leadership
Meet the leaders who serve, guide, and support our church family.
Spiritual leadership is influencing people towards the will of God–nothing more, and nothing less–at all costs.
At Cornerstone Bible Church, the elders serve as spiritual shepherds, guiding the church in accordance with God’s Word and overseeing doctrinal integrity, direction, and the care of the congregation. They are committed to prayerful, humble leadership, equipping the body for growth in Christ, and supporting the teaching, counseling, and decision-making needs of the church, and they are recognized according to the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
In Scripture, “elder” and “pastor” refer to the same office, so all our elders are pastors and all our pastors are elders. The difference is not authority or importance, but vocation: some serve as staff pastors, supported financially so they can devote fuller time to shepherding (1 Timothy 5:17), while others serve as lay pastors, carrying the same shepherding responsibility while also working in a separate vocation. Together, they share the same accountability before the Lord for the souls entrusted to their care.
Staff Pastors
Chad Hutson
Lead Pastor
Chad serves as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church, where he has served since June of 2023. Chad provides overall pastoral leadership and shepherding for the church, with primary responsibility for preaching and teaching the Word, leading in prayer, and casting vision that shapes the direction and priorities of every ministry area. He works closely with the elder team to guard the doctrinal health of the church, to shepherd the congregation through seasons of growth and challenge, and to ensure that the church remains faithful to its mission to glorify God by leading people to Know Jesus, to Grow into His likeness, and to Go make Him known.
As Lead Pastor, Chad gives spiritual direction and oversight across the whole church. He sets the tone for the pulpit ministry, shepherds and counsels members as needed, and helps provide clarity and unity among the elders, deacons, and ministry leaders. Chad also provides guidance for ministry priorities, helps equip leaders through teaching and discipleship, and ensures that the church’s worship, discipleship, and outreach efforts remain grounded in sound doctrine and centered on Christ.
Chad is the husband of Michelle; the father of three grown children, Lance, Taylor, and Grant; and the grandfather of six. He was raised in North Central West Virginia and graduated from Lynn University (Boca Raton, Florida) and Fairmont State University (Fairmont, West Virginia), and obtained his MDiv from Reformed Baptist Seminary (Coconut Creek, Florida). After 27 years of bi-vocational ministry, Chad relocated to Geauga County to serve the membership of Cornerstone Bible Church full-time.
As Lead Pastor, Chad gives spiritual direction and oversight across the whole church. He sets the tone for the pulpit ministry, shepherds and counsels members as needed, and helps provide clarity and unity among the elders, deacons, and ministry leaders. Chad also provides guidance for ministry priorities, helps equip leaders through teaching and discipleship, and ensures that the church’s worship, discipleship, and outreach efforts remain grounded in sound doctrine and centered on Christ.
Chad is the husband of Michelle; the father of three grown children, Lance, Taylor, and Grant; and the grandfather of six. He was raised in North Central West Virginia and graduated from Lynn University (Boca Raton, Florida) and Fairmont State University (Fairmont, West Virginia), and obtained his MDiv from Reformed Baptist Seminary (Coconut Creek, Florida). After 27 years of bi-vocational ministry, Chad relocated to Geauga County to serve the membership of Cornerstone Bible Church full-time.
Lay Pastors
Doug Modic
Pastor of Administrative & Support Ministries, Elder Chairman/Treasurer
Doug serves as the Pastor of Administrative and Support ministries, as well as the Elder Chairman and Treasurer at Cornerstone Bible Church. In this role, he helps the elder team operate with clarity, unity, and steady follow-through, ensuring that prayerful decisions translate into owned next steps, timelines, and faithful execution. Doug provides functional leadership for the elder meeting cadence, agenda preparation, assignments, and action tracking, helping the elders coordinate their shepherding responsibilities and lead the church with consistency and care.
Doug also oversees the church’s Administrative and Support Ministries, with a focus on building calm, dependable operations that serve the spiritual mission of the church. This includes strengthening the church’s internal operating rhythms (annual calendar planning, key initiative tracking, meeting cadences, and ministry coordination), supporting staff and key leaders with clear workflows, and helping remove bottlenecks that slow ministry down. In addition, Doug provides overall leadership for Sunday morning readiness and execution, ensuring services are prepared, clear, worshipful, and well-coordinated.
Doug leads the music ministry as well. He helps recruit, schedule, train, and shepherd musicians, vocalists, and key service volunteers, and he works to cultivate a healthy worship culture that supports the preaching of the Word and serves the congregation well. Doug also shepherds one of the church’s home groups and shares in pastoral care responsibilities as needed, including counseling, crisis support, and member care moments, in coordination with the other elders.
