TESTIMONY OF BILL COIBION

Bill & Lee Coibion

I have known Bill Coibion for many years, first as a successful Christian businessman, and now as a Minister to men. Bill started his current ministry, like many do, as an IAM member then eventually became an Affiliate.

Brother, as always I and our readers are interested in how you came to Christ. Please briefly describe that process.

It was a process. It took more than one encounter with the truth for me to give my heart to Jesus.

One night Pastor Johnson was over for dinner and asked me “if you die tonight are you going to heaven?”  I said, yes.  Then Pastor Johnson asked me why and I said, “because I am a good guy”. He then informed me I had the wrong answer.  A friend of mine invited me to a Christian Businessman’s lunch to hear Congressman Bill Armstrong share his testimony, who’s testimony was remarkably similar to mine.
 
The very next day, Bob Merwin shows up at my office and offered to meet with me to help me understand who Jesus is, why He came, what His ministry was and how to initiate a personal relationship with Him.  I took him up on his offer and the fifth week of meeting I had an Divine experience on I-80 as I was driving to meet Bob.  It was an emotional experience as I acknowledged I was a sinner, repented, asked for forgiveness and was forgiven and gave my heart to Jesus as I desperately wanted Him to take control of my heart, mind, soul and will….and He did! So, on September 9, 1993 at 49 years old I became born again.  I gave my public testimony at Creekside Church in January 1994 and was baptized in the summer at a lake.  
 
Awesome, my brother, I never tire of reading or hearing someone share how they met Christ and were transformed by him.

Your current ministry is primarily with men. Tell us how that came about.

“Pastor Johnson invited me to join a study called Point Man. After the study I asked Pastor Johnson how many people in the pews on Sunday are truly saved …. He responded about 15-20%. Later in 1994, I attended Promise Keepers in Oakland and was shocked about the “fatherlessness” in our country.  On Saturday afternoon the speaker said over 38% of the youth 18 years and younger will go to sleep tonight without their dad in the home.  I researched the U.S. Census data for fatherlessness in America. It took me almost two weeks, but I was totally blown away by the trends in fatherlessness and out of wedlock births in America and increasing change from 1960 to 1990. From that point forward my heart has been for men.”

I know you have started several ministries between those days and now several of which continue to thrive. Give us a brief summary of your current ministry Forging Disciples.

“We disciple men to become a dedicated SON to Him.  Men CAN be the Husband, Father and Servant that He wants.  We Disciple men individually, encouraging them to “take hold of that for which Jesus has taken hold of them”, Facilitate “Following Jesus”, a discipleship initiative at William Jessup University and Develop “Making Room for Life”, seminar to encourage men to lead their family to live God’s Way”

Thank you Bill. Miracles happen when we surrender to Christ and you’re an excellent witness to that.

If you want to connect with Bill you can email him at w.coibion@gmail.com