Leadership

Pastor Ron is the oldest of four boys. Their Father Harold has passed away and his brothers live in Florida and NC.  Ron and Sharon have three children and two grandchildren.
Pastor Ron loves sports including golf, tennis, pickle ball, and racquetball. He likes to read, watch movies and enjoys his children and grandchildren.
His greatest supporter has been Sharon, his wife of 33 years. She is a substitute teacher in Kanawha County schools and has a brother who is a pastor in Huntington WV. Her father was also a pastor but has gone home to be with the Lord. She received her Bachelor’s Decree in Journalism at Marshall University. Sharon loves to sing with the praise team

Pastoral Education:
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Master of Divinity
Ashland Seminary – Doctor of Ministry (ongoing)
Pastoral Experience:
Associate Pastor – Emmanuel Baptist Church, Charleston WV
Lead/Senior Pastor – Kanawha City Baptist Church, Porterfield Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Kenova WV
Church Planter/Pastor – Gateway Church, So. Charleston WV
BCM Leader – University of Charleston
Chaplain – Corporate Chaplains of America
Teays Valley Association – Ordination Chairman
Teays Valley Pastors Association – President

Lawrence L. Hoptry was born in Ironton, Ohio and is the only child of Harold and Opal Hoptry, both deceased.  After living in Chillicothe and Springfield, his family moved to South Charleston, WV.  During his senior year of high school at South Charleston High, he accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at the Bethel Baptist Church by Rev. Elizabeth Caudill. In May 1955, he accepted the call to the ministry and was licensed by the home church.
 
His wife, Karen, who passed away in 2013, was thoroughly committed to Christ. They met in college and were married for 52 years. Hoppy continues to reside in Hurricane, WV. Their children are: Cathy Hadesty, Chris Humphrey and Jon Hoptry. Their grandchildren are: Madelaine, Emma and Jerek. At the present there is one great grandson, Henry Hoptry.
 
Hoppy graduated from Alderson Broaddus College (now University) in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Sociology and minoring in English literature.  In college, he served on the Student Senate and as president of the Senior Class.  He was graduated from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1964 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. Sensing a need for specialized training, he returned to Eastern in 1998 and was graduated in 2000 with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Renewal of the church.
 
While in college, he worked as a volunteer with a poverty stricken area near the school. In seminary, he served as youth pastor of the Gladwyne United Methodist Church in Gladwyne, Pa and the Central Presbyterian Church in Norristown, Pa. Following graduation from Eastern, he has served as pastor of the Kingwood Baptist Church from 1964 to 1981 and the First Baptist Church of Nitro from 1981 to 2009.  He began as interim Associate Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in 2010 and continues in that position to the present.
 
He has a great love of carpentry but finds interest in almost anything that challenges the mind, except politics.  He is very active in the Live Embers, Senior Ministries

Adam Cavender is an experienced worship leader and song writer of 17 years who loves to share the good news. He and his wife Stephanie have partnered together to form a worship family at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

 “I am blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this movement, God has his own timing and I truly believe he has set things in motion so I could be right here, right now, in this place, working in this work” says Adam. “To be in the presence of God and to usher others into that experience is the call of my life, and I am thankful for it.” 

Bobby and Anna Boggess are the children's directors for Mount Vernon Kids (birth through 5th grade)  and are joined by a wonderful team of volunteers who teach during both Sunday morning services and Awana's on Wednesday evenings!

Bobby and Anna have a tremendous passion to teach and watch children of all ages grow in their faith with our Lord Jesus Christ!

Click Here for more information on our children's department...

Jonathan Brooks was born and raised in Charleston, WV. He accepted Christ as his savior when he was 6. When he was 13 the Lord called him into full-time ministry. 
Jonathan is currently finishing his senior year at Appalachian Bible College double-majoring in pastoral studies and Bible/Theology. He has a passion for youth ministry and for sharing the gospel. 

Jeff and Tonya Losh are happily married & live in Scott Depot, along with their Australian Shepherds, Finn, Cruz & Raya and 2 horses, Rocky & Lexi. They have 3 grown daughters, Jordan, Tori (husband Nick), & Sera as well as a son, Jacob. Jeff has been a WV State Trooper for 29 years and additionally works with the FBI’s Terrorism Task Force. Tonya works for Enterprise Rent A Car as the Property Development & Facility Manager, for the last 21 years. Jeff serves at Mount Vernon as the NexGen Minister; he and Tonya are passionate & felt a definite calling by God to pour into this age group. “People want a genuine person, that’s the same here as they are there or anywhere…we just try to tell others about Jesus and if we have to, use words. It’s about a relationship with Christ, not just a set of rules. Tonya and I try to love on these adults, take them as they are and show them Christ. The Point is somewhere they can belong & we have a lot of fun doing it!” says Jeff. Jeff & Tonya have been successful with leading the Young Adults (ages 18-30s) going on 5 years!

Rachel has been an active member of Mt Vernon Baptist Church for over 20 yrs. She and her husband Dave have 2 children, Tim Dailey and Olivia Facemire. Rachel is the church custodian and leader of the prayer shawl ministry. Rachel enjoys singing in the choir, decorating her home, making people smile and living a godly life.

She and her husband, Gene, moved from WV to NC in 1993 where she worked for two Baptist churches for 12 1/2 years. They returned to WV in 2005 to be close to family and their two grandsons. In 2006 she started working for the WV Convention of Southern Baptist as secretary to the Missions and Evangelism Directors and retired from that position in July 2009 to spend more time with her grandsons. She has been faithfully working as the secretary at Mt. Vernon since October, 2010 to present. She looks forward to continuing God’s work in her life here.