Doug is a board member and interim Head of School at Agape Christian Academy, and he works professionally as an executive in the software industry. Doug is currently (slowly but surely) pursuing his Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parents of three adopted boys.
Doug also oversees the church’s Administrative and Support Ministries, with a focus on building calm, dependable operations that serve the spiritual mission of the church. This includes strengthening the church’s internal operating rhythms (annual calendar planning, key initiative tracking, meeting cadences, and ministry coordination), supporting staff and key leaders with clear workflows, and helping remove bottlenecks that slow ministry down. In addition, Doug provides overall leadership for Sunday morning readiness and execution, ensuring services are prepared, clear, worshipful, and well-coordinated.
Doug leads the music ministry as well. He helps recruit, schedule, train, and shepherd musicians, vocalists, and key service volunteers, and he works to cultivate a healthy worship culture that supports the preaching of the Word and serves the congregation well. Doug also shepherds one of the church’s home groups and shares in pastoral care responsibilities as needed, including counseling, crisis support, and member care moments, in coordination with the other elders.
Doug is a board member and interim Head of School at Agape Christian Academy, and he works professionally as an executive in the software industry. Doug is currently (slowly but surely) pursuing his Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parents of three adopted boys.
Matthew Wilmot
Pastor of Youth & Children's Ministry, Elder Vice Chairman
Matthew has been serving as an elder at Cornerstone Bible Church since 2021. Matthew serves as the Pastor of Youth and Children’s Ministries, with a desire to see the next generation discipled in the gospel and integrated into the life of the church. His focus is helping ensure that ministry to kids and students is biblically faithful, spiritually formative, and safe, with strong volunteer leadership and healthy partnership with parents. He also serves as the elder vice chairman as well.
This lane includes supporting and coordinating Sunday morning children’s ministry and any student ministry environments, strengthening curriculum and teaching to ensure doctrinal clarity and age-appropriate discipleship, and helping build a sustainable volunteer structure through recruitment, training, scheduling, and care for those who serve. Matthew also works to strengthen child safety practices and expectations, ensuring that policies are not merely written but consistently followed for the protection of children and the integrity of the ministry.
Matthew is passionate about helping parents feel supported and equipped, not replaced, in the discipleship of their children. He also helps clarify pathways for kids and students to take meaningful next steps such as baptism preparation, membership readiness as appropriate, and growing into service within the body as they mature. Above all, Matthew desires to help cultivate a culture where families are strengthened, children are taught the Word with joy and clarity, and students are exhorted toward lifelong faithfulness to Christ.
Matthew has a passion for instilling gospel fluency and exhorting others in their walk toward Christ. He was born and raised in northeast Ohio and accepted Christ as his Savior when he was a child. Matthew married his high school sweetheart Tiffany and together they have six children, Jabin, Annalise, Brie, Elijah, Dominic, and Caleb. In addition to his parenting responsibilities, Matthew works as an assistant nurse manager at Hillcrest Hospital. He is also pursuing his Master’s of Theology in New Testament Studies at Moody Bible Institute online.
This lane includes supporting and coordinating Sunday morning children’s ministry and any student ministry environments, strengthening curriculum and teaching to ensure doctrinal clarity and age-appropriate discipleship, and helping build a sustainable volunteer structure through recruitment, training, scheduling, and care for those who serve. Matthew also works to strengthen child safety practices and expectations, ensuring that policies are not merely written but consistently followed for the protection of children and the integrity of the ministry.
Matthew is passionate about helping parents feel supported and equipped, not replaced, in the discipleship of their children. He also helps clarify pathways for kids and students to take meaningful next steps such as baptism preparation, membership readiness as appropriate, and growing into service within the body as they mature. Above all, Matthew desires to help cultivate a culture where families are strengthened, children are taught the Word with joy and clarity, and students are exhorted toward lifelong faithfulness to Christ.
Matthew has a passion for instilling gospel fluency and exhorting others in their walk toward Christ. He was born and raised in northeast Ohio and accepted Christ as his Savior when he was a child. Matthew married his high school sweetheart Tiffany and together they have six children, Jabin, Annalise, Brie, Elijah, Dominic, and Caleb. In addition to his parenting responsibilities, Matthew works as an assistant nurse manager at Hillcrest Hospital. He is also pursuing his Master’s of Theology in New Testament Studies at Moody Bible Institute online.
Alan Skeen
Pastor of Inreach & Outreach Ministries
Alan serves as an elder at Cornerstone Bible Church, as the Pastor of Inreach and Outreach Ministries. His focus is helping strengthen the church’s culture of care, connection, and mission, so that members are supported and the gospel is proclaimed beyond the walls of the church. This lane is aimed both inward and outward: strengthening how the church cares for its people and strengthening how the church makes Christ known in the community and beyond.
