Chancellor, Pastor Emeritus Sam Davison

Samuel Stinnett Davison was saved at the age of 6 and surrendered to preach at 16 while attending Calvary Baptist Church in Perry, Oklahoma, under the ministry of Pastor Daniel Tidwell.

In 1964, Bro. Sam enrolled at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and graduated in 1967.  He attended the Seminole Baptist Temple under Pastor Raymon Tracy during his time at BBC.

• Bro. Sam served as Assistant Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma, from 1967 to 1974.
• He was then called to serve as Pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1974, where he served until 1990.
• In May of 1990, Bro. Davison was called to serve as Pastor of the Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• In May of 1999, during his pastorate at Southwest Baptist Church, Bro. Davison transitioned from serving on the Executive Committee of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, OK, to serve as the President where he also taught Personal Spiritual Development and continues to teach Homiletics and Practice Preaching.
• In May of 2010, he was given the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus as he passed the leadership of Southwest Baptist Church to Bro. Jason Gaddis.
• In May of 2018, he was installed as Chancellor of Heartland Baptist Bible College.
• Since 1976, Bro. Sam has preached hundreds of revivals, missions’ conferences, youth camps, and state, regional, and national fellowship meetings around the country.

Bro. Davison and his wife, Sandra, were married in 1966. They have three children: Sindy Brown and husband, Brad, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Suzie Ohsfeldt and husband Kyle of Pampa, Texas; Samuel and his wife, Brittany, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  They also have eleven grandchildren: Nathan, Hannah, and Leah Ohsfeldt; Alicia, Abbey, Anna, and Aimee Brown; and Sarah, Karaline, Natalie, and Claire Davison. They have also been blessed with two great-grandchildren.

President, Pastor Jason Gaddis

Jason Gaddis was saved at the age of 8 at Grace Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He surrendered to the call to preach at the age of 15 while attending youth camp.

Bro. Jason graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1998, followed by the Baptist Bible Graduate School of Theology in 2001.

• The Lord gave Bro. Gaddis a burden for young adults in their teen and college years, and he served as College and Career Director at the Meadowview Baptist Church in Republic, Missouri. He was then called as Pastor of the church for three years.
• In August of 2003, Bro. Jason and his family moved to Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in order for Bro. Gaddis to serve as College and Career Director. During his seven years on staff at Southwest Baptist Church, the Lord allowed him many opportunities to be mentored by Pastor Sam Davison.
• On May 3, 2009, Southwest Baptist Church called Bro. Jason to be the next pastor, effective May 2, 2010, upon the resignation of Sam Davison.
• Pastor Gaddis became the President of Heartland Baptist Bible College in May of 2018. He teaches several undergraduate and graduate level classes.
• In addition, Bro. Gaddis preaches at youth conferences, camps, and other meetings across the United States.

Pastor Gaddis and his wife, Angie, were married in 1998. They have three sons: Tyler, Trevor, and Trenton.

Vice President, Pastor Aaron Denson

Aaron Denson was raised in a pastor’s home. He was saved at the age of 16.

Bro. Denson graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1995.

• After graduation from Bible College, Bro. Aaron interned at Eastland Baptist Church in Tulsa, OK.
• The Lord then led Bro. Denson to serve as youth pastor at Arden Road Baptist Church in Amarillo, TX, pastored by Dale Bigham. He served there for almost six years.
• Bro. Aaron was then called as the Senior Pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Hobbs, NM, where he served for six and one half years.
• In March of 2009 the Lord led Pastor Denson to Bethany Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX, where he served until September of 2015.
• In September of 2015 Pastor Denson was called to serve as pastor of Arden Road Baptist Church in Amarillo, TX, upon the retirement of Pastor Dale Bigham.
• In May of 2018, Bro. Denson became the Vice President of Heartland Baptist Bible College.

Bro. Aaron married his best friend, Jerrie, six months after his graduation from Bible College. God has blessed Pastor and Mrs. Denson with seven children: Abigail, Lauren, Emily, John, Josiah, David, and Amber.

Executive Vice President, Jeff Copes

Jeff Copes accepted Christ as his Savior in February of 1984, through the ministry of Temple Baptist Church in Titusville, Florida, under Pastor Wendell Correll. He surrendered to the call of God into full-time service in 1993.

 Bro. Jeff received his B.S. degree in Finance from Liberty University in 1987, and completed two years towards his Master of Divinity degree at Baptist Bible Graduate School of Theology. He received his Master of Education from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, in 1997.

 Before serving in full-time ministry, Bro. Copes received business experience working in the Commercial Lending Department of Southeast Bank, as well as in the Financial Administration Department of Rockwell International at the Kennedy Space Center.

• Bro. Copes served as an Assistant Pastor at the United Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri.
• He served as Assistant to the Vice President of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where he later served as Business Department Chairman and full-time faculty.
• Bro. Jeff was then called to serve as the Business Manager for the Baptist Bible Fellowship International’s Missions’ Office in Springfield, Missouri.
• He was next called to serve as Pastor of Meadowview Baptist Church in Republic, Missouri.
• In November of 2000, Pastor Copes was called to serve as Executive Vice President of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he also teaches Personal Finance and Church Administration.
• In addition, Bro. Copes serves as the current President of the Independent Baptist Foundation of America, and travels many weekends, preaching and representing Heartland Baptist Bible College around the country.

 Bro. Copes and his wife, Pam, were married in 1989. Mrs. Copes serves as a fulltime teacher at Heartland Baptist Bible College in the English and Education Department, as well as speaking at ladies’ meetings around the country. They have one daughter, Victoria Grace, who graduated from Heartland and intends to one day serve as a missionary to Northern Ireland. Victoria works at Heartland in the Yearbook Department and for the Independent Baptist Foundation of America.