Bro. Ralph Cox

Ralph Cox

I have heard Bro. Ralph tell it dozens of times. When he was born in 1928 his dad said we are going to name him Ralph. His mother asked what his middle name would be. Bro. Ralph's dad said, "No middle name. Ralph Cox is enough." Then Bro. Ralph would say, "AND it was!"

Ralph was saved 21 days after he turned 21. (If you heard him preach more than once, you already knew that.) He completely surrendered his life to God and God used him to pastor churches and evangelize all over the USA. He preached the day services at our home church fellowship meeting for many years. We heard him there, many years at Bond, Kentucky campmeeting, at Richlands, Virginia campmeeting and various other places many, many, many times.

I have no doubt listened to Bro. Ralph Cox preach on cassette tape and CD for hundreds of hours. I do not remember a single revival I have preach that I have not quoted Bro. Ralph Cox at least one time and probably multiple times. His preaching had a huge influence on me and my family.

The first holiness campmeeting we ever attended entirely other than Dryden Rd. was in 1989. We had went to Bond campmeeting for two services in 1988. In 1989 we went for the whole week. Bro. Cox was preaching the day services. He preached four days. He preached on Church Brats, The Blood, Tithing and The Furtherance of the Gospel. The last one is the message where he quoted the poem/song Gospel Snakes. Odie and I listened to that sermon so much that we can still quote Gospel Snakes the very way he did 25 years later.

Those four sermons had a huge impact on our lives. Bro. Cox's preaching continued to influence us. He had a way of saying things that spoke to us, encouraged us and challenged us. He was plain but not mean. profound but spoke in simple terms and he was confident in the Word but not arrogant. He made great effort to speak in a way that people could understand him and be affected by his preaching. And the Boggs family was affected.

Yet Bro. Ralph was much more than a preacher to us. He may have helped us even more by the words he spoke to us personally. He put his arms around Kelly Jo and I when we needed friends the most and helped pull us through the most difficult portion of our lives. I think I can confidently say I am living a Christian life and preaching the Gospel today in large part to the kindness, compassion and wisdom of Ralph Cox.

Until just a year ago or so Bro. Ralph continued to preach and travel as much as he could. He would often be in attendance when we preached revivals at his home church the House of Prayer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was always a privilege to preach for Pastor Bill Parks and part of the thrill was getting to see Bro. Cox. He was a Godly man, great preacher and our treasured friend.

Bro. Ralph Cox finished his race last week. He is now in Heaven. Bro. Ralph was saved 21 days after he turned 21 and went to glory 2 days after he turned 86. He was a blessed man that blessed many folks.

Goodbye, Bro. Ralph. We will meet you soon!

Davy

Tent Revival In Progress - London, Kentucky

We have had three super great services under the Blue and White Gospel Tent at Liberty Pentecostal Tabernacle in London, Kentucky. Pastor Carpenter and his folks are coming each night ready to have church. They are praising God from the very beginning and that is key in tent revival. There have been people in the altar seeking God and God has been blessing and helping. Praise God for His help.

All three of us are getting a few pictures each night and I am sure we will try to post them later in the week.

We have a few pictures from the tent set up Saturday afternoon. It was so hot and humid but these folks really worked hard. We took pretty frequent water breaks and we got it up without anybody passing out. I say it often that tent revival is not a one man show and putting the tent up ought to be proof of that. I can not do it on my own. Thankfully there are churches that are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel and get the job done.

It is always worth the effort and this week is no exception. There are three more scheduled services this week and we are expecting many more folks to be saved. Please pray with us.

Davy

First, six pictures of before and after the tent. 

The set up began at 4:00 PM. Kelly Jo and I had laid out the stake pattern earlier in the day. All we had to do was drag out the stakes and big hammers and get to work.

I used my new Bosch hammer drill and 36" bit for the first time Saturday. Bro. Carpenter and his folks bought this lot next to the church a few years ago and filled it in. The big drill cut right through it.

