Bill and Jeanne Kopas of the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches.
The Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches has called Bill Kopas to serve as its state representative.
Bill has been associate pastor of Camden Baptist Church, Wellington, Ohio, since 2001. “Throughout these years, he has been an active, considerate, cheerful, and fruitful participant in our association,” the OARBC says.
Churches of the OARBC voted Bill into the role during the association’s annual conference October 20–22. Taking place at Northfield (Ohio) Baptist Church, the conference was cohosted by Northfield Baptist and Christ Baptist Church, Cleveland, Ohio.
“Attendees enjoyed rich fellowship and meaningful times in the Word as OARBC pastors brought strong Biblical teaching that centered on the conference theme, ‘On Purpose,’” says Mark Ashley, pastor of Northfield Baptist.
Subtitled “Where Intention Produces Action,” the conference theme centered attendees’ “hearts and minds on the very purposes for which [the OARBC] exists—strengthening churches, encouraging pastors, and advancing the gospel together across Ohio,” wrote Mark Ashley and Chris Hinton, pastor of Christ Baptist Church, in a letter to the churches.
Addressing that theme, pastors of OARBC churches spoke on the pillars of the state association: evangelism, fellowship, doctrine, and church planting.
Worship was led jointly by musicians from both host churches, and times of connection were shared over lunches, dessert receptions, and a breakfast sponsored by Regular Baptist camps in Ohio.
Main session speakers were David Burman Jr., lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Elyria, Ohio; David Ryan, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Canton, Ohio; Jeff Dilyard, teaching pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Smithville, Ohio; Ken Dockery, pastor of Chardon (Ohio) Baptist Church; and Chuck Pausley Sr., state representative of the OARBC.
Chuck will retire at the end of 2025 after serving as state representative since 2017. Attendees gathered for a dessert celebration honoring Chuck and his wife, Linda, who have served the association “with love and devotion,” noted Mark Ashley and Chris Hinton.
“God answered the prayers of the Council of 12 and the OARBC family to provide the next state representative in a timely fashion with a seamless transition,” the OARBC says.
Bill, Chuck’s successor, will begin serving in the role January 1. He “understands and supports the value of relationships and partnerships among sister churches,” the OARBC says.
Bill remarks, “It is my prayer that God may use the years ahead to deepen our dependence upon Him and our interdependence upon each other.”
