Rev. George Albert Coleman

George Albert Coleman was born to Rufus H. and Lorenia White Coleman on January 21, 1923, in Burleson County, Texas. In 1960 he was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Ghost under the leadership of the late elder, Elijah Odom, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Bishop Coleman founded and pastored the New Testament United Pentecostal Church (UPC) in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He also pastored churches in Alexandria and Heflin, Louisiana.

George Coleman started the first Ethnic UPCI Youth Camp in the state of Louisiana in 1974 where he appointed Richard V. Allmon Sr. as youth coordinator. The legacy of this camp still continues today and is currently called Capital City Youth Convocation (CCYC) and is held bi-annually in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

He and his wife, the late Lucy Boyd Coleman, were well known for their ministries and music throughout the United States as well as overseas. Being very charitable people, their ministry touched many lives as witnessed by a host of evangelists and pastors that have come from their leadership.

Bishop Coleman contributed financially to the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI); he participated 100 percent in giving to every cause of the UPCI, including ministries such as Global and North American Missions, Sheaves for Christ, Lighthouse Ranch for Boys, Tupelo Children's Mansion, and Mothers Memorial.

He trained and influenced hundreds of ministers throughout Louisiana and the world, and established a platform for their ministerial development through Louisiana Ethnic Outreach Ministry Fellowship, under the Louisiana District. Bishop Coleman stated, 'In 1951 I organized the Ethnic Outreach Ministry so that the black preachers in the UPC would have somewhere to fellowship with those of like precious faith.' At the time this consisted of about ten churches. He was bishop and presbyter of the Ethnic Outreach of the Louisiana District from 1973 until he honorably retired in March 1994 due to illness.

Bishop Coleman was the first African American presbyter appointed to the board of the Louisiana District, UPCI. He partnered with John Cupit to aid in the success of the 'Each One, Reach One' campaign, an outreach project aimed to help people in the Louisiana District reach their community.

Bishop Coleman passed from this life on May 29, 1996. At the time of his death he was senior pastor of the New Testament UPC in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he pastored for twenty-three years. His legacy is one of faith, soul winning, church planting, and giving.