The Word of Life Family Worship Center will be paying tribute to its pastors of Cassopolis on Saturday and Sunday.

The Word of Life Family Worship Center will also be celebrating its fifth anniversary by having a church anniversary and pastors appreciation celebration at this time. They will be honoring the Rev. Ron Cooper and his wife Sallyann for their tireless commitment to their congregation and community.

The Word of Life Family Worship Center is located in Cassopolis near Diamond Lake, 408 East Harding St.  The church’s mission is to give all we meet “Words of Life” by sharing the Gospel and God’s love.  The church also tries to emphasize the importance of family unity and worship by providing services that include the entire family.

The Coopers have received their training at both Anchorage Bay Evangelistic Association in New Baltimore, Mich. and at Oakland City Bible College in Flint, Mich. They also held a pastorate at the Dowagiac General Baptist Church and were youth pastors for a number of years at Drayton General Baptist Church in Drayton Plains, Mich. They served in many offices and held several positions within that church. On an associational level, they have taught seminars, been youth pastors, camp directors and served on the Presbytery.

Pastor Cooper is currently retired from the Cassopolis Schools, where he was a bus driver. He continues to drive buses as a substitute for Lewis Cass Intermediate School District. They have six children: James of Idaho; Eric and his wife, Toni, of Edwardsburg; Dawn and her husband, Bill; Brian, Ronee and Shannan and his wife, Tarrah, of Cassopolis. They have been blessed with 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The church has added an associate pastor, the Rev. Mike Cheney and his wife, Kelly. He received his ordination at Calvin Community Church in Cassopolis. Cheney has previously served in many offices and held several positions within other churches.

Cheney is currently employed at Forest River Inc. Kelly is a full-time wife and a stay-at-home mom/grandma as well as tends to their daily farm chores. They have six children. They have been blessed with 25 grandchildren.

The Word of Life Family Worship Center opened its doors Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005.

The public is invited to a special celebration Saturday.  There will be a luau dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by the kick-off to the celebration at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Ron Coleman of Decatur, Mich. as the guest speaker.

The celebration will continue Sunday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Adam Vandecar of Waterford, Mich. and at 3 p.m. with Apostle Chris Pittman of Cassopolis as guest speakers.