Herbert Cooper to receive Evangel’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

September 22, 2009
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications (417) 865-2815, ext. 7292

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Rev. Herbert Cooper will be presented the Evangel University Alumni Association’s 2009 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award on Friday, Oct. 9, during homecoming chapel service.

“Nominees for the Young Alumnus Award must be under the age of 36 and have made significant contributions to their chosen career field, church, community, state, nation, or to Evangel University,” says Chuck Cox, director of alumni relations.

A 1997 graduate of Evangel, the Rev. Cooper is pastor of People’s Church in Oklahoma City, a multicultural church that has one of the fastest-growing congregations in the nation.

From its beginning in May 2002, with only eight people gathered in the Cooper’s living room, the church now serves a congregation of approximately 2,600 in three identical Sunday services.

While at Evangel, Cooper was a football scholarship athlete, full-time student, and a part-time evangelist. Every open weekend was spent on the road, ministering in churches.

Immediately following graduation from Evangel in 1997, he followed his calling to full-time evangelism and launched Herbert Cooper Ministries. Shortly thereafter, he married his college sweetheart, Tiffany (Rust ’00). Capitalizing on his background, Cooper quickly became in demand as a speaker at revivals, youth camps and conferences across America and around the world.

After five years on the road, the couple moved to Oklahoma City, Okla., to start People’s Church. In 2004, People’s Church purchased 50 acres; in 2006, they moved into a 17,500-square-foot facility; in 2009 they added a 44,000-square-foot facility that includes an 1,800 seat auditorium.

The Coopers are the proud parents of Cale, 5; Cade, 4; Caris, 3; and Case, 1.

On May 24, 2009, Cooper graced the cover of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel. (To read the story, visit http://tpe.ag.org/, click on “Previous Issues,” then go to May 24, 2009.)

In August, the Rev. Cooper was one of the evening speakers at the Assemblies of God General Council 2009 conference in Orlando, Fla.

For additional information, visit Herbert Cooper’s blog at www.herbertcooper.com, or the church’s Web site at www.peopleschurch.tv.