We, the ministers and elders of the Presbytery of the Dakotas, meeting this twenty-fourth day of September in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2024, lift up our hearts in thanksgiving to our triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the life and work of our beloved father and brother in the Lord the Rev. Dr. Leonard John Coppes, whom our glorious Savior called home into his presence on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the conclusion of the midweek prayer meeting. With all the saints who have entered into God’s rest, he now rests from his labors and, in perfect holiness, beholds the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of his body, which even in death continues united to Christ and awaits the resurrection of a spiritual, heavenly body. He was born on June 26, 1939, at Fort Madison, Iowa, and married Diana Torell on August 17, 1963. They were blessed with four children, Keil, Kristina, Kellie, and Kirk, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His mother married Lloyd J. Coppes, who provided a stable home and sent him to Sunday School, which the Lord used to save him. He married Diana Torell in 1963 and was blessed with four children. He learned reformed doctrine while studying at Bethel College and Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, in addition to working full-time. Ordained a Baptist minister in 1963, he went to Princeton Theological Seminary to prepare to teach the Bible and earned his Th.M. in New Testament in 1964. He transferred to Westminster Theological Seminary because of the unbelief at Princeton and earned his Th.D. in Old Testament in 1968 under Dr. Edward J. Young. He finished classes for a doctorate in Semitic Languages at Dropsie University (1966–1970) while also teaching at Pinebrook Junior College. Meeting with Al Martin and others trying to organize reformed Baptist churches, he became a Presbyterian when one of the men declared that no man would ever rule over him.
He pastored Calvary OPC in Harrisville, Pennsylvania, from 1971–1982, Park Hill OPC in Denver, Colorado, from 1982–1987, and Providence OPC in Denver from 1987–2011, served the Committee on Diaconal Ministries from 1973–2006 (President 1974–1987; Secretary-Treasurer 1987–2006 succeeding the Rev. Lester R. Bachman), the Committee on Christian Education (Vice President 1978–1983, Subcommittee on Ministerial Training, and Magazine Subcommittee), the Committee on Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1977–1978), the Committee to Propose a Publication (1978–1980), which established New Horizons, the Committee to Study the Principles of Diaconal Ministry (1980–1984), the Committee on Paedocommunion (1985–1988), and the Committee to Study the Views of Creation (2001–2004). He served more than thirty years as Assistant Clerk and Treasurer of Presbytery and on Presbytery committees, including reviewing proposed revisions to the Directory for the Public Worship of God and chairman of the Candidates and Credentials Committee.
He trained many men to serve as ministers, elders, and deacons, touched many lives, had an open house every Lord’s Day, and wrote many books, including Who Will Lead Us?, Whatever Happened to Biblical Tongues?, Daddy, May I Take Communion?, and Are Five Points Enough? Ten Points of Calvinism. He wrote several studies on Old and New Testament Biblical Theology and examined and evaluated the work of several Old Testament scholars, including Dr. Meredith G. Kline. He was the primary translator for the Book of Numbers for the New King James Version of the Bible and a review translator for the Old Testament, authored booklets and articles, and contributed to several books, such as The Bible Almanac and Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
He spent countless hours preparing and delivering lectures for the training of men for the gospel ministry through Denver Seminary, Whitefield Theological Seminary, and Reformation International Theological Seminary, teaching and mentoring men seeking to become faithful preachers and ministers of Christ, preaching Christ from the pulpit, and lovingly shepherding the flock of the Lord Jesus Christ. He and his wife were eminent servants in the church, kind, faithful, and generous friends of ministers and their families and all who love the Lord Jesus, and a Christ-like example of humility and longsuffering, even when suffering affliction, facing opposition and persecution, and bearing the reproach of Christ.
To the very end of his life on earth, his love for Christ and his people, including the very least of his brethren, and his undying love for the lost, was always evident. We give thanks to the Lord for his grace, mercy, and love to his church in giving such a faithful servant of Christ and gifted minister of the gospel who contended earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints and touched so many lives in so many places over many years. We pray that the Lord will comfort his family and all who love him by his Spirit with the words of Christ through Paul, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those who have loved His appearing” (II Timothy 4:6–8). It is our fervent prayer that the Lord will continue to use the labors of his servant for the glory of Christ and the building of his church around the world and will grant his family, friends, and fellow bondservants divine peace, strength, and joy as they faithfully continue to serve our exalted and reigning King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!