James Burton Coffman (1905–2006)

Burton Coffman was baptized during the Abilene Christian College lectureship in 1923. He graduated from Abilene High School and enrolled in ACC, graduating from Abilene Christian College in Texas in 1927 with a bachelor’s in history and music. After graduation, he worked as a principal in a rural school, then taught history and English at Abilene High School., but soon found his calling in ministry. Listed in Preachers of Today, Vol. 1, p. 76, 1952.

He preached his first sermon at the College church in Abilene, and in 1930 was offered a position as associate minister and song leader in Wichita Falls, Texas. He also preached for congregations in Lawton, OK., Sherman, TX., New York City and the District of Columbia and Houston, Texas. His honors and accomplishments include being named the Outstanding Almnus of ACC in 1972 and receiving honorary doctorate degrees from ACC, Pepperdine University and Magic Valley Christian College, Albion, Idaho.

During his time as minister for the Manhattan Church of Christ, Coffman preached across the nation and raised more than $1 million for The Manhattan Project, an effort to build a worship place on the world’s most expensive real estate.

While in Washington, Coffman was offered the opportunity to serve as guest chaplain for the U.S. Armed Forces in Japan and Korea. He hosted gospel meetings throughout both countries.

In 1952, he initiated an effort to increase the number of U.S. Air Force chaplains with Church of Christ backgrounds. At that point, only one Air Force chaplain was affiliated with the Church of Christ.

After retiring in 1971, he wrote a 37-volume commentary of the entire Bible, verse by verse, which was finished in 1992.

Coffman baptized an estimated 3,000 people during his life and conducted hundreds of gospel meetings. Last year, he delivered a Sunday morning sermon two days before his 100th birthday at the West University church in Houston.