One of our water breaks.

When we are on rough ground, pavement or gravel we always put down plastic to save wear and tear on the tent.

Some of the crew left before the picture but we sure appreciate all of the hard work.

We Will Miss Sis. Arline Brimm

Bro. George and Sis. Arline Brimm have been some of our dearest friends. Sis. Brimm has fought a long battle with a lung problem and Saturday morning she slipped away from Bro. George and their boys. It is so sad for them and for us but what a great day for Sis. Brimm. She has no more pain, no more sickness and no more struggling to breathe. She is home where she prepared to go all her life.

Her friends, family and church will mourn their loss and celebrate her life today at her home church in Granite City, Illinois. We hate to miss it but as happens so often there is no way for us to make the trip and keep our responsibilities too, especially with the tent in the air.

Please pray for Bro. George and their three sons and their families. David, Tim and Danny are all Pastors and are great men. I know it will take God to help them today.

Sis. Brimm loved to have fun. Every year at Allentown we go to Dairy Queen and fight over who is going to buy the ice cream. It is a long tradition and one we all enjoyed so much. 

One year Sis. Brimm even drove the BoggsMobile and I happened to be right there to get a picture.

We love you, Sis. Arline Brimm and we love you Bro. George.

Davy

Arline M. Brimm, 72, of Granite City, Ill., born Oct. 30, 1941, in Granite City, Ill., went to be with the Lord at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at her home.

Mrs. Brimm was a dedicated and faithful member of Bethel Chapel and enjoyed her days of reading, shopping, cooking and traveling. She will be remembered for the love and special times shared with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Neal Kelly and Dula, nee Milton, Franklin; and brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Carol Franklin.

Surviving are her beloved husband of 54 years, George D. Brimm, whom she married on May 12, 1960, at Bethel Chapel in Granite City, Ill.; her three sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Daniel and Tamara Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio, Rev. David and Ruth Brimm of Granite City and Tim and Barbara Brimm of Russellville, Ark.; four grandchildren and spouses, Kayla and Josh Thomas of Granite City, Nathan and Angela Brimm of Granite City, Clayton Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio and Christopher Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio; three great-grandchildren, Justin Thomas, Kylie Thomas and Brooklyn Brimm; her beloved church family; and extended family and many cherished friends.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Chapel Christian School Scholarship Fund. Irwin Chapel of Granite City handling arrangements. www.irwinchapel.com

Visitation: In celebration of her life, visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, and 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church, 2445 Ohio Avenue in Granite City, Ill.

Funeral: A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church with Rev. Dwain Galiher officiating. Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, Ill. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/belleville/obituary.aspx?pid=172235750#sthash.LUrbj3ph.dpuf

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/belleville/obituary.aspx?pid=172235750#storylink=cpy

Arline M. Brimm, 72, of Granite City, Ill., born Oct. 30, 1941, in Granite City, Ill., went to be with the Lord at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at her home.

Mrs. Brimm was a dedicated and faithful member of Bethel Chapel and enjoyed her days of reading, shopping, cooking and traveling. She will be remembered for the love and special times shared with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Neal Kelly and Dula, nee Milton, Franklin; and brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Carol Franklin.

Surviving are her beloved husband of 54 years, George D. Brimm, whom she married on May 12, 1960, at Bethel Chapel in Granite City, Ill.; her three sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Daniel and Tamara Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio, Rev. David and Ruth Brimm of Granite City and Tim and Barbara Brimm of Russellville, Ark.; four grandchildren and spouses, Kayla and Josh Thomas of Granite City, Nathan and Angela Brimm of Granite City, Clayton Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio and Christopher Brimm of Apple Creek, Ohio; three great-grandchildren, Justin Thomas, Kylie Thomas and Brooklyn Brimm; her beloved church family; and extended family and many cherished friends. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/belleville/obituary.aspx?pid=172235750#sthash.LUrbj3ph.dpuf

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/belleville/obituary.aspx?pid=172235750#storylink=cpy