A Word About The Founder

David L. Cooper (1886-1965), the founder and former president of this society, was born and raised in Nashville, TN. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as His Saviour and Redeemer when a young man of nineteen and, soon after, felt God was calling him into the ministry. Immediately, he applied himself to a long period of intensive study and research in preparation for the Lord's service.

Dr. Cooper attended different institutions of learning - Tulane University, University of Louisville, University of Chicago and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - earning the usual college degrees, and later was awarded his Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)by Bob Jones University and served on its Board of Trustees. He also earned and received his Master's degree and his Doctor of Philosophy degree, majoring in the Semitic languages. His accomplishments in these studies became of utmost importance while doing extensive research in the field of theology.

In the spring of 1923 Dr. Cooper saw, through the scriptures, God's plan and purpose for the Jew. The thought of God's chosen people being in a state of rejection when that nation had been destined of the Lord to be a channel for world blessing so overwhelmed is heart that he promised the Lord he would resign his teaching position to enter Jewish work, if God so desired. Meanwhile Mrs. Cooper had also become burdened and she was praying that God would call her husband into a ministry for Israel. This unity of soul resulted in a new field of service for both.

First they enrolled in a new Jewish Missions course at Moody Bible Institute and Dr. Cooper also pursued special studies in the Hebrew, Aramaic and Babylonian (cuneiform) languages at the University of Chicago. Ayear or so later, a call was accepted from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles to become superintendent of their Jewish department. He served there until, because of the depression, cut backs were necessary at the Institute. It was then that the Lord led him into is real life's work.

While still at the Institute, Dr. Cooper wrote The Eternal God Revealing Himself to Suffering Israel and to Lost Humanity, his vision of Israel's need growing as he poured over the Hebrew Scriptures. This book was the first to be sent free to Jewish people from the new Society after it was established in 1930.

Through two trips to Palestine in 1936-37 and 1939, he was able to gain greater knowledge concerning the people, the land and their need of the Gospel. During his first trip abroad, nine month were devoted to extensive research in the magnificent libraries and museums of London, Paris, Rome (including the Pontifical and the Vatican), Athens and Jerusalem, studies that richly enhanced the revised and later volumes of the Messianic Series and other works.

A third trip was made to the Holy Land in December, 1949, this time to visit the new nation of Israel. Dr. Cooper remained in Israel seventy days, traversing its length and breadth and interviewing leaders in government, education and religion, thus adding much valuable information to his knowledge of God's chosen people, their destiny and place in the plan and purpose of God.

In the worldwide growth of the Society's ministry and then in the building of new quarters in 1950, he saw his early dreams materialize. Throughout his ministry the words of Paul in Romans 1:15,16 remained a constant challenge and reminder to Dr. Cooper of the particular place of the Jew in God's heart: "As much as in me is, I am ready to preach to gospel to you also...for I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [Gentile]."