Douglas Coole (1926)
By James R. Hipkins ‘54, Methodist Missionary, Sarawak
WHEN the Lord calls a man to follow Him, he does not often know exactly what the Lord has in mind for him to do. It is certain that Doug Coole could not have possibly dreamed of the work waiting for him, when he graduated from Baker University in 1923. The first stop on the road was Boston University School of Theology, from which he graduated in 1926.
From early childhood the Chinese had been his playmates. His father was a medical missionary in Kutien, China. Doug grew up among the local Chinese and their way was his way. Their language was his. After he married his college sweetheart, he and Polly were sent to begin their missionary service in Malaya.
In the Foochow Chinese community in Dindings and Sitiawan, in Singapore, they began to help build the Pioneer Church. We could continue to list the tasks and responsibilities which Doug assumed for forty years—teacher, principal, pastor, air raid warden, theological school professor, field treasurer of the Board of Missions, Rotarian, Scout Commissioner, army chaplain and others. When one considers the varied activities in which the missionary career of Dr. Coole has been involved, one marvels at the breadth of talents and skills a missionary must possess.
Some interesting sidelights on his missionary work are related to his work as the head of Civil Defence in Kampar, Malaya during the early days of World War II. After Kampar fell to the Japanese he continued his Air Raid work in Singapore. He left Singapore nine days before it fell and joined his family who had been evacuated to India. During his stay in India he taught in the Leonard Theological College in Jabalpur. He served as a civilian chaplain to Royal Signals of the British army and to other troops in that area. He also helped to train air raid wardens during his time in India. In 1944 The Methodist Church wanted him to return to Foochow, but before he could arrive in China the Japanese had taken the coast and there was no way to enter.
Since 1952 he has served in Sarawak. For fourteen years he has travelled up and down the river of the land of White Rajahs, preaching in Chinese churches, visiting Iban longhouses, seeking to enable the church to strengthen its witness. With his guidance during the past ten years as Field Treasurer, many great strides have been made in the growth of the church in Sarawak. In this position as in others, Doug has manifested a gracious optimism which is hard to equal.
I would be foolish to begin to list all his talents, but I do think he has one tremendous gift which made it possible for him to serve in each of the responsibilities that came to him with faithfulness. He saw, and still sees, each job as a door which God has opened for him to enter. He doesn’t argue about the fact that he does not know how to do it or that his time is too limited. Rather, motivated by a vigorous faith in the sustaining power of God, he goes forward. I have often heard him say that he did not come to serve the Lord according to Doug’s will and plan, but according to God’s. When the church asked him to do a task, there was no argument, but a joyous acceptance of the new opportunity to share in the ministry.
After I first became acquainted with him, I marvelled at the pace with which he went about his work. Those of us who were younger found ourselves tiring in half the time and with half the responsibility. One day I was talking with another missionary about Doug’s great capacity for work. He commented, “Remember, he has a great resource on which he depends.” When one considers the breadth of Doug Coole’s witness and work over forty years, it is obvious that he has truly tapped the inner resources of the universe.