Pastor Rawlie Cooper

Pastor Rawlie Cooper is the third of six children born to Egbert and Mavis Cooper. From an early age, he recognised that he was made in God's image and likeness, and he grew up with an inner hunger to know Christ in a personal, intimate way.

Through unfortunate circumstances in his childhood, God placed him in the Christian home of John and Euphemia Osborne, who nurtured, mentored and guided him by precept and by example in the ways of the Lord. Mavis Cooper’s faithful example, strength, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and constant prayer also greatly impacted him. His youthful years were not spent in liming, parties and having a good time, but in Sunday school, youth group and bible study.

Pastor Cooper is a career Public Servant with over forty-two years of dedicated service in different government departments, rising from a Daily-paid Checker to an Administrative Officer IV at retirement.

He accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and was baptised on April 13th, 1975. From that point, he knew God had placed His hand on his life for His service.

He married Ms. Arlene Robain in May 1983, and they have five children together. His wife continues to be a source of strength and motivation. His love for his family is second only to his love for God. After marriage, he continued his pursuit of God’s will at home, church, community, and on the job.

About twenty two years ago, through his very dear friend, Pastor Winston Lewis (now deceased), Pastor Cooper was introduced to Dr. Roderick Loney. He attended a weekly Bible study that turned into intense Bible courses. Dr. Loney's teaching stimulated his hunger for the word of God. Apart from his academic qualifications, he pursued a course of study at the Kestor Institute for Biblical Research (Doctors Roderick and Sylvia Loney) and also with the Southern Baptist Missionaries who were on assignment in Trinidad.

He developed a relationship with Dr. Loney that he likened to that of the Apostles Paul and Timothy. Dr. Loney treated him as a son, brother in the Lord, and friend. He is thankful to God for Pastor Loney and his wife, Dr. Sylvia Loney, whose advice, words of wisdom, and encouragement continue to be a great blessing to him and his family.

This is his twelfth year pastoring at the Bethel Fundamental Baptist Tabernacle, and it has been a journey of personal challenges, growth, development, and witness to God's faithfulness.

Pastor Cooper desires that God continue to be integrated into his daily life as he humbles himself under His mighty hand.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away behold, all things can become new.