Alvin Coon was born in Clairton, Pennsylvania.  He has been an active church member since the age of twelve.  He served as president of the Young Adult Ushers; worked with the Missionaries; and sang with the choirs.  He was Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School and was secretary of the Deacon Board for five years at Mt. Olive First Baptist Church in Clairton, PA.

He graduated from Clairton High School.  Alvin was drafted into the United States Army and served during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.  United States Steel in Clairton employed him from 1948 to 1978.  He retired after thirty years of service.

Alvin married Wilma White Coon on August 12, 1955.  She preceded him in death on August 6, 2009.  They have 2 daughters and 2 sons-in-law, 2 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

On January 1, 1967 he awakened his wife and told her about the vision that God had called him to preach.  She wasn’t surprised because she knew with his dedication, his love for people, his deep faith, and his winning and dynamic personality that he would make it.

Pastor Coon graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary and The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh.  He also attended classes at the Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 

He received his license to preach May 21, 1967.  His ordination was held May 31, 1968 and he was installed as the pastor at Morning Star Baptist Church in Scottdale, PA on July 14, 1968.  He was the pastor for 8 ½ years.  He assumed pastoral duties January 23, 1977 at St. John The Evangelist Baptist Church in Hazelwood, PA.

He was the Moderator At Large for the Allegheny Union Baptist Association (A.U.B.A.); treasurer of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity, Inc (2004 to 2005);  assistant treasurer of the Baptist Ministers Conference (2002.); past president of the Baptist Ministers Conference from 1983 to 1985; Assistant Treasurer of the Allegheny Union Baptist Association (1989); and he served on the Committee to elect the late Byrd Brown for Mayor of Pittsburgh.  He was an Evangelistic Committee Member of the Baptist Ministers Conference; Chairman of the Baptist Foreign Mission Bureau of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. Pittsburgh and Vicinity from 1989 to 1990; and he was elected Housing Committee Chairman in 1990 for the 1992 National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Pastor Coon received an award for outstanding support to the Foreign Mission.  Reverend Ronald King Hill, Executive Director, Baptist Foreign Mission Bureau, USA Incorporated, presented this award at the Sunday morning worship service on February 18, 1990 at St. John The Evangelist Baptist Church.  Pastor Coon has received much recognition and numerous awards throughout the years, but he has remained a humble man.

Pastor Coon always set a good example as a man, husband, father, grandfather, father in law, friend and pastor.  He lived what he preached. On October 31, 2015 Reverend Alvin Coon retired after serving faithfully for 38 years and became Pastor Emeritus until his passing on July 10, 2018.