Coker, Arizona/California pastor/leader, dies

Dan Coker, former Arizona pastor, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention president and director of the Theological Field Education program for the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary), died Jan. 31. He was 82 and living in Picayune, Mississippi, at the time of his death.

“Dan Coker was the quintessential pastor, mentoring professor, and loyal friend and confidant,” said David Johnson, director of the doctor of ministry program for Gateway Seminary and former Arizona Mission Network executive director. “It was my privilege to know him in all three capacities.”

Coker was a longtime pastor of Love Baptist Church in Phoenix. In recognition of his 24 years of faithful service there, he was named pastor emeritus. After retiring in 2012, he returned to Love as pastor of care and support from 2020 until 2022.

He led the church “out of the doldrums to experience life and vitality again,” Johnson said. “It became a model of church revitalization.”

Coker was the Theological Field Education coordinating professor for the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Seminary from 2001-2015. While still in California, he was involved in developing Golden Gate’s TFE program. His roles there included being among the first peer group leaders for on-campus classes and serving as field mentor and spiritual mentor for Golden Gate students from 1983-1998.

“Dan made a huge difference not only in the churches he served, but the pastors he mentored,” Johnson said. “I have heard more than one pastor say that they would not still be in ministry today if it wasn’t for the ministry of Dan Coker with them in a critical time.

“He always had a story to share, a book to recommend and a listening ear. His greatest legacy may well be in the lives of those men in the churches and ministries where they serve.”
Steve Bass, former Arizona Southern Baptist Convention executive director, also recalled Coker’s influence.

“Dan Coker was the kind of effective leader who would not simply tell you his opinion, but rather, he would first seek God and then share what he believed God was leading him to share,” Bass said. “He was the kind of leader you always sought out for counsel before moving forward. He will be missed.”

Coker served as interim pastor of First Southern Baptist of Tucson, First Southern Baptist Church of Black Canyon City and First Southern Baptist Church of Buckeye.

Prior to moving to Arizona, he was pastor of several churches in Arkansas and California. Among those was Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco, where he worked alongside other pastors to form one of the first multi-ethnic, multiple-congregation churches in the United States in the late 1960s.

Other ministry positions included serving as director of missions for Peninsula Southern Baptist Association in San Francisco; associate executive director for the Baptist Foundation of California; interim director of the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Seminary; and a trustee of GuideStone Financial Resources.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Coker earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He received Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California. He received the seminary’s alumni achievement award in 2003.

Survivors include his wife, Jacquelyn Spence Coker; daughter Rebecca (Timothy) Kay Lane; son William (Aleshia) Asa Whitson Coker; five grandchildren; a sister; a sister-in-law; nine nieces and nephews and their spouses; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service was held Feb. 14 at First Baptist Church of Picayune. Memorial services will also be held at Love Baptist Church in Phoenix March 21 at 10 a.m. and later in Seaside, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.