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Glen Cole

Glen D. Cole, the well-known and highly respected Assemblies of God minister who built Capital Christian Center (AG) in Sacramento, California, into a megachurch, passed away Tuesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 78.

Cole, an avid golfer and in apparent good health, was found unresponsive in his car in the parking lot of Trinity Life Center (AG) in Sacramento. He could not be revived. Cole had accepted the pastorate of Trinity Life Center in 2008 and had guided its growth from about 150 to a congregation of more than 1,100.

A former member of the AG Executive Presbytery (1985-95) and the former Northern California-Nevada District Superintendent (1997-2004), Cole was regarded as a compassionate leader and a visionary who relied upon God's Word to form his opinions and direction in life.

"Brother Cole was a great champion of the gospel and a great promoter of missions," said AG General Superintendent George O. Wood in a written statement. "Whatever he put his hand to prospered. He was a good friend to me, always caring and supportive."

A graduate of Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, Cole began his ministry at Bethel Temple in Dayton, Ohio, in 1956. He was ordained by the Ohio District in 1959. He would go on to pastor churches in Marion, Ohio; Maple Valley, Washington; Seattle, Washington; and Olympia, Washington; before accepting the pastorate of Capital Christian Center (then known as Bethel Temple) in Sacramento in 1978, growing the church to about 5,000. He retired in 1995, becoming the Northern California-Nevada District superintendent from 1997-2004. In 2004, he joined his son, Rick, as the executive pastor at Capital Christian Center until 2006. He responded to the request to pastor again in 2008 as senior pastor of Trinity Life Center.

Cole is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Ann; sons Randy (Joanne) and Rick (Cathy); and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, February 20, in the Capital Christian Center auditorium, 9470 Micron Ave., Sacramento. The service will also be live-streamed from the Capital Christian Center website.