Alfred Ernest COOMBE

COOMBE, ALFRED ERNEST (b. Drouin, Vic, 5 July 1892; d. Greensborough, Vic, 17 Aug 1984). Melbourne businessman and evangelical leader.

Alfred Coombe was the senior partner in the large wool broking firm John Sanderson and Co. His work required him to travel extensively overseas, especially to India and England. In spite of the demands of his work and travel he devoted much time to a variety of Christian activities. A loyal Presbyterian he was for many years an elder at the Heidelberg church, and then in his latter years at the Kangaroo Ground church. His most important contribution was the time and leadership he gave to many non-denominational evangelical organisations.

Coombe was elected to the Council of MBI, and was its president 1939-1970. It was his faith and support which in good measure led to the founding in 1965 of the Christian Leaders Training College of Papua New Guinea as a daughter institution of MBI. In February 1936 he was one of the hand of young men who met after C H Nash's (q.v.) City Men's Bible Class and formed Campaigners For Christ, he was elected its president at that first meeting. He was chairman of the council of the Belgrave Heights Convention and frequently served as chairman of the convention meetings until he retired in 1967 aged 75. He also served as chairman of the council of the Australian branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Coombe's involvement with these, and other missionary organisations (eg Regions Beyond Missionary Union [of which he was president], Bible and Medical Missionary Fellowship) expressed his commitment to training young men and women for ministry, missions, evangelism and bible translation.

Even though he was a leading businessman he was a humble man: he was chairman of a small gospel hall mission in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy and ministered to down and outs there.

Coombe was a kindly, wealthy and generous man. He kept shorthand notes of business meetings, was precise and orderly in all that he did, and was a gracious yet firm chairman. He was also a man of vision and enthusiasm. For more than half a century he was one of a number of leading Christian business men who gave leadership to the evangelical movement in Melbourne.

DARRELL PAPROTH