Our Staff & Leadership Team
The staff and leadership team at Copeland Baptist Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for each other. If you have any questions for our staff, feel free to reach out by email copelandbaptistchurch@pobox.com
James Kerns Sr- Senior Pastor
James has lived in St. Joseph all his life. He married his beautiful bride Leesa on August 12, 1993. James and Leesa have five awesome son who has blessed them with fifteen grandchildren. James surrendered his life to Jesus Christ in 1995 and was called into ministry in 1997. He has been serving as Senior Pastor at Copeland Baptist Church since November 2015. His life verse is Proverb 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Bonita White - Ministry Assistant
Lori McClain - Worship Leader
Leadership Team
Deacons:
Jim Rogers
Scott Pendleton
DJ McBride
Greg Dietz - (Deacon-in-training)
Trustees:
Ronnie Auxier
Jim Rogers
Jim Moran
Jerold Holcomb
Dennis Owsley
Our Beliefs
At our church, you will hear the word “gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The gospel is not merely a message that needs to be shared with non-Christians, but also with Christians. It is not something that mature Christians move on from, but rather something that they move deeper into. The gospel is the lens in which we should view theology, ministry, and all aspects of life.
The Apostle Paul defined the word “gospel” concisely in 1st Corinthians 15:3-5 when he wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Simply put, the gospel is all about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the implications it has for us.
