As a young boy, Ronnie invited Jesus into his heart and soon after that began to realize that God had gifted him with a voice to sing His praises.  He spent many Saturday nights in the next several years attending "all night gospel singings" listening to the close, four part harmony of The Harvesters Quartet, The Statesmen, and The Blackwood Brothers.  His heart's desire was to sing in a gospel quartet.  While in high school that dream became a reality.  Ronnie's high school choral director Edsel Coats, asked him if he's like to sing in a male quartet and represent the school.  Guess what his answer was?  Edsel had played for the Blackwood Brothers off and on down through the years and his dad, the late J. B. Coats was the writer of the great song "Where Could I Go But To The Lord".  It wasn't until some time later that Ronnie realized that not only was J. B. Coats a published writer but Edsel also.  Both of them had many, many songs in the old Stamps/Baxter series.  Ronnie sang, Edsel accompanied and arranged music for The Troubadours quartet.  Later the name was changed to The Trailsmen.  They traveled quite extensively for several years and God blessed those days.  Ronnie was now into his college years and the guys went their separate ways.  It wasn't long before Ronnie was asked to help begin a new group, The Professors.  How about that name?   Ironically, each of the members were actually in the educational field but far from being professors!  The name came from "professing Christ through gospel music".  For the next several years, Ronnie traveled with The Professors and again, God blessed.  During those years with the quartets, Ronnie traveled as lead singer and together they recorded five albums  It was during those years that God began to develop Ronnie into a songwriter.  Ronnie gained notoriety for his song "You're the Only Bible, That Some People Read" and since that time, it has been recorded by several other artists.  About this time Ronnie began to feel God leading him into a solo ministry.  During the years as a soloist, Ronnie has recorded thirteen solo albums, one album with his family, and two videos.  He has also published a songbook entitled FROM THE PEN OF RONNIE COTTINGHAM featuring songs he's authored down through the years.  

Seeing the need to broaden his efforts to spread the gospel and minister to families, Ronnie and his wife Beverly now spend at least one weekend each month leading a marriage enrichment conference entitled HOW TO KEEP THE HONEY IN THE HONEYMOON.   God continues to bless this phase of his ministry in strengthening the family.   Having a part in leading mission groups to Russia, Ukraine, and Romania is at the focal point of this ministry.  Each year the Cottinghams also lead a tour to the Holy Land and Ronnie sings along the way!

Ronnie Cottingham has taken seriously the call to use his talents for the Lord!  The call of God on his life is real!

The ministry of Ronnie Cottingham . . . encouraging, inspirational, and uplifting!