| The old church on Galan St. in Bucyrus, Ohio. |
The Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church was organized on December 9, 1956 as the Zion Free Will Baptist Church on Hopley Avenue in what was
a converted coal building. This after congregating in the home of John and Rosie Redman in the mid 1950's. The congregation remained on
Hopley Avenue until 1964 when they constructed a new building on Galan Street across from the railroad tracks. The building was remodeled
several times until the vision of seeing a new church built was seen by former pastor, Brother Lewis Copley. The congregation once again
moved, this time from Galan Street back to Hopley Avenue, which is where the church is currently located. The following is a written
testimony from Pastor Copley about the events that took place before and during the move from Galan Street back to Hopley Avenue.
I, Lewis Copley, Pastor of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, after being elected by the vote of the membership, began having wonderful
worship services, which I thought of as a spiritual honeymoon. Soon after I was elected I noticed when I came from Mansfield I would pull into
the parking lot and notice heaviness over me. I thought it would let up, or go away, but it didn't. So I made up my mind that I would tell the
church just how I felt. I did so at the next business meeting. I told the church and they responded really well. We appointed a committee of
three to look for land to relocate and almost three months passed and no land. Then it happened, Brother Larry Parsons was going home one
evening from work and there was a sign, "Land for Sale, 2.9 acres." The prefect location, 1676 Hopley Ave. So Brother Larry took down the
phone number and called while the committee began to look into purchasing the land. On a Saturday evening, Brother John Schubert, Brother
Larry Parsons, and I went out to look at the land and as we walked up on the land, we discussed the asking price of $26,000. While I was
thinking on the price a small still voice said to me, "$20,000 would buy it." The brothers told the people in charge of our offer. They said ok. We
had only about $5,000 in the church treasury. A good old soul, Mr. Albright let us have $16,500.00. No paperwork, just pay 10% interest as we
could afford. Approximately 10 months later, we were blessed by God to have it all paid for. By this time the church was getting really
involved; car washes, garage sales, bake sales, etc. The church really pulled together to make a real profit. I remember saying to the church,
"If we that can afford it, place a tenth of what we clear into the treasury, we could build a church." The next thing I knew, the offering had went
up and I had to hurry to get my part in the offering. Along about this time, I woke up one Sunday morning and it seemed like I was out of my
body, but I knew I was still in bed. I was walking up the drive through the entrance. I went up to the sanctuary door and as I looked, I came to
myself and realized I was still in bed. What a charge! I couldn't wait to tell the church what God allowed me to see. We then elected Brother
John Schubert for our building chairman. Money was coming from everywhere, including the sale of our previous church. I was real concern of
losing some of our people not having a place to assemble. Just like God, a building in New Winchester came available. Brother Schubert had
just gone through heart surgery and everything was going beautifully. Sister Churches were working with us, especially the Bethel Free Will
Baptist Church. Brothers and Sisters were even giving us their income tax returns. Everyone was so free to give of themselves. What a
wonderful experience. I shall never forget it. This happened between the years of 1985-1987.
Praise God
(The vision of Brother Lewis Copley)
a converted coal building. This after congregating in the home of John and Rosie Redman in the mid 1950's. The congregation remained on
Hopley Avenue until 1964 when they constructed a new building on Galan Street across from the railroad tracks. The building was remodeled
several times until the vision of seeing a new church built was seen by former pastor, Brother Lewis Copley. The congregation once again
moved, this time from Galan Street back to Hopley Avenue, which is where the church is currently located. The following is a written
testimony from Pastor Copley about the events that took place before and during the move from Galan Street back to Hopley Avenue.
