Leadership

Deacon Jon Bius

jonbius@outlook.com
(910) 987-4512

Jon is married to Christy, and they have two adult children and two grandsons. Jon teaches the Family Bible Study Sunday School Class.

Deacon Richard W. Copeland Jr.

rwcopejr@aol.com
(910) 476-3785

I was born in 1963 and raised in a military home (but not a godly one) in Fayetteville, NC. Yet I was blessed with godly grandparents! I graduated in 1981 from Pine Forest Sr. High School. From 1979 to 2005, I worked for Winn Dixie. I am presently employed at Carlie C’s IGA, where I have worked since 2006.

At the end of 1997, my heart was finally pricked by God. In 1998, He saved me through a message from the passage of Matthew 11:28-30. All I heard was peace and rest from life’s burdens. Though I had always known that God was real and His Son Christ Jesus died for my sins. I was slow to know Him and serve Him as I should, but praise be to God for His word! I know Him better and am growing because, for the last nine to ten years, I have read it almost daily. I would also like to praise God for the people in my life that helped me come to trust Him. They never turned their back on me, stayed after me, and never gave up on me.

In 1999, God showed me great grace and mercy by allowing me to marry Nona Gail Tyndall. We have a son–Dale, a daughter–Dannielle Wolfe, and four grandchildren.

I consider it a great privilege to serve at Highland Baptist Church as a deacon. I would love for you to visit and worship with us.

Deacon Matthew (Matt) King

kingx17@aol.com
(910) 322-4423

Matthew lives and works on the family farm in Robeson County. He is married and has two young daughters. Blessed to be born into a Christian family, he has been a believer in Christ for most of his life. He has been a Deacon at Highland since 2013 and is also grateful to be a part of the praise team.

Deacon Lester Lowe

piratelowe@aol.com
(910) 224-0153

Lester was born in 1961 and raised in St. Louis, Mo. Today he can testify that God has a plan for every one of us. He used to say he had a rough childhood, telling his story by saying how he lost his mother at the age of 7; both his brothers died when he was 12. His father was a career Police Officer, a Veteran of WWII approximately 50 years older than him, and to whom he looked up to. Not raised in Church, but connected to an Aunt from Tulsa, OK, who was a God-fearing woman who constantly preached the Gospel. Even though his journey has been a whirlwind, struggling with life’s lessons and a father who worked but attempted to teach me life skills without a wife to raise his children. He became a father at age 16. My oldest daughter was born in July 1978.

Very quickly, he realized he had to do something. He entered the US Army with his father’s signature and entered the delayed entry program. Enlistment date for June 6, 1979. In 1979, in Schweinfurt, he committed his life to Jesus Christ but had fallen short on many occasions. He served in the Army for 15 years, arriving at Fort Bragg, NC, in 1986. After two failed marriages and five kids, God had a plan. In 1988, he reenlisted as a Military Policeman, thus beginning his Law Enforcement career.

Today he is married to his Wonderful Wife, Siggy. On April 30th, 2002, God Blessed me by retiring from the US Army in 1994, a rewarding career with four years with the Fayetteville Police Department and 17 years with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, retiring in August 2016. Now he is blessed with seven kids and 25 grandkids. God had a plan; Siggy was employed with Carlie Cs IGA, around 2011. She began searching for a church; her Manager was Richard Copeland. A visit to a few movie nights and a Singing Christmas Tree here at Highland Baptist Church convinced him. On January 15, 2012, Siggy and I were baptized and blessed to become members.

Deacon Richard Patterson

kingricheast@aim.com
(917) 674-7090

I am Richard Patterson a deacon at Highland Baptist Church. I was a former professional basketball player and a former Kindergarten teacher. I received a Masters Degree in Human Services in 2009.

I enjoy my role at Highland Baptist Church. I’m grateful to be a deacon and learn more about the Lord. I enjoy the men and the topics in our Sunday School group. My initial contact with HBC came when I met our former pastor in the church parking lot. He shared the good news of the Lord with me and a few weeks later I attended my 1st Sunday Service. I made a commitment to Jesus and HBC in 2014.

Deacon Johnathan Register

jregister6507@gmail.com
(910) 929-0561

Johnathan is a native of Bladen County and currently resides in Gray’s Creek. He was saved at 14 and was an active member of the church during his childhood. He credits his grandparents with many of the biblical values that he was raised on and is thankful for their example. 

While challenges and losses peppered his early adult years and tried his commitment to his faith, he came back to the Lord stronger. He strives daily to build upon his relationship with God, with his wife Jami by his side and is deeply committed to sharing his faith. 

Johnathan is a firefighter at Fort Liberty and the City of Lumberton. He and his wife are also involved in the youth ministry at Highland Baptist Church. He is humbled and honored to serve the Lord in a new capacity as a deacon.