I grew up seeing and hearing my mother and grandmother reading the Bible each night, often with several of my siblings gathered around their feet with me. I can still feel the love and warmth of their voices caressing me as they spoke tenderly about God’s love and care for us. From the first week of my life I was taken to church where I heard the family of God singing songs like, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Then our pastor told stories from the Bible that became my stories and gave meaning and purpose to my life. With this nurture it is not surprising that I became a minister of God’s word, telling others the ever new story of God’s goodness, kindness, and love.

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Dwayne Cole is a retired pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He earned his degrees, including a Ph.D. in New Testament with a major in Greek, from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Cole lives with his wife, Beth, in Alaska. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.