DORIAN COOK

In 1965 I was a freshman at Big Sandy.  Ben was my speech teacher... but more importantly... he was much more.  I will explain momentarily. 

I was still 17... several weeks from turning 18... and so "green" when I headed for Big Sandy to begin college that I stopped and ate a ham sandwich at a restaurant in Gladewater before arriving on campus.  It was Friday and I found out about the Sabbath that day and kept my first one the very next day!  Needless to say... the next few weeks were very amazing ones as I kept my first feast and found out how much I did not know about the Bible.

The first negative for me was my contracting strep throat... a REALLY bad case...  had big red blisters all over the back of my throat and the pain so intense that I was writhing back and forth on my bed in booth city.  I roomed with Clyde Staley, Bob James and Ralph Read.   Bob noted my condition... couldn't miss it in tight quarters like a booth. 

He came over and said, "Why don't you get anointed?"  I could not speak at all and wrote on a note pad... WHAT'S ANOINTING???   He said... "Oh, you don't know about that?  I will go to the mail receiving office and get you a copy of the booklet, DOES GOD HEAL TODAY?"   

I nodded my assent and soon he was back with said booklet... which I read front to back immediately.   I wrote on my note pad... "I want to be anointed!"   At that stage of my young life I was too ignorant to doubt that it would work. 

Bob checked the elder duty roster and found that it was Ben Chapman that would do the job.  So...  Bob loaded me in his car... one of the few students who had one... and drove me over to Ben's house on faculty row.   We went into his study and he had me kneel on a pad he put on the floor and began a prayer.  He thanked God for the healing that... WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE... no doubt in the man at all.  He reminded God that I had a lot of responsibility as a student at AC and that I could not afford to get behind in my class work by being sick.

He finished the prayer with "In Jesus name, amen!"  And I got up off the floor.... COMPLETELY HEALED OF MY STREP THROAT !!!  The red blisters were all gone, the pain was gone, my voice was restored and I left his house in amazement.  This is a true witness of my very first experience with anointing and a MIRACLE of healing. 

I have anointed many people since that time myself and have seen even greater miracles of healing...  Ben Chapman's EXAMPLE of being so sure that healing would occur by thanking God in the prayer for that healing that had not yet taken place was not lost on me.  What we have lost, over the intervening years, is the FAITH ONCE DELIVERED that worked miracles. 

Thank you Ben... peoples lives have been saved because of your EXAMPLE you set of how a "man of God" should pray to an ignorant... but eager to learn... teenager at AC.  I have been... and will be until my own death, a part of your legacy and tribute to your ministry!  

I will look forward to telling you this in person on the other side.  Rest in peace till then. 

Dorian Cook 

Rest in peace, Marilyn!  You were a good woman and a good friend.

Posted on: Sep 23, 2017 at 3:33 AM

Posted on: Jun 26, 2017 at 7:26 PM

Hey Ralph.... I wondered what ever happened to you, Bob James and Clyde Staley... I will never forget our time sharing that little booth at Big Sandy. I have not been able to pick up even a hint of where any of you ended up til now. I don't know if you remember but I became ill and had to leave A.C. after about three months there. It took four and a half years to discover what I was suffering from... acute hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). I learned some years later that Ron Kelly and Les McCullough had written me off as a "demon case" so that prevented me from ever returning to A.C. and graduating even after I recovered my health. Any way, I remember that you were always a good friend during those months I was privileged to be at A.C. Big Sandy and I just wanted to write you this note and wish you the best as we continue to "age like fine wine."

Dorian Cook

Posted on: Sep 23, 2016 at 3:33 AM

Dorian, hoping you're having a great birthday!

You were a good  friend and spiritual brother, Loren.  Your smile would light up a room and I don't think I ever failed to see it come to your face even once all the times we met and talked at services at Big Sandy.   I knew that I could count on any conversation that we would have being pleasant.  Now, you have gone and gotten the difficult part of life... that of dying... out of the way.  I suspect that I still have "miles to go before I sleep" but I'll get there eventually, along with all the rest of your AC Big Sandy friends and classmates.  Seeing your smile "shining like the sun"  again when we are all reunited, is a good thought to hang on to as the rest of us approach that "appointment" that must be kept.

Til we meet again, may you rest in peace!

Dorian   

I remember Ed Smith fondly as a minister who always seemed to have a ready smile and a kind word.  He was GENTLE with the "flock" and a credit, indeed, to the ministry.   I am glad that he got  a lot of years to spend with his family and look forward to seeing and hearing that great big smile and booming friendly voice again when we meet on the "other side."

Dorian Cook

Have a great one, Dorian!