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Who was Jack Coe?
Jack Coe was an American Pentecostal evangelist and faith healer who rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s. He was one of the first to use a large tent for his revival meetings, which attracted thousands of people across the United States. He claimed to have healed many people from various diseases and disabilities by the power of God. He also founded a magazine, an orphanage, and a church in Dallas, Texas. He was nicknamed “the man of reckless faith” for his bold and controversial style of preaching and healing
How did he die?
Jack Coe died on December 16, 1956, at the age of 38, from poliomyelitis, a viral infection that affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. He contracted the disease in November 1956, while he was in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a revival meeting. He returned to Texas and underwent a tracheotomy to help him breathe, but his condition worsened and he developed pneumonia. He was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he passed away
Why was his death controversial?
Jack Coe’s death was controversial for several reasons. First, he was a vocal opponent of medical treatment and vaccination, and he urged his followers to rely solely on God for their healing. He believed that sickness was a result of sin and lack of faith, and that taking medicine was a sign of unbelief. He often criticized doctors and mocked people who used crutches, glasses, or hearing aids. He even refused to take any medication or see a doctor when he fell ill, and he continued to preach and heal until he collapsed
Second, he was involved in a legal dispute with the city of Miami, Florida, over his healing practices. In July 1956, he was arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license, after he allegedly told the parents of a three-year-old boy with polio to remove his braces and throw away his medicine. The boy’s condition deteriorated and he was hospitalized. Coe denied the charges and claimed that he was being persecuted for his faith. He was released on bail and the case was dismissed in October 1956, due to lack of evidence and witnesses Third, he was estranged from his denomination, the Assemblies of God, which expelled him in 1953 for “misleading the public” and “antagonizing Dallas civil authorities”. He was also accused of having an extravagant lifestyle and home, which he denied. He then accused the Assemblies of God of “fighting divine healing” and printed pictures of the large homes of some of their officials. He also had conflicts with other Pentecostal leaders and revivalists, such as Oral Roberts, whom he competed with for the size of their tents and crowds
What was the impact of his death?
Jack Coe’s death shocked and saddened many of his followers and admirers, who regarded him as a man of God and a miracle worker. Some of them even expected him to rise from the dead, as he had once predicted. His funeral was attended by thousands of people, who paid their respects and witnessed his burial at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. His wife, Juanita, and his son, Peter, continued his ministry and inherited his church, magazine, and orphanage
However, his death also raised questions and doubts about his teachings and claims. Some of his critics and opponents saw his death as a proof of his hypocrisy and deception, and as a divine judgment for his errors and sins. His death also exposed the vulnerability and mortality of the human body, even for those who claimed to have supernatural power and authority. His death also coincided with the decline of the healing revival movement, which faced increasing challenges and criticisms from the media, the government, and the mainstream churches
Conclusion
Jack Coe was a prominent and influential figure in the history of American Pentecostalism and the healing revival movement. He was known for his charismatic personality, his passionate preaching, and his spectacular healing miracles. He also left behind a legacy of publications, institutions, and followers. However, his life and ministry were also marked by controversy, conflict, and scandal. His death from polio, a disease that he claimed to have healed, was a tragic and ironic end to his career. His death also revealed the limits and challenges of the faith healing movement, and the need for a balanced and biblical approach to health and healing