I, Lewis Copley, Pastor of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, after being elected by the vote of the membership, began having wonderful
worship services, which I thought of as a spiritual honeymoon. Soon after I was elected I noticed when I came from Mansfield I would pull into
the parking lot and notice heaviness over me. I thought it would let up, or go away, but it didn't. So I made up my mind that I would tell the
church just how I felt. I did so at the next business meeting. I told the church and they responded really well. We appointed a committee of
three to look for land to relocate and almost three months passed and no land. Then it happened, Brother Larry Parsons was going home one
evening from work and there was a sign, "Land for Sale, 2.9 acres." The prefect location, 1676 Hopley Ave. So Brother Larry took down the
phone number and called while the committee began to look into purchasing the land. On a Saturday evening, Brother John Schubert, Brother
Larry Parsons, and I went out to look at the land and as we walked up on the land, we discussed the asking price of $26,000. While I was
thinking on the price a small still voice said to me, "$20,000 would buy it." The brothers told the people in charge of our offer. They said ok. We
had only about $5,000 in the church treasury. A good old soul, Mr. Albright let us have $16,500.00. No paperwork, just pay 10% interest as we
could afford. Approximately 10 months later, we were blessed by God to have it all paid for. By this time the church was getting really
involved; car washes, garage sales, bake sales, etc. The church really pulled together to make a real profit. I remember saying to the church,
"If we that can afford it, place a tenth of what we clear into the treasury, we could build a church." The next thing I knew, the offering had went
up and I had to hurry to get my part in the offering. Along about this time, I woke up one Sunday morning and it seemed like I was out of my
body, but I knew I was still in bed. I was walking up the drive through the entrance. I went up to the sanctuary door and as I looked, I came to
myself and realized I was still in bed. What a charge! I couldn't wait to tell the church what God allowed me to see. We then elected Brother
John Schubert for our building chairman. Money was coming from everywhere, including the sale of our previous church. I was real concern of
losing some of our people not having a place to assemble. Just like God, a building in New Winchester came available. Brother Schubert had
just gone through heart surgery and everything was going beautifully. Sister Churches were working with us, especially the Bethel Free Will
Baptist Church. Brothers and Sisters were even giving us their income tax returns. Everyone was so free to give of themselves. What a
wonderful experience. I shall never forget it. This happened between the years of 1985-1987.
Praise God
(The vision of Brother Lewis Copley)
1956-59 Ransom Spence
1959-62 Delmer Daniels
1962-74 Ralph Parsons
1974-75 Joe Walters
1975-76 Ralph Parsons
1976-77 Clifton Thompson
1977-78 Ralph Parsons
1978-79 Joe Walters
1979-80 Lewis Copley
1980-81 Ralph Parsons
1981-82 Joe Walters
1982-07 Lewis Copley
2007-09 Eric Boggs
1959-62 Delmer Daniels
1962-74 Ralph Parsons
1974-75 Joe Walters
1975-76 Ralph Parsons
1976-77 Clifton Thompson
1977-78 Ralph Parsons
1978-79 Joe Walters
1979-80 Lewis Copley
1980-81 Ralph Parsons
1981-82 Joe Walters
1982-07 Lewis Copley
2007-09 Eric Boggs
| The early congregation of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church when it's location was in a converted coal building on Hopley Ave. |
| Lewis Copley |
| History of Pastors |
| This picture is of the new sanctuary, which was finished in 1987, and is the current home for worship for the church. |
| Eric Boggs |
1956-72 No Asst. Pastor
1972-74 Joe Walters
1974-75 Dave Parsons
1975-76 Clifton Thompson
1976-78 Joe Walters
1978-90 No Asst. Pastor
1990-03 Charly Nolen
2003-06 Chris Stewart
2006-07 Eric Boggs
2007-09 Lyle Arnett
1972-74 Joe Walters
1974-75 Dave Parsons
1975-76 Clifton Thompson
1976-78 Joe Walters
1978-90 No Asst. Pastor
1990-03 Charly Nolen
2003-06 Chris Stewart
2006-07 Eric Boggs
2007-09 Lyle Arnett
| History of Assistant Pastors |
| Lyle Arnett |
| Chris Stewart |
| Joe Walters |
| Charley Nolen |
The history of Pastors in the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church is a rich one. After congregating in the home of John and Rosie Redman, the
Church was organized as the Zion Free Will Baptist Church with Ransom Spence as the first Pastor. Reportedly, there was a debate as to
whether the church would be Free Will or Pentecostal. After Brother Spence served as Pastor for three years, Delmer Daniels took over as
Pastor. He sered for an additional three years. The congregation went through growing pains in those first six years, but then Brother Ralph
Parsons and his family moved to the area from West Virginia. It was under Brother Parsons that the Church began to grow. The first real
building project was accomplished under Brother Parsons leadership at the former Galan St. location. Brother Ralph served as Pastor for 17
years and saw many of our Saints saved. One of those individuals he witnessed being converted was Evangelist Joe Walters. Brother Ralphâ
€™s ministry was blessed. Two of his sons are ministers, Brother Ronnie who Pastors the Willard Free Will Baptist Church, and Dave who
