Al Cole serves as the executive director of the Atlanta office of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families.
Prior to joining the Coalition, Al was a writer and editor for more than 25 years. He is the author of The Shadow Christian: A Parable About Men, God, and Sexual Temptation, an inside look at the spiritual journey of an ordinary man and woman forced to confront the consequences of sexual sin in their marriage. Based on the personal struggle of Al and his wife, Linda, this simple story clearly demonstrates the restorative power of God’s grace. Al and Linda now deliver their testimony as part of the Coalition’s outreach to churches in Atlanta that focuses on forming support groups for men and women who seek healing from sexual brokenness. The Shadow Christian is being used as a resource for these groups.
Al holds a master’s degree in public affairs journalism from The American University in Washington, D.C. During his 15 years in the nation’s capital, he covered everything from public policy to pop culture, working as a reporter in the Washington Bureau of the Houston Post and later as senior editor for Modern Maturity magazine, the largest consumer publication in the country, with a circulation of 23 million. Al and Linda returned to their hometown of New Orleans in 2003, only to be displaced two years later by Hurricane Katrina. Following the storm, they lived in the panhandle of Florida, moving four times in 11 months before eventually feeling led by the Lord to relocate to the Atlanta area. They have been married for 27 years and have three grown children.
Al serves on the men’s ministry leadership board at his home church in Marietta, Georgia, and teaches small group and Sunday School classes. An ardent sports fan, he has organized and coached adult coed softball teams at churches in Maryland and Virginia, and played on coed and men’s softball teams in Georgia.
To schedule Al and Linda to speak, contact al@nationalcoalition.org.
Al Cole
