More
than 20 years ago, Gerald Coleman Sr. traveled the United States as an
evangelist with Tennessee’s 5th Jurisdiction of the Church of God in
Christ. During his travels he noticed that men and women were struggling to
overcome obstacles. Touched by their plight, he reached out with a willing
spirit and a hand of mercy to make a difference in their lives. And with a
succinct message from God, he left with them a prophetic word that would
henceforth change their lives for the better.
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| Bishop Gerald Coleman Sr. and first lady Marlene D. Coleman of Faith Keepers Ministries in the Raleigh-Frayser community. (Courtesy photo) |
Most people address him as Prophet
Coleman, a God-fearing man who prophesizes, preaches, teaches, counsels and
intercedes on behalf of bishops, pastors, deacons, evangelists and laymen all
across the United States – and abroad for that matter -- who look to the
prophet for spiritual direction and for his uncanny ability to see beyond the
realm of this world.
Coleman knew he was different than most people.
He could see the intangible -- what the naked eye can’t see – even as a 6-year-old
child. Some people might go so far to describe his ability as otherworldly.
Coleman, however, describes it as a “gift” and that God has indeed anointed him
to speak the unadulterated gospel truth.
“As a child, I could see things. I had several
visions. I knew I wasn’t normal. I was always seeing things. I was
prophesizing,” he says. “I would always be in front of people. God showed me
how to be a leader of His people.”
Coleman actually began his ministry
31 years ago. He is currently the spiritual leader, or the shepherd, of a
faithful flock at Faith Keepers Ministries, a thriving church in the
Raleigh-Frayser community. He has been at the helm for 10 years.
Originally from Corinth, Miss., Coleman’s family
moved to Memphis when he was 10 years old. He grew up with 11 sisters and
brothers. Although their parents are deceased, Coleman is their second oldest
child.
“Preachers run in my family,” Coleman pointed out.
“I was about 24 years old when I received my calling.”
Rev. Kenneth L. Coleman is the pastor of God’s
Ministries in Cordova, Tenn. Another brother, Charles Coleman, teaches Sunday
school at another church and plays an integral part in the church’s music
department. His sister, Prophetess Betty Coleman, has the uncanny ability to see
beyond the realm as well. Each one, however, is working in the vineyard for
Christ, Coleman says.
“You have to have a heart for ministry and a love for
God,” says Coleman, the father of four children: Ashley Shaw, Marquita Palmer,
Brittany Whitaker and Gerald Coleman Jr., Faith Keepers’ drummer. Marlene D.
Coleman, Coleman’s wife of 13 years, is an evangelist and the first lady of the
church. She oversees the women’s ministry, Women Operating in Faith.
A ‘fisherman’ of men…
In Coleman’s role as prophet, he refuses
to confine himself to the church’s pulpit to reel in men and women for Christ. Instead,
he travels the highways and byways casting a wide net in an effort to capture
the soul of God’s people, as if he is indeed a “fisher” of men.
“I’ve done a lot of traveling and evangelistic
work,” he says. “I’ve dealt with whites, blacks, Hispanics. I’m multicultural.”
Laymen and clergymen alike have called on Coleman
for any number of reasons. Like a prophet from the biblical days, he responds
to their calls without hesitation and travels to and fro without the need for
fanfare, bells and whistles.
In a society that places a premimum on abundant
living and the accumulation of wealth, the prophet is not moved or influenced one
iota by luxurious living that some clergymen seem to enjoy. He is steadfast
nonetheless and does not waver from his Christian duties. And he is not
highfalutin or vainglorious, either.
“I don’t believe in living off the people because
I’m the shepherd,” says Coleman, who once pastored the church without receiving
a salary. “I teach holiness. I teach the Word. I preach from Genesis to
Revelation.”
He also reaches out to transform the total man, he
says, regardless of race, creed or color. “I want to reach the total man. I
want to go after the soul, and I want to establish feeding programs and youth
programs.”
As genteel as he is, Coleman’s reputation precedes him.
Because he is a prophet, he’s compelled and imbued with a Christian spirit to lead
God’s people in the “right direction” – towards heaven. He also counsels them, prays
for them, and intercedes on their behalf.
“That’s my ministry,” he says.
G.E. Patterson, the late presiding bishop of COGIC, was
the beneficiary of Coleman’s prophetic anointing before Patterson was elevated
to the bishopric of the worldwide 5 million-member Pentecostal denomination.
Coleman said he saw Patterson’s ascension in his vision.
