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We are pleased to introduce this edition of

“Dedicated Disciples.” 

Dedicated Disciples is a ministry

of the Elders of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

in Wheeling, WV that seeks to shine a light

on one of the lives of exemplary faithfulness

found within our congregation. 

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It is the hope of our Elders that we can:

1) heap honor upon the faithful, and

2) inspire others into the same lasting faithfulness.

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This season's honoree is Barbara Cole.
 

Summer 2026 

 

Dedicated Disciples is a ministry of the Elders of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Wheeling, WV that seeks to shine a light on one of the lives of exemplary faithfulness found within our congregation.  It is the hope of our Elders that we can: 1) heap honor upon the faithful, and 2) inspire others into the same lasting faithfulness.  Our current honoree is Barbara Cole.  

 

Whether you are a lifelong member or are a recent visitor to First Christian Church, you know Barbara Cole. For 26 years, Barbara has been a Disciple of Christ and a welcoming face on Sunday mornings. She was born, baptized, and raised Baptist, attending church every Sunday. After her marriage to Steve, she became a member of First Christian and raised two daughters, Lindy and Ashley.  
 

Barbara has always been a very active member of the church. Although she is currently taking a year off, Barbara has served as an elder for 12 years. She has also served as deacon, president of the board, and in hospitality. Barbara still helps with fellowship hours and spends a lot of time beautifully decorating our church for different seasons and celebrations. One of Barbara’s favorite ways to is calling to talk and check in with members of the congregation.Barbara has many fond memories of beloved church members who have passed away. She cherishes “their kind words and the thank you’s for what you did for them at church.” She also appreciates all they did to shape and build the foundation of our serve church.  
 

When asked about her heroes of the faith, Barbara said, “My momma would have to be my hero.” She credits her mother for her drive to help others and help within the church. Growing up, Barbara watched her mother faithfully attend church, always helping others, and never expecting anything in return. Her mother would read bible stories to her as a child and quoted bible verses to her up until her passing. One of the last things Barbara’s mother shared with her was to “get your ducks in a row because when God comes and you aren’t ready, you’ll miss the boat.” Her mother’s wise words have made a lasting impact on Barbara and continue to inspire her today. 

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Barbara truly believes in the power of prayer. She knows that God answers prayers, but “in his own time” and that she just needs to “believe and have patience.” Barbara sees God at work in her life in how he helps her to continue learning and growing. Although it takes time, she knows he is listening. In her own advice to younger generations, Barbara encourages being active in the church, taking leadership roles, helping with projects, and participating in programs. She also encourages taking care of and looking after one another. Most importantly, “keep the faith and believe that God is good.”