Pastors the Zion's Refuge Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio. He also has two sons who are Deacons; Brother Larry who has been a Deacon at
the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church since 1974 and Brother Paul who was just set aside as a Deacon at the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church
in 2008. One of Ralph’s daughters, Joy, married Brother Fred Crank, a minister who announced his calling and was ordained while a member
of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, and now Pastors a Free Will Baptist Church in North Carolina. After 17 years and four stents as Pastor,
Brother Ralph moved on and currently attends the Marion Enterprise Baptist Church in Marion, Ohio. Brother Walters, who has been a life long
member of the Church, filled in as Pastor in 1974. Shortly after being saved in 1963, Brother Joe announced his calling and was ordained in
1968. He served as Pastor for one year on three different occasions and was the first recorded Assistant Pastor in 1972. Brother Clifton
Thompson was put in as Pastor in 1976 after serving as Assistant Pastor for one year in 1975. Brother Thompson served as Pastor for the Holly
Fork Free Will Baptist Church in Kentucky before moving north because of work. He was living in Marion at the time when he took over as
Assistant Pastor. He now resides in Mansfield, Ohio and attends the Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. The Church was in need of stability and
one of the more prominate ministers in the Northern Ohio Conference, Brother Lewis Copley, was living in Mansfield at the time and had
experience as Pastor, including stints as Pastor with the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church, the Fleming Ave. Free Will Baptist Church, and the
Shelby Free Will Baptist Church. Brother Copley took over the job as Pastor of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church in 1979 for one year before
filling the role permitly in 1982 for 25 consecutive years. Those were the most fruitful years of the Church to date. Under his ministry as Pastor
of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, there have been countless men of God who have announced their callings, including his son Brother
Jerry Copley who attends the Shelby First Free Will Baptist Church, Brother Chris Stewart who Pastors Freedom Fellowship Church, Brother
Fred Crank who Pastors a Free Will Baptist Church in North Carolina, Brother Arnold Rife who attends a church in Michigan, Brother Johnny
Schubert the III, Brother Jeff Parsons who attends Freedom Fellowship, and both Brother Eric Boggs and Brother Lyle Arnett who currently
serve the Church as Pastor and Assistant Pastor. Brother Copley was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the mid 1990’s. Although
this condition slowed Brother Copley over the years, you were hard pressed to find a better preacher than Lewis. Brother Copley also saw the
second large building project in the Church’s history, building the new church on Hopley Ave., which is where the church is currently
located and has enjoyed worship in for over 20 years. In 2007 Brother Copley stepped down as Pastor, serving the Church as such for 26
blessed years. After serving as Assistant Pastor for one year, Brother Eric Boggs was asked to serve as Pastor beginning in 2007. Since
Brother Boggs has taken over as Pastor, a new minister has announced his calling. Brother Justin Feight has begun preaching as of 2008 and
continues the long rich history of spirit filled men of God to be groomed while attending the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church.
Although there were many men of God who assisted the Pastor, the position did not become official until 1972. The first was Brother Joe
Walters, who served as Assistant on two occasions. When Brother Walters filled in as Pastor, Brother Dave Parsons served as Assistant
Pastor for one year. He was the son of Pastor Ralph Parsons. Brother Clifton Thompson moved from Kentucky to Marion, Ohio and then served
as Assistant for one year before becoming the Pastor after Brother Ralph Parsons stepped down as Pastor for a second time. Brother Joe
Walters then filled in as Assistant Pastor for two more years before the church decided to go without an Assistant Pastor for 12 years. That
was until Pastor Lewis Copley requested that the Church consider asking Brother Charlie Nolen to come and serve as Assistant Pastor.
Brother Nolen, who at that time was a member of the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church, was a good friend of Pastor Lewis. He served as
Assistant for 13 years, In 2003 Brother Nolen went on to be with the Lord. Brother Chris Stewart was then nominated as Assistant, which he
faithfully served for three years before leaving to build a new church in the Caldonia, Ohio area. Brother Eric Boggs was then asked to be the
new Assistant, which he was for only one year before stepping into the vacated Pastor’s position. The current Assistant Pastor’s
position is being served by Brother Lyle Arnett.
This is only scratching the surface of the rich history of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, and as more information is gathered, this brief
history of ministers will only continue to grow. Please check back in soon.