On the inreach side, Alan helps ensure that people do not fall through the cracks. This includes supporting connection and assimilation processes for guests and newer attenders, strengthening pathways toward membership and meaningful involvement, and helping coordinate care structures for member needs as they arise, including mercy needs, crisis care, counseling triage, and practical support, in partnership with deacons.
On the outreach side, Alan provides oversight and direction for local outreach efforts, community partnerships, and the Missions Team. He works to keep the church outward-focused by helping equip members for evangelism, organizing opportunities to serve and love neighbors in practical ways, and ensuring that outreach efforts remain grounded in the gospel rather than mere activity. Alan also helps coordinate missions partnerships and support, including communication, prayer, and where appropriate, short-term involvement, so that the church remains engaged in making Christ known both locally and globally.
Alan and his wife Debbie have called Cornerstone home since 1997. Together they serve in the Children’s Ministry teaching Sunday School and Kid’s Kingdom classes for Cornerstone’s children, where their desire is to partner with parents in training up a child in the way he should go, believing that early training secures lifelong habits. Now both retired, Alan is retired from a career in construction and most recently as a school bus driver for Agape Christian Academy. Debbie utilized her degree in Nutrition Sciences in the food service industry as well as home schooling their two now adult daughters. Together they enjoy being outdoors camping, biking, and hiking the many trails of the Geauga Park District.
On the inreach side, Alan helps ensure that people do not fall through the cracks. This includes supporting connection and assimilation processes for guests and newer attenders, strengthening pathways toward membership and meaningful involvement, and helping coordinate care structures for member needs as they arise, including mercy needs, crisis care, counseling triage, and practical support, in partnership with deacons.
On the outreach side, Alan provides oversight and direction for local outreach efforts, community partnerships, and the Missions Team. He works to keep the church outward-focused by helping equip members for evangelism, organizing opportunities to serve and love neighbors in practical ways, and ensuring that outreach efforts remain grounded in the gospel rather than mere activity. Alan also helps coordinate missions partnerships and support, including communication, prayer, and where appropriate, short-term involvement, so that the church remains engaged in making Christ known both locally and globally.
Alan and his wife Debbie have called Cornerstone home since 1997. Together they serve in the Children’s Ministry teaching Sunday School and Kid’s Kingdom classes for Cornerstone’s children, where their desire is to partner with parents in training up a child in the way he should go, believing that early training secures lifelong habits. Now both retired, Alan is retired from a career in construction and most recently as a school bus driver for Agape Christian Academy. Debbie utilized her degree in Nutrition Sciences in the food service industry as well as home schooling their two now adult daughters. Together they enjoy being outdoors camping, biking, and hiking the many trails of the Geauga Park District.
Chris Copley
Pastor of Adult Ministries, Elder Secretary
Chris serves as an elder at Cornerstone Bible Church, as the Pastor ofAdult Ministries. He also serves as the Elder Secretary. His desire is to see adults grounded in Scripture, growing in spiritual maturity, and meaningfully connected in biblical community, so that the church is built up and members are equipped to serve and make Christ known. This lane focuses on the discipleship pathway for adults, helping people move from attending to belonging, from belonging to growing, and from growing to serving and going.
Chris works to strengthen adult discipleship environments across the church, including small groups, classes, men’s ministry, and other adult-focused gatherings. This includes recruiting and developing leaders, ensuring teaching is doctrinally faithful and practically helpful, and encouraging a culture of discipleship that happens not only through programs, but through relationships and everyday faithfulness. Chris also helps cultivate leadership development among ministry leaders and group leaders, so that adult ministry is sustainable and not dependent on a few people carrying everything.
In addition, Chris leads the men’s ministry and helps encourage men toward spiritual maturity, biblical leadership in the home, and faithful service in the church. His focus is to help adults grow in Christlike character, deepen their understanding of God’s Word, strengthen their prayer and devotional life, and become equipped and ready to disciple others. Chris also shares in shepherding responsibilities through member care, counsel, and support, alongside the elder team.
Chris is the interim Principal at Agape Christian Academy’s Troy campus and holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from The Master’s Seminary. Chris is passionate about shepherding the local church and helping students grow in both faith and character. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son and a daughter.
Chris works to strengthen adult discipleship environments across the church, including small groups, classes, men’s ministry, and other adult-focused gatherings. This includes recruiting and developing leaders, ensuring teaching is doctrinally faithful and practically helpful, and encouraging a culture of discipleship that happens not only through programs, but through relationships and everyday faithfulness. Chris also helps cultivate leadership development among ministry leaders and group leaders, so that adult ministry is sustainable and not dependent on a few people carrying everything.
In addition, Chris leads the men’s ministry and helps encourage men toward spiritual