Marathon Ministry: Our History

MARATHON MINISTRY began in 1986 by the call of God on the life of Rev. Philip Cooper to serve the poor.Our beginnings were small, a few dedicated Christians, acquiring and moving furniture for battered women and their children coming out of safe houses to their new apartments. And as the Lord promised, we grew.

“I will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:11)

Since 1986, we have given free over 25 million pounds of food, endless mountains of clothing, and thousands of items of furniture for needy families everywhere. Most important of all, OVER TWO THOUSAND souls have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. Several of those are now serving the Lord in ministry to the poor. And God is adding to the church every day, as we continue to preach the Gospel. By partnering hand in hand with many other Christian ministries and churches around the world that care for the needy, Marathon Ministry has become an International Ministry, providing for the poor in the Appalachian coalfields and the poorest of the poor worldwide. This has enabled us to use more hands to reach people for Jesus while also attending to specific needs and emergencies.