Bob Coy
| Bob Coy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Robert J. Coy November 27, 1955 Royal Oak, Michigan |
| Residence | Chattanooga, TN |
| Occupation | Former Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale |
| Term | 1985-2014 |
| Spouse(s) | Diane Coy |
Robert J. "Bob" Coy[1] (born November 27, 1955) is the Founder and former Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale is one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America.[2]
On April 3, 2014, Coy resigned as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, after confessing to a pornography habit and multiple extramarital affairs.[3][4] The media ministry of the Active Word that distributes his Bible teachings through radio, television, and digital media has also been suspended.[5]
Biography
Coy was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on November 27, 1955.
At 21 years old, Coy got a job at Capitol Records in Detroit. "I was living the life of sex, drugs, and rock n roll, literally," he said.[6][7] Coy abused drugs and alcohol, and after multiple traffic tickets (some for driving under the influence), he lost his license.[7] Soon after, at 24 years old, a band manager reported Coy offered drugs to a band member.[7][8] Feeling his music industry career was ruined, Coy moved to Las Vegas and got a job in property management.[7][8] He later became an entertainment director at a casino with an "All-Girl Revue." This, according to Coy, "is another way of saying I ran a strip club."[7][8][9] Until 1984, Coy continued to live a life of sex and drugs. On the day after Christmas, his brother Jim (who had recently married and "got religion") let him crash in his living room after a wild party. Jim gave Bob a pillow, blanket, and Bible. Bob threw the Bible at Jim and said "Will you shut up with your Jesus stuff?" The Bible still on the floor, Jim and his wife went to bed. Bob says he couldn't sleep because the Bible was "calling out to him." He opened it to the Gospel of John and began reading; when he got to 3:16 he began to weep uncontrollably. Jim and his wife entered the room and Jim announced: "God just woke me up and told me I'm supposed to pray for you." After that day at his brother's home, Coy says he hasn't been the same.[7][8][10] In the following days, Coy quit his job at the casino and began working as an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel, Las Vegas.[7][8] In 1985, Coy and his wife Diane moved to South Florida, founding Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale,[7][8] where he has become well known for his unique style of teaching and preaching.
Resignation
In March 2014, Bob Coy resigned as the Senior Pastor and President of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale because of an admitted struggle with adultery and an addiction to pornography. Pastor Doug Sauder took his position as Lead Pastor.[11]
Charity Work
Due to a great need for increased services to keep children from entering foster care, in 1997 under the direction of Coy, 4Kids of South Florida was founded to care for orphans and children in the foster-care system in South Florida.[12]
However, Bob Coy's direct involvement with 4Kids cannot be substantiated through Florida's Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) web site, nor other references.[13][14][15]
Publications
- My God Story. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2001. p. 178. ISBN 0-9708600-1-3.
- Devotionary. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2002. p. 265. ISBN 0-970-860-0-0-5.
- Dreamality. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing Co, Inc. 2005. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-58229-447-6.
- The Holy Spirit. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2008. p. 72. ISBN 1-932283-19-6.
- Living in the Active Word volume 1. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2008. p. 365. ISBN 1-932283-28-5.
- Redeeming Relationships. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2008. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-932283-14-3.
- Living in the Active Word volume 2. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2009. p. 365. ISBN 978-1-932283-71-6.
- One Surrendered Life. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. 2013. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-932283-18-1.
References
- ↑ Davis, James D. "The Rev. Bob Coy". Sun Sentinel Newspaper. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ "America's Fastest-Growing and Largest Outreach 100 Churches, 2013". Outreach Magazine.
- ↑ http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-04-29/news/fl-bob-coy-adultery-20140429_1_former-pastor-calvary-chapel-adultery
- ↑ David Usborne, "Florida's not-so-coy pastor is just the latest in a plague of fallen preachers", The Independent, 13 April 2014
- ↑ "Statement Regarding Bob Coy". Calvary Blog. Apr 6, 2014.
- ↑ Bob Coy, Ed Stetzer (2013). Pastor Bob Coy gives his testimony (@pbobcoy @EdStetzer) – Highlight of The Exchange (Web Video). Vimeo. Event occurs at Event occurs at time 1:16. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Burke, Kristen. "Something More". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Demko, Paul. "Channeling Jesus". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ Bob Coy, Ed Stetzer (2013). Pastor Bob Coy gives his testimony (@pbobcoy @EdStetzer) – Highlight of The Exchange (Web Video). Vimeo. Event occurs at Event occurs at time 1:50. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ↑ Bob Coy, Ed Stetzer (2013). Pastor Bob Coy gives his testimony ( @EdStetzer) – Highlight of The Exchange (Web Video). Vimeo. Event occurs at Event occurs at time 2:25. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ↑ Nolin, Robert. "Megachurch pastor committed adultery, viewed porn". Sun Sentinel =2014-04-29. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ↑ "Ending the Wait for Foster Care Kids". Focus on the Family.
- ↑ "Detail by Entity Name".
- ↑ "4KIDS Executive Team".
- ↑ "4KIDS Board of Directors".