The Beginning of Ministry

Carl E Cox Sr was a member of Hot Dog Johnson's gang in the early 30's. During that time he played in Dance Halls in the Glassy Mountain region of South Carolina.  A group of people in the community that didn't like Carl, protested him playing in the Dance Hall that night and Hot Dog Johnson said "that you are going to play tonight regardless of what they say".  Hot Dog picked up a two by four and escorted Carl and his brother Oscar Cox into the hall.  The dance went on as normal.

As the Dance came to an end a fight started within the Hall amongst the gang and the people that didn't want the Cox Brother's playing. Carl and Oscar made it through the crowd to the front door.  When they got into the yard they heard a shot gun blast.  Carl saw the gun charge and his hat was blown off his head.  At that time Oscar said "Carl it's time to go".

When the boys got home in the 2 story farm house in upper Greenville County, SC, they found Grandma Cox walking the floor of the porch with a lantern swinging back and forth.  Grandma called out "is that you Carl", he said "yes" and she said "where have you been".  Carl said "you don't want to know mom".  The next Sunday at Lima Baptist Church, Carl gave his heart to Jesus.

The next week while he was in bed asleep, an angel of the Lord stood at the end of his bed and walk around to the side of his bed and reached out his hand (dad said it was soft as cotton).  The Angel called him by name and said "Carl, take this Oil and preach my Word". 

He started prayer meetings with young people in the church, in different homes within the community.  The meetings were growing to the point that a group of young people from the Treemont Ave Church of God heard about them and decided to attend and starting singing Worship for the meetings.  In one of these meetings Carl received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the Baptist youth in the community that were attending the meetings starting receiving the Holy Ghost as well. The leaders of the Baptist Church did not like what was going on and shut down the meetings. Carl then started attending the Treemont Ave Church of God and soon after joined the Church of God.

Enrolling in Lee College, what is now Lee University is where he was lead next to begin his ministry training.  He graduated in 1938 and began his ministry as a State Evangelist for South Carolina.

There are many more stories that I will begin to tell, as dad organized 28 churches in the Church of God through Brush Arbor and Tent Meetings.  Ones that Dad told us about and stories that I remember as a child.  Holiness People, as Church of God folks were called, were not liked very well in those days.  I decided at the urging of my children to start recording these stories.  Many that I will tell you my dad, Carl Sr, began to record before his death and was going to place them in a book that he was going to title "Pioneer's for Christ".  I thought that would be a great name for this blog about my father. 

Feel free to enjoy these stories that I will share about the Truth of God's Love & Power with your Friends and Family.

Carl E Cox Jr