R.E. Cooper Meritorious Award | ELEVATING HUMANITY

The Reverend Doctor Reuben Edward Cooper, Senior was born in Georgetown, Exuma, one of the most picturesque islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, to the parentage of George and Cecelia Cooper. His educational accomplishments at primary and secondary school levels were received in his native hometown; thereafter, he prepared others in their fundamental educational values.

Dr. R.E. Cooper migrated to the island of New Providence the capital of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, early in his life where he continued his studies passing General Certificates of Education from the University of London at "A" level.

Fully convinced that the Almighty God had called him to the Gospel Ministry, R.E. Cooper, studied under the late Reverend Enoch Beckford and later traveled to the United States of America to prepare himself for the sacred ministry of the Church. Just prior to his graduation from Seminary, he was ordained from the Spruce Street Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee on May 22, 1939, where he had served as a student minister. Several days later, he was graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. He furthered his studies at Fisk University Minister’s School and, in 1966, received the honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Florida Theological Seminary in Lakeland, Florida. For Dr. Cooper and his family, and for Bahamians everywhere, these were noteworthy achievements. They made all who knew him proud by association!

After graduating Dr. Cooper's plans were to return to home and give leadership to the Baptist work within our nation. On returning home, one of his first undertakings was to organize The Mission Baptist Church, which came into existence on December 29, 1940.

One of the pivotal points in Dr. Cooper's ministry was the providential privilege and national honour to speak at the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service sponsored by The Bahamas Christian Council on the celebration of the Independence of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas on Sunday, July 8, 1973 at Clifford Park, Nassau, Bahamas.

Addressing a regal audience of visitors and Bahamians who were poised for liberation, Dr. Cooper took his sermonic text from: 1 Peter 2:9 and declared that God wanted us to become a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people.

In retrospect, Dr. Cooper, decades later from his vantage point, had unparalleled foresight which he manifested in his admonition to the Bahamian people with these words. "For ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an Holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you our of darkness into his marvelous light."

In his sermon, he reinforced to Bahamians from all corners of the Commonwealth to "be sober and walk worthy of your high calling; be holy, be careful of your manner of life." For spiritual nutrition he emphasized that the food upon with Christians are to be fed must be sincere - the Holy Scriptures.

Dr. Cooper loved his Baptist faith and country, and served faithfully for forty (40) years. In recognition or his untiring national, international, denominational and interdenominational service, public and community affairs he was appointed as Justice of The Peace of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Member of The British Empire, which medal was presented by the Queen of England, Elizabeth II.
Dr. Cooper believed in the brotherhood of man, His words reinforcing this belief still re-echo today: "...the man in distress is my brother...my sister. Irrespective of where he was born, I must hear the cry." Thus this Bahamian hero, scholar, theologian extraordinaire, ecclesiastical eagle, homiletician and social reformer spent his life ELEVATING HUMANITY.