Annual Conference 2019

Reverend David W. Kendall, an elder ordained in the Great Plains Conference, has servant-led the Free Methodist Church as Bishop since his election in May 2005. He oversees E. Michigan, Gateway, Great Plains, Mid-America, North Central, N. Michigan, Ohio, S. Michigan, Wabash, Africa Area Annual Conferences and more as he partners with the Board of Bishops.

Dr. Kendall (Ph.D, Union Theological Seminary; M.Div, Asbury Seminary; BA, Spring Arbor) pastored sixteen years in both Great Plains and S. Michigan Conferences before being elected Superintendent in 1999. He has also served as adjunct faculty of Central Christian College and Greenville College. Bishop Kendall’s primary passions are communicating the Scriptures as God’s Word in faithful and relevant ways to our world today and assisting God’s people to be truly the church in the 21st Century.

Dr. Kendall enjoys writing and is a contributing editor to Light & Life, a regular contributor to Illustrated Bible Life, and author of God’s Call to be Like Jesus: Living a Holy Life in an Unholy World. Bishop Kendall and his wife Lavone reside in Indianapolis, IN and have three married daughters.

Born in Ft. Wayne, IN, Supt. Mike Hopper accepted Christ as a child, and sensed a call to ministry while at Greenville College. As a teen, he participated in Bible Quizzing, and later served for 15 years as our denominational Bible Quiz Director. Following graduation from Greenville College and Asbury Theological Seminary, he pastored Free Methodist churches in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. In addition, he has been a law enforcement chaplain.

Mike and his wife Janet (also an ordained elder) have been married for 35 years and have three children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Mike enjoys swimming, cheering on the Minnesota Vikings, and spending time with his family. Mike has a shepherd’s heart and administrative gift and enjoys serving God with the North Central Conference team. Mike has served as superintendent for three years.

Gerald Coates serves as Director of Global Church Advocacy for Free Methodist World Missions. He provides leadership in connecting the work of the worldwide Free Methodist Church with the Free Methodist Church USA. Gerald has worked in establishing cross cultural ministries in the United States in Indiana and Illinois. He has a long history of mission engagement with the Free Methodist Church, particularly in Asia.