AUSTIN P. COOKE
Biography
Pastor Austin P. Cooke was born in Greymouth, South New Zealand in 1917. During the Universal Depression he left home at 13 1/2 yrs to fend for himself. A fine Christian farmer who employed him made a great impression on him and he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at 15 yrs of age.
About 12 months later an SDA colporteur sold the book "Daniel and Revelation" to his boss but Austin read it more than his boss did. Bible studies followed and Austin was convinced of the truth of the Advent message.
He was baptized at 16 yrs and spent another 2 yrs labouring on dairy farms with stiff opposition from his employers over the Sabbath. All this made him strong for the truth.
At 18 yrs he commenced in the colporteur ministry and sold many truth filled books around North New Zealand.
In 1937 he commenced the Theological course at Longburn College, New Zealand and completed it at Avondale College, Australia 4 yrs later in 1940. He served in the Australian Army and would have been in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese except that by a miraculous deliverance, the minister for the Army for the Federal Government at Canberra ordered his release. He was then appointed to evangelism with Pastor Louis F. Were in Adelaide in 1942. Here he revealed his real ability in soul winning. In 1943 he commenced his own campaigns finally becoming the leading evangelist of the Australasian Division. In his large city campaigns he baptized over 100 new people each year. He served on the Division Executive Committee for 5 yrs and soon after retired at 61 yrs of age.
Since then he has been deeply involved in defending the SDA faith against the many apostates in the Australasian Division. After preaching on the book of Revelation in his evangelistic campaigns, the anti Adventist teachings from Avondale College, inspired him to produce his commentary.
Austin P. Cooke
565 Combiembar Road
Club Terrace, Victoria 3890, Australia