The ministry of Coley Holloway, 86, of Dothan spanned 60 years. In that time, he was pastor of eight churches and interim pastor at eight others. He conducted 911 funerals, preached 137 revivals and has read through the Bible 56 times so far. He was in the first graduating class of Howard College after it moved to its current location on Lakeshore Drive in Birmingham. (Howard College later was renamed Samford University.) Holloway felt called to ministry at rural churches and to be a bivocational pastor, if necessary. His church, Bay Springs Baptist in Dothan, has named him pastor emeritus. He and wife Nancy reared seven children – four biological children and three special blessings.
Ministry: Retired, but “I’m still a pastor in my heart.”
Church: Bay Springs Baptist Church, Dothan, in Southeast Alabama Baptist Association
Life verse: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14)
Describe where you focused your greatest ministry efforts. On doing God’s will for my life and on studying the word of God.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: Both in my faith life and my personal life is my wife Nancy. The 19th (of October), we (were) married 65 years. In my second year (of college) … I was looking (and praying) for a wife. We met and we were married six months later. … She has had a tremendous influence. She has the gift of contentment. She is truly a pastor’s wife. We have lived in 14 different places. She nor my children have complained about being the preacher’s family. … Nancy has always helped me in the ministry and we make decisions together.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: When I was 16, I believe, I knew that God was calling me. … I said, “God, if you want me to preach, tell somebody to come up to me and tell me to preach.” … Our pastor came out (of church) one time and said, “Boys, we’re going to have a youth revival. And one of you will preach Sunday morning and one Sunday night.” I took the Sunday morning. … (The calling) was so clear. … God just answered my prayer.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: Total surrender to Him. … You have to give up your rights, even to yourself, if you want to totally surrender to God. … More than anything in my life, I want to be anointed. … I have had a tremendous family and I am trying to be the kind of daddy they think I am.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: We’ve got a textbook called the Bible. Stay true to the Word. If you can’t teach me from the Bible, don’t try anything else.
Q: Have you ever read a book or heard a song that changed the way you think about God and faith? What was it and what did you learn from it?
A: The song “O What a Moment (When We See Jesus).” I read several Billy Graham books. I believe he is one of the great evangelists of my day. I heard him speak at First Baptist Church Dothan when I was 16 years old. Michael Catt has written several books and one is on the joy of surrender. That one has smitten me right in the heart. But the Bible has influenced me more than anything. If you don’t saturate yourself in the Bible, you’re missing a blessing. I can’t say enough about the Bible.
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