Following a long interview process with several candidates, the congregation members at First Baptist Church in Pentwater voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to extend a call to Associate Pastor candidate Peter Cooper and his wife Lydia to join the Pastoral Team at First Baptist Church. The Coopers enthusiastically accepted the invitation and plan to move from their current location in Ohio to Pentwater in early November.
Peter and Lydia are both graduates of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and Peter is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. They met as students at Moody and married after graduation. Interested in working with youth, they have had part-time positions as youth group leaders at several churches since getting married. “We have been praying for discernment to know where God wants us to be in full-time ministry,” they told the church’s search committee. “We were watching the job postings at Moody when we saw the position opening at First Baptist in Pentwater. Lydia got excited because she was familiar with Pentwater, having been there several times. We responded to the announcement to begin a dialogue.”
The Coopers spent two weekends in Pentwater, one weekend in interviews with the search committee and the second one in meetings with the congregation. They interacted with church members at a dessert social on Saturday, Sept. 21, and were interviewed by Pastor Mark Lillie publicly during the Sunday School hour on Sept. 22. They participated in the Sunday morning worship service after Sunday School and enjoyed fellowship with congregation members at an expanded coffee social hour following worship. After all the interviews and interaction with the congregation, they shared, “We felt strongly that God was leading us to Pentwater.” They were both grateful and joyful when the church called to confirm what they felt.
Peter’s job title will be Associate Pastor of Family and Youth Ministries, and Lydia will be a supportive partner in youth activities and in offering hospitality to local families. In view of the challenge of finding housing in Pentwater and wanting a youth pastor’s home to be close to the school, the church had purchased an appropriate home in the past year. The home is on Park Street, a few blocks from the school, and is being prepared for the Cooper family to move in. The Coopers have three young children named Emma, Deacon, and Willa and are expecting their fourth child in February. The church community is eager to welcome them all.
