Pastors Page
Dr. Ronald E. Hopkins....A Servant Leader
Ronald was born in Gary, Indiana which is often nicknamed a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Ronald is the first born of three sons born to the late Charles E. and Addye M. Hopkins. Ronald is married to the former Judith A. Younglblood of Springfield, Ohio and they have three children , and two grandchildren.
Ronald was educated in the Gary, Indiana and the Dayton, Ohio public school systems. He is an Air Force Veteran, having served for four years active duty, which included one year tour in Vietnam (Central Highlands). He and his family moved to the Washington DC area to start a career in computers at The Pentagon. While working at the Pentagon he received a higher calling on his life that he ignored for about ten years until he recognized and accepted who and what he was called to be. He then continued his formal education by attending Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia where he earned his Bachelors of Liberal Studies degree with a concentration in Philosophy and Religious Studies in 1995. He then attended the Union Theological Seminary (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond, Virginia where he earned his Masters of Divinity Degree in 1999. Ronald then proceeded to further his studies by applying and being accepted to the University of Chicago, The Divinity School, where he received a Masters of Arts Degree in 2000, with a concentration in Philosophy and Ethics.
Ronald then returned to Richmond where he became involved in volunteer work, assisting with the Richmond Community Action Program (RCAP) as a computer instructor for the Head Start program which included teaching young kids and senior citizens how to operate desktop computer systems. Ronald then returned to further his education at Union Presbyterian Seminary to enroll and become engaged in the Doctor of Ministry Degree which was completed in May of 2006. He is currently assigned as Pastor / Teacher to the Congregation of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has been since 2003.
Ronald is still dedicated to the lives of the lost, forlorn, and the elderly. He is presently a member of Downtown Churches United in Petersburg, Virginia, The Virginia Council of Churches and he served as President of the Regional Disciples Men's Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Virginia from 2000 - 2006.
Ronald continues to exhibit the heart of a Pastor.