He said he’s received phone calls for advice and
blessings from other leaders as well, such as Bishop Eddie Long, the embattled
pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga.; Apostle Alton
R. Williams, pastor of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church; and Bishop
Edward H. Stephens Jr., senior pastor of Golden Gate Cathedral.
“One of the strongest leaders and one of the most
influential persons in my life is Archbishop Leroy Bailey,” said Coleman. “I’ve
also ministered to a very close friend of mine, Rev. Bartholomew Orr of Brown
Missionary Baptist Church.”
Coleman has also counseled and advised Rev. Leo
Holt, pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship Church; Bishop Larry Smith, pastor
of Abundant Faith World Ministries; and Bishop Raymond Williams, pastor of Shekinah
Glory International Ministries Church.
In 1989, he met former President Bill Clinton at
Olivet Baptist Church. A friend and clergymen had arranged the meeting.
“I fellowshipped with him (Clinton),” the prophet
recalls.
From Memphis to Chicago to New York to Florida and
cities in between, Coleman has ministered to and prayed for people. He has been
called the “Prophet of Memphis” and has strong connections in Africa and the
United Kingdom.
Kingdom
building…
In
October 2006, Coleman began serving as priesthood bishop under Archbishop Leroy
Bailey Jr., senior pastor and Chief Executive Officer of The First Cathedral in
Bloomfield, Conn.; Archbishop Rainer Laufers of Old Holy Catholic Church in Ottawa,
Canada; and Bishop Benjamin K. Watts, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in New
London, Conn.
On May
3, 2008, Coleman was ordained a bishop at Churches Covered and Connected in
Covenant (C4/IBC), “a gathering of churches, Christians, leaders and servants
to worship, learn, and pray together in order to present Christ by all means
everywhere to everyone.” The group brings churches together from all over the
nation to worship and learn together. Bailey, the presiding prelate,
established the group in 2002.
Whether
you refer to Coleman as bishop or prophet, it probably wouldn’t matter – for those
who seek his counsel, advice, or a prophetic word, you’d be instantly moved by
his candor and impressed with his gift of prophecy.
Speaking
of prophecy: A woman who had suffered from three aneurisms was reportedly healed
after Coleman foretold that God would heal her within 14 days. It happened on
the 12th day, Coleman said. He also prognosticated the building that
houses Holy City Church of God in Christ. Supt. Jerry Taylor,
the church’s pastor, would see it come to past.
Coleman has also established a number of churches. Three individuals launched their own ministry after
serving under the prophet’s leadership and teaching at Faith Keepers Ministries. He also established a hospital and street ministry more
than 18 years ago.
A
champion for Christ…
For Coleman, the path to the pulpit began like it would
with others who are making incremental steps in their own careers to achieve
success – with a vita of accomplishments, educational pursuits and objectives.
Although Coleman’s accomplishments – or spiritual gifts
per se – are widely known, he studied the Word of God in his quest for
spiritual enlightenment and served under the tutelage of reputed clergymen. In
the early years of his life, he was just as attentive in public school as he is
now as a servant of Jesus Christ.
Coleman
grew up in the Orange Mound community, matriculated at Hanley Elementary and
graduated from Melrose High School in 1974. Always with an eye on the ministry,
he would go on and graduate from C. H.
Mason Bible College, where he obtained his degree.
Because
he is dedicated to ministry, one would be surprised to discover that the
prophet is skilled in construction work. “I’ve always been a worker all my
life,” he says. “I’ve been in construction since I was in the eighth grade.”
Here’s
another surprise: Coleman was a professional kick-boxer who reigned as the
undefeated middleweight champion for five years. He also was the sparing
partner for Anthony “Amp” Elmore, the five-time PKA (Professional Kickboxing
Association) World Karate/Kickboxing Champion.
It was
the 1980s, and while Coleman was battling tough opponents in the squared ring,
he fought as well to vanquish what he believed were evil spirits that pervaded
the mind, body and soul of God’s people through prayer and intercession.
“I was ministering even as a professional fighter,” says Coleman,
who was well equipped to handle himself in the ring. But then he remembers a
spirited match with an opponent that didn’t go too well.
“It was in the 5th round on ESPN at the Cook
Convention Center,” he recalls. “I was fighting Oliver Miller for the Mid-South
Middleweight title. One kick caused me the fight – so they say… but everybody
knew I’d won.”
After the loss and subsequent fights to come, Coleman assessed
his future in the harsh, physical sport that he loved so much. “God gave me a
choice. He said, ‘You can become a champion for a season or a champion for a
lifetime.’”
Coleman made a decision. He pursued the latter.
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