Dr. Lincoln and Apryl Coffie share a love story divinely on time
By DEMI GUILLORY | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
“Are you here to see me?”
It is the question Dr. Lincoln Coffie asked his wife, Apryl, when he first laid eyes on her in the Montego Bay Airport, traveling home to Jamaica from New York, where he was practicing medicine in January 2011.
The trip home was supposed to be nothing out of the ordinary — Lincoln was anticipating spending time with family and, in his own words, “I was going to party.”
Far from his missionary work at that point in his life, he had packed everything up in his Great Neck apartment after the ending of a long-term relationship, and a “reset” on familiar territory with some fun as the only expectation.
Then the chance encounter with Apryl as he waited for his sister’s delayed flight from Canada became his biggest and best distraction, ultimately changing the trajectory of his life. Reflecting on that fateful moment, Lincoln admitted his bold approach took some courage.
“It was kind of uncharacteristic of me,” he said about his tactic to get Apryl’s attention. “I think she thought I was crazy. Once I started talking to her, I’m like, ‘Wow, she’s very interesting.’”
No less intrigued but guarded, Apryl did not hide her initial skepticism and struggled with understanding Lincoln’s true intentions in wanting to pursue her.
“About three or four years prior (to meeting Lincoln), I had literally just walked away as well,” she recalled. “I came out of a very horrible heartbreak, and at this time, I don’t even think I was thinking about love.”
Her plans home in Jamaica were a stark contrast.
“I was already a very devoted Christian. I was in Bible school at the time and was on a journey of healing,” Apryl added.
Romance was not on her radar, but Lincoln was determined to change her mind and ended up capturing her heart.
“I said to her, ‘I want to take you out to dinner,’” he fondly remembered.
Her response?
“You have to date me and the whole church.”
Lincoln was happy to oblige.
“I said, ‘I’ll take you, your pastor, and everybody at the church just to take you out.’”
The trip Lincoln had envisioned quickly evolved into something far better than he ever imagined.
“My whole focus while I was there became talking to her,” he said.
They exchanged numbers, talked every day on the phone for hours until they could physically see each other again, and Lincoln’s mission became successful: Lincoln and Apryl were married just three and a half months after their airport meeting and began their life together in a small apartment in Jamaica — a humble beginning to a beautiful love story that has spanned fifteen years and two children together.
What others may see as a happy coincidence, the Coffies realize now was divine spiritual planning. As Lincoln was awaiting his sister’s arrival, Apryl was anticipating seeing her father for the first time since she was 10 years old. Apryl’s dad and Lincoln’s sister were on the same flight that day, which was delayed due to weather.
“We would have literally missed each other had the flight not stayed in the air,” Apryl said. “In those 30 minutes, a divine moment happened.”
With Christ at the center of everything they do, service to others and each other is what ultimately sustains their relationship.
Service to others is what led the Coffies to Killeen, after Lincoln felt led to return to his Army roots, having served at Fort Hood as his first duty station.
They founded Open Fire International Fellowship Church in November 2012. While Lincoln serves as senior pastor, Apryl, the co-pastor, manages the church’s day-to-day business.
But Lincoln doesn’t just serve the community’s spiritual needs, he also serves their medical needs.
He opened Killeen Family Medicine and Urgent Care Clinic in September, filling a long void of adequate, essential healthcare in the area and providing residents with crucial access to medical care. His medical practice now sees roughly 500 patients every month.
“I truly enjoy meeting the needs of my patients and providing access to quality healthcare,” Lincoln said. “When my patients are happy and cared for, that brings me real joy and fulfillment.”
Balancing a medical practice and a church can be demanding, but the Coffies still prioritize time with each other. The “secret” to striking the perfect work-life balance, they say, is no secret at all.
“It’s being intentional, both of us, about it,” Lincoln said.
For Apryl, her love language is handling the small things because she knows they make the biggest difference.
“My husband is such a pioneer and visionary, and he’s always leading. I took the pressure off of him to have to feel like he has to bear the burden to do time for us,” she said. “I work with his schedule and fit all of our lives in it.”
Apryl pencils in the date for their desired activity, and Lincoln, with a clear schedule, is ready to go.
“I will plan dates and be like, ‘OK honey, today, I’m going to pick you up. We’re going on a date, and he’ll just get ready,” she said. “We’re also always working together (in missionary) and are making life decisions together, which works in our favor. Our lives are not separate from each other — he constantly keeps me in the loop and presents everything to me. ‘Honey, here’s my schedule, here’s where I’m going to be, here’s where you can find me.’”
Date nights may sometimes look as mundane as doing the budget or financial planning for the family, but the Coffies find fulfillment, not in what they do, but simply being with each other because they realize anytime they’re together is quality time.
“When we put our minds and our hearts together, we’re able to accomplish far more than we ever could individually,” Lincoln said. “My wife, in particular, is a constant source of inspiration — she always gives her best, and that motivates me to do the same.”
