This is a succinct biography of Rev. Mary Louise Copeland, a true pioneer in the Pentecostal, Healing Revival, Latter Rain, and Charismatic Movements. In order to see the influence and impact she had on the Body of Christ, it is helpful to give a brief history of each of the major Moves of God in the twentieth century. In each of these movements, she came in contact with significant leaders of each. Many of them ministered in her church in revivals, and conventions. She ministered with many of the healing evangelists through the Voice of Healing, in addition to her work as an evangelist as well as a convention speaker.
There is a chapter on her family background, as her father was a Southern Baptist minister. Her mother was a Pentecostal influence on her spiritual development.
Rev. Louise Copeland was a pioneer in women ministry and a chapter is on a brief history of some of the most significant women ministers of the past century.
A chapter is dedicated to her association with significant Healing Revival ministries. There is a brief bio of several of these ministries that helps provide further insight into the history of these specific Moves of God and provides a context for the impact of Louise Copeland.
A chapter is devoted to significant ministers of the Latter Rain Movement, that paralleled the Healing Revival.
a third chapter is dedicated to other ministers with whom Louise Copeland associated. Many of these were a part of an era known as Revival Center Days.
There were many ministers in training who worked under Sister Copeland and graduated to their own successful ministries. Some of these co-workers were Mary Eulee Smith, Doris Swartz, Alma Jo Brown, and David Tharp.
There are chapters devoted to two specific nondenominational churches she established, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Dayton, Ohio.
There are chapters on some of her writings, tributes and testimonies, as well as different aspects of ministry that Sister Copeland incorporated into her overall ministry.
Besides looking at the serious side of her spirituality, there are some interesting and amusing anecdotes provides by some of her co-workers.
Sister Copeland's influence was worldwide through the organization, International Ministers Forum that focused on missions.
Sister Copeland's legacy included the impact she had on her family of siblings, nieces, and nephews. Many of them are or have been involved in fulltime ministry, including pastoring, evangelizing, missionary work, Bible College and University professors, as well as in the field of medicine.
There are hundreds of pictures that enrich the experience of surveying the legacy of Sister Louise Copeland. Even though she has now passed on to her eternal reward, her life is prolonged through her legacy. She truly was a pioneer in helping to pave the way for successive generations to experience the supernatural of God through the manifestation of signs, wonders, and miracles. Her ministry was marked by the miraculous, having been healed of blindness herself. She had many other notable miracles that were marks of her ministry. She truly was a woman of faith.
I as the author of the book had the privilege of knowing Sister Louise Copeland both on a personal as well as a ministerial level, as I married her niece, Nancy Walker. Nancy was greatly influenced by her Aunt Louise, as she lived and worked with her when she pioneered a Spirit-filled church in Dayton, Ohio. I count it an honor that I can call Sister Louise Copeland, "Aunt Louise." Nancy and I have worked together in pastoral ministry for all of our 64 years of marriage.
Much of the information in this book came from my own personal knowledge and experience with Sister Copeland. There is a limited number of people who are still living to provide very much more information. Hopefully, there is enough information that can give proper honor and tribute to a great woman of faith--Rev. Mary Louise Copeland.