A Sunday on Walnut Street
Copeland Baptist Church meets in a familiar brick building on Walnut Street in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the doors open early and the morning unfolds in steady rhythm. The address, 2009 Walnut Street, has been the gathering point for a congregation that describes its purpose in three short phrases: CONNECT people to CHRIST, CONNECT with each other, and CONNECT with the community. Every part of the church's weekly schedule is built around that idea, and first-time guests find a pace designed for unhurried arrival and real conversation.
The church identifies as Baptist and is pastored by James Kerns Sr., a St. Joseph native who has served as senior pastor since November 2015. Under his leadership the church has organized its life around the gospel, Connection Groups, and a family of ministries that reach from newborns to retirees.
Sunday Rhythm: Call to Worship, Connection Groups, and Morning Service
Copeland's Sunday morning is structured around three gatherings, each with its own purpose. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with Call to Worship, a thirty-minute window set aside for prayer before any teaching begins. The church describes this time as an opportunity to pray for God's wisdom, for the church and its leadership, for families, and for the leadership of the city, state, and country.
At 9:30 a.m. the Connection Groups meet for an hour. These small groups function as Copeland's Sunday school, with classes for adults, youth, and children, plus a nursery for the youngest babies. After the Connection Groups conclude, the congregation gathers at 10:45 a.m. for the Sunday morning worship service.
Those who would like to follow along from home can find the services livestreamed through Copeland Baptist Church's YouTube channel, and recorded messages remain available afterward.
Children's Ministry
Children are central to the life of the church, and Copeland's Children's Ministry is built to serve them from infancy through sixth grade. The ministry's mission is to help kids find their way back to God, connect with others, and contribute to changing the world. Every Sunday morning a safe environment is provided where children can learn about Jesus and form friendships with one another.
Programming is divided by age. On Sundays, Children's Church is offered for K through 3rd grade from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Kids Church for 4th through 6th grade meets at the same time. On Saturdays, Kids Kingdom runs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A nursery is also available during the Sunday Connection Group hour for newborns through one-year-olds. Every volunteer who serves with children has had a background check, and parents can expect their children to be greeted with joy, cared for with kindness, and taught with purpose from check-in to pick-up.
Connection Groups for Every Stage
Copeland's Connection Groups are more than a Sunday school program; they are the church's small-group network, designed for deeper fellowship and mutual support. The church points to the New Testament picture of the early church meeting both in larger settings and in homes, and Connection Groups follow that same pattern, with groups meeting in personal settings as well as at the church.
The adult groups include Adult Mixed I, Adult Mixed II, Adult Men, Adult Women, and Adult Couples. A youth group serves students in 6th through 12th grade, and a children's group covers 2-year-olds through 5th grade. The nursery class is set aside for newborns through one year. Group assignments can be arranged by visiting the church and talking with someone at the welcome center.
Iron Sharpens Iron: Men's Ministry
The men's ministry at Copeland takes its name from Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron Sharpens Iron" - and gathers on the third Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m. for a breakfast and devotion called Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Breakfast & Devotion. Senior Pastor James Kerns Sr. coordinates the gathering, and the format is intentionally simple: the men break bread together, study God's Word, and hold one another accountable to "be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
The stated purpose is to equip and empower men to grow in their faith, build strong relationships, and become leaders in their homes, churches, and communities. The breakfast gathering runs from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
L.I.F.T.: Ladies In Fellowship Together
The women's ministry at Copeland is called L.I.F.T., an acronym for Ladies In Fellowship Together. The group meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m., and it is designed to give women a space to connect, build relationships, and grow in their faith through shared experiences, Bible study, and service. Members describe L.I.F.T. as a supportive community where women encourage one another, learn from each other's experiences, and find strength in a shared faith.
Midweek Bible Study
Midweek teaching happens on Wednesday evenings. The Adult Bible Study gathers in the Fellowship Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is open to anyone who wants to dig deeper into Scripture between Sundays.
Worship That Goes Beyond Sunday
The worship ministry at Copeland is led by Worship Leader Lori McClain, and the team's stated heartbeat is to inspire people to encounter God. Drawing on John 4:24, the church teaches that God is seeking true worshipers and that worship is far more than the songs sung in a service; it is a way of life and a heartfelt attitude expressed in every part of daily life.
Romans 12:1-2 frames the team's calling, with members presenting themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, and refusing to conform to the patterns of the world. The worship team's role in the Sunday gathering is to set the atmosphere for people to encounter God, putting Jesus at the center of the corporate meeting.
What Copeland Believes
The gospel is the controlling theme of Copeland's teaching. The church explains that the word "gospel" is used repeatedly because it is the most important truth to know and experience, and that it is meant for both non-Christians and maturing Christians alike. Quoting 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Copeland summarizes the gospel simply: "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." The gospel, the church teaches, is the lens through which theology, ministry, and all of life is to be viewed.
From that center, Copeland draws its mission: to fulfill the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment by loving God and loving neighbors, connecting with the St. Joseph community for Jesus Christ.
Staff and Leadership
The pastoral staff is led by Senior Pastor James Kerns Sr., who has lived in St. Joseph his entire life, married his wife Leesa in 1993, and is the father of five sons and grandfather of fifteen. James surrendered his life to Jesus Christ in 1995, was called into ministry in 1997, and began serving Copeland in November 2015. He often shares his life verse, Proverbs 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."
Lori McClain serves as the church's Worship Leader. The deacon team includes Jim Rogers, DJ McBride, and Greg Dietz (deacon-in-training), and the board of trustees is made up of Ronnie Auxier, Jim Rogers, Jerold Holcomb, Dennis Owsley, and Kirk Potter. Bonita White serves the church as Ministry Assistant.
Giving and Staying Connected
Online giving is available through Copeland's secure giving portal, allowing members and friends to invest in the ministry from anywhere. Visitors who want to learn more are invited to reach the church by phone at 816-279-9216 or by email, or simply stop by the welcome center on a Sunday morning. Announcements, sermon recordings, and the church's regular calendar are kept up to date, and the church's Facebook page offers another way to stay in touch with what is happening at 2009 Walnut Street.