of what God’s Word taught. In the last year, John was tired man and sometimes, when we would discuss an item in an elder’s meeting, he would give his approval without comment. I missed the John I had known all of these years who would vigorously give his strong opinion. It’s not that he was compromising…it was just that the issue at hand could have been decided either way without violating the Scriptures. I think we call those the gray areas. John’s health was so precarious he didn’t have the energy to state his opinion.
John had indicated he was going to retire from the eldership early in 2020 for health reasons but he decided to hang on until we got past the pandemic. There were times he wasn’t feeling well but he would always come and participate in the elder’s meeting. He did that for us because he loved God’s people and wanted to be of help to our spiritual growth. God, and his wife Sue, know the hardships he was willing to endure for the benefit of the church.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men who have served in the eldership here over the years. John and Harold Roberts were the very first men who were appointed to the eldership of the Clermont church of Christ. For 35+ years, John tirelessly worked as an elder and sometimes it was not easy. There were people who were intent on having their way and John, Harold and the other elders were not going to let them destroy the church here. They were, and are, good men that I have appreciated over the years I have been here.
The elders have always treated me with respect. I was 26 years old when I moved here. I told Sue the other day that she and John raised my family and me. I was so immature, young and lacking confidence but the elders inspired me to just be myself. They allowed me to grow and do the work of an evangelist. They never expected me to do things that I was not capable of doing. Year in and year out, they provided a raise in pay, encouragement for my sermons and a friendship that is beyond compare. John would often tell me it was a good sermon and that meant a lot to me.
When John taught in the auditorium Bible class, I knew that he had studied the subject strenuously. He would tell me various things he had studied and I could tell by the way he talked that it was not only book knowledge, but he had taken it into his heart and wanted to live it out in his life. I especially remember when he taught the book of Hosea.
Over the last 42 years, John has been my friend and mentor. He never looked down on me but treated me with respect. I am going to miss his stopping by the office and just talking to me. He was a man with a lot of wisdom and experience but most of all, he was a man who cared deeply for each Christian here in Clermont. The church here in Clermont is what it is today because of such a godly man as John. He will be missed but he will live on in our memories until that day we see him again in heaven. What a gathering of the faithful that will be then! Until that day, let us put to good use the impact his godly life has had on our lives so we can be prepared for heaven.
“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith” (Heb.13:7). The writer of Hebrews tells us our responsibilities to leaders who have passed from the human scene but their example and teachings remain and these must be held on to without compromise.
