A retirement celebration is set for Bishop Donald R. Cook, Sr., on Sunday, October 16, at 3 p.m. The service will take place during the 40th anniversary observance of Harvest Tabernacle Bible Church, located at 1746 E. 55th St., in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles City Council will honor Cook as well with a dedication square ceremony following the celebration. Representatives of Councilmember Curren D. Price will designate the intersection of 55th St. and Holmes Avenue as Bishop Cook Square.
“This is such an exciting time in the history of Harvest,” said Minister Michelle Neely, a longtime member.
Bishop Cook, who served 45 years in the ministry, is a graduate and valedictorian of the Los Angeles Police Department Technical Reserve Police Officer Program, served as Los Angeles County Sheriff’s first black, full‐time jail Protestant Chaplain.
A graduate of John C. Fremont High School in South L.A., Bishop Cook received his ministerial license from the Church of God in Christ. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Psychology at Pepperdine University and both his Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in Counseling at Eula Wesley University in Ruston, Louisiana.
In addition, Bishop Cook was conferred honorary Doctorate of Divinity degrees from the Los Angeles Bible College and Seminary and the Bible Believers College and Seminary in Hawthorne.
Cook’s successor, son Dr. Donald R. Cook II, will be installed as pastor on Sunday, November 13, at 4 p.m., at 88th Street Temple Church of God In Christ, 8825 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles.
Harvest Tabernacle Bible Church, Incorporated was established in 1976 by Bishop Cook. For the last 40 years, Harvest has established multiple ministries that benefit the immediate community, made financial contributions to several institutions around the world in support of members’ educational endeavors, as well as established foreign ministries around the globe.
For information, call Michelle Wilson at (310) 413-6018.