OUR TEAM

Rev. John Cooper Jr is pastor and executive director of Niagara Gospel Mission, Niagara Falls, New York where his family has lived and owned businesses since the late 1800s. John and his wife Liz have four boys: John Wayne, Micheal, Samuel, and Nehemiah.

An Army veteran, John served in the 25th Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division as an Infantry Sniper Section Leader from 2015 to 2021, and completed one combat tour to Afghanistan. In 2024, he received the Military Hero of the Year Award from the Red Cross of Western New York.  John continues to minister to the veteran and military population, authoring the Warfighter’s Catechism, which wrestles with spiritual questions faced by soldiers on the front lines and hosting the Godly Grunt Podcast

In John’s leadership role at Niagara Gospel Mission, he directs a dedicated staff of 15, serving the homeless community of Niagara Falls and Niagara County. The Niagara Gospel Mission provides programs and services for more than 100 men experiencing homelessness, including dedicated housing and programs for veterans. The Niagara Gospel Mission is currently in a capital campaign that will fund a women and children’s center for the homeless by 2026. The Mission’s vision, driven by John, is to rebuild the City of Niagara Falls by reviving hearts and rebuilding lives.

John is a graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. He has a Bachelor’s of Pastoral Ministry from Clark’s Summit University, a diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Alison, is an ordained Reformed Baptist minister and is currently working toward his Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from Liberty University.

To contact John Cooper, email info@niagaragrm.org. 
To reach John directly, phone 716-205-8805, Ext. 103.