Church was organized as the Zion Free Will Baptist Church with Ransom Spence as the first Pastor. Reportedly, there was a debate as to
whether the church would be Free Will or Pentecostal. After Brother Spence served as Pastor for three years, Delmer Daniels took over as
Pastor. He sered for an additional three years. The congregation went through growing pains in those first six years, but then Brother Ralph
Parsons and his family moved to the area from West Virginia. It was under Brother Parsons that the Church began to grow. The first real
building project was accomplished under Brother Parsons leadership at the former Galan St. location. Brother Ralph served as Pastor for 17
years and saw many of our Saints saved. One of those individuals he witnessed being converted was Evangelist Joe Walters. Brother Ralphâ
€™s ministry was blessed. Two of his sons are ministers, Brother Ronnie who Pastors the Willard Free Will Baptist Church, and Dave who
Pastors the Zion's Refuge Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio. He also has two sons who are Deacons; Brother Larry who has been a Deacon at
the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church since 1974 and Brother Paul who was just set aside as a Deacon at the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church
in 2008. One of Ralph’s daughters, Joy, married Brother Fred Crank, a minister who announced his calling and was ordained while a member
of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, and now Pastors a Free Will Baptist Church in North Carolina. After 17 years and four stents as Pastor,
Brother Ralph moved on and currently attends the Marion Enterprise Baptist Church in Marion, Ohio. Brother Walters, who has been a life long
member of the Church, filled in as Pastor in 1974. Shortly after being saved in 1963, Brother Joe announced his calling and was ordained in
1968. He served as Pastor for one year on three different occasions and was the first recorded Assistant Pastor in 1972. Brother Clifton
Thompson was put in as Pastor in 1976 after serving as Assistant Pastor for one year in 1975. Brother Thompson served as Pastor for the Holly
Fork Free Will Baptist Church in Kentucky before moving north because of work. He was living in Marion at the time when he took over as
Assistant Pastor. He now resides in Mansfield, Ohio and attends the Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. The Church was in need of stability and
one of the more prominate ministers in the Northern Ohio Conference, Brother Lewis Copley, was living in Mansfield at the time and had
experience as Pastor, including stints as Pastor with the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church, the Fleming Ave. Free Will Baptist Church, and the
Shelby Free Will Baptist Church. Brother Copley took over the job as Pastor of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church in 1979 for one year before
filling the role permitly in 1982 for 25 consecutive years. Those were the most fruitful years of the Church to date. Under his ministry as Pastor
of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, there have been countless men of God who have announced their callings, including his son Brother
Jerry Copley who attends the Shelby First Free Will Baptist Church, Brother Chris Stewart who Pastors Freedom Fellowship Church, Brother
Fred Crank who Pastors a Free Will Baptist Church in North Carolina, Brother Arnold Rife who attends a church in Michigan, Brother Johnny
Schubert the III, Brother Jeff Parsons who attends Freedom Fellowship, and both Brother Eric Boggs and Brother Lyle Arnett who currently
serve the Church as Pastor and Assistant Pastor. Brother Copley was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the mid 1990’s. Although
this condition slowed Brother Copley over the years, you were hard pressed to find a better preacher than Lewis. Brother Copley also saw the
second large building project in the Church’s history, building the new church on Hopley Ave., which is where the church is currently
located and has enjoyed worship in for over 20 years. In 2007 Brother Copley stepped down as Pastor, serving the Church as such for 26
blessed years. After serving as Assistant Pastor for one year, Brother Eric Boggs was asked to serve as Pastor beginning in 2007. Since
Brother Boggs has taken over as Pastor, a new minister has announced his calling. Brother Justin Feight has begun preaching as of 2008 and
continues the long rich history of spirit filled men of God to be groomed while attending the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church.
Although there were many men of God who assisted the Pastor, the position did not become official until 1972. The first was Brother Joe
Walters, who served as Assistant on two occasions. When Brother Walters filled in as Pastor, Brother Dave Parsons served as Assistant
Pastor for one year. He was the son of Pastor Ralph Parsons. Brother Clifton Thompson moved from Kentucky to Marion, Ohio and then served
as Assistant for one year before becoming the Pastor after Brother Ralph Parsons stepped down as Pastor for a second time. Brother Joe
Walters then filled in as Assistant Pastor for two more years before the church decided to go without an Assistant Pastor for 12 years. That
was until Pastor Lewis Copley requested that the Church consider asking Brother Charlie Nolen to come and serve as Assistant Pastor.
Brother Nolen, who at that time was a member of the Dean Rd. Free Will Baptist Church, was a good friend of Pastor Lewis. He served as
Assistant for 13 years, In 2003 Brother Nolen went on to be with the Lord. Brother Chris Stewart was then nominated as Assistant, which he
faithfully served for three years before leaving to build a new church in the Caldonia, Ohio area. Brother Eric Boggs was then asked to be the
new Assistant, which he was for only one year before stepping into the vacated Pastor’s position. The current Assistant Pastor’s
position is being served by Brother Lyle Arnett.
This is only scratching the surface of the rich history of the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church, and as more information is gathered, this brief
history of ministers will only continue to grow. Please check back in soon.
| HISTORY OF THE BUCYRUS FREE WILL BAPTIST PASTORS |
| Clifton Thompson |
| Ransom Spence |
| Ralph Parsons |
| Dave Parsons |
Hub Whited
Joe Walters
John Schubert
Larry Parsons
Arnold Rife
Fred Crank
Bobby Walters
Joe Walters
John Schubert
Larry Parsons
Arnold Rife
Fred Crank
Bobby Walters
| History of Deacons |
| Hub Whited |
| Fred Crank |
| Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church ~ Home of Youth On The Rock ~ |
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Copyright 2009
Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church
All rights reserved
Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church
All rights reserved