Celebrating 50 Years Of Ministry

This November marks 50 years since I went into full-time ministry. I want to say thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and faithfulness. He has open some amazing doors during this grand adventure. Following God with my whole heart has opened incredible opportunities that I never could have anticipated. 

Here are just 10 of the ministry moments that I consider to be significant moments and memorial stones on my journey so far:

1. Joining Living Sound II – 1973-1974

In 1973, I dropped out of studying music at UBC and then spent some time fasting about what I should do next. God opened the door for me to join the 9 month Asian/US Tour of the music group, Living Sound. In the next 5 months we saw tens of thousands of people from 9 different Asian countries come to faith in Jesus.

Here is the rest of that story: What I’ve Learned About Surrender

2. Dream from God: Joining Living Sound I – Poland – 1974-1976

In 1974, I had a dream from God that directed me to fly to Poland and join another Living Sound team in Warsaw. In the next 25 days we saw over 18,000 people make decisions to follow Jesus. That was the beginning of a 15 month adventure that encompassed Poland, Britain, Scotland, Rhodesia, South Africa, the USA, Canada and Israel. It was a life changing experience to be able to preach the gospel thru music all around the world.

Here is the rest of that story: My Wild Dream From God

3. Taiwan Teaching and Tour: 1978

In 1976, I went back to UBC to finish my music degree. In 1978, my home church asked me to go to Taiwan for the summer to teach music and finish writing a music theory book in Mandarin Chinese. At the end of the summer God opened up the opportunity for me to take a music team around Taiwan and we saw hundreds of Taiwanese make decisions to follow the Lord. 

Here is the rest of that story: My Best Summer Job Ever

4.   Prayer for my wife: 1981

After finishing my music degree in 1979, I was asked to be the music director of Living Sound III in the US, Europe and Canada. During that tour, God did some deep work in my heart and I developed a passion for reading the Bible. Out of that period of growth and change, God also challenged me too pray for my future wife. 

The following year I was asked to come home to Vancouver, BC to be the music director for the church that I grew up in. While directing the 100 voice, Glad Tidings Choir and orchestra, I met my beautiful wife, Anna and we were married in 1983.  We have now been married over 40 years. 

Here is the rest of that story: God Answered My Prayer For A Wife…(And Much More)

5.   First Assembly 1980’s – 5 services – 1988

In 1984 God called my wife and I to First Assembly in Calgary, Alberta. It was the first time I had ever lead worship. For the next 3-1/2 years I was the Music Pastor of this great church. In that time we saw amazing growth. We went from 2 services to 5 services on Sundays.

Here is the rest of that story: The Journey To Finding Purpose

6.  Christian Life Assembly – 370 people water baptized -1994

In 1988, God called my wife and I and our two children to Christian Life Assembly in Langley, BC. It was an amazing time of growth and fruitfulness. One of my main highlights from that time was in 1994 when we saw 370 people water baptized in one year. Just over one person per day. God was adding daily to His church.

Here is the rest of that story: The Power Of A Great Team

7.   Glad Tidings Church: Writing and Recording

In the mid 90’s God called me back to my home church, Glad Tidings, in Vancouver, B.C. During that time God began to giving me countless songs. I had always produced albums for other people, but not for myself. This soon changed and I began a season of writing, arranging and recording. God gave me a heart to write songs that would touch people all over the world. Through that season we recorded three CD’s in Vancouver and and one in Copenhagen. 

Here is one of the song stories: I Love Writing Songs To God

Links To My CD’s: Recordings

8.   Fasting -1998

One of my normal spiritual habits is to spend some time each year fasting and praying. In 1998 I felt like I should fast the longest I had ever fasted, 10 days. But, when I got to 10 days I felt like I shouldn’t stop. To make a long story short, I ended up fasting 40 days. This was the prelude to Praisecharts starting and my next great adventure of travelling around the world and seeing hundreds of thousands of people saved and thousands healed.

Here is the rest of that story: Getting Ready For The Next Level

9.    Call to Copenhagen – 2000

In the year 2000, I got a call from Charles Ndifon to come to Copenhagen and lead worship at some meetings he was doing there. In that one week we saw countless miracles and over 15,000 Danish people indicate that they wanted to know Jesus. At the end of those meetings, I was asked if I wanted to do more of this. I, of course, responded that I did. That set me on another journey of travelling around the world for the next 7 years and seeing hundreds of thousands of people make decisions to follow Jesus.

Here is the rest of that story: Can God Touch A Nation?

More stories: The Coolest Miracle That I Have Personally Seen

More stories: Does Jesus Still Heal People?‘

10.   Alberta – 2006

In the late 2000’s Anna and I became empty nesters and we felt like God was moving us back to Alberta. In the last 17 years we have been able to train thousands of musicians from around the world and help grow numerous churches ranging from 70 to 7,000 people.

It was also the time when God was speaking to me about writing and sharing my stories and experiences thru my blog markcole.ca. The blog started out entitled ‘Leading Worship: Notes From A Grand Adventure’ and out of that a book was born. The blog has since morphed into ‘Worship Leaders University’ and has now reached over 1.5 million people who have taken time to read over 4 million posts. I still reach 400-500 people per day thru this medium.

Here is some of the top blog posts from this period: Top 25 Worship Posts

In conclusion, I stand in awe of the incredible journey these 50 years in ministry have been. Reflecting on the significant moments, from joining Living Sound to working in the church and embarking on global adventures in evangelism, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s unwavering faithfulness. Wholeheartedly following Him has opened doors beyond my wildest imagination, and each chapter stands as a testament to His grace.

As I continue on this journey of following and loving God, training musicians, and loving my wife and family, I am genuinely excited for the next phase of this grand adventure. Through my blog, my goal is to have these stories serve as inspiration and encouragement for others on their own faith journeys. Here’s to the next chapter, overflowing with blessings, growth, and the continued joy of witnessing lives transformed by the power of God.

Here is more of the story: My Personal Timeline with links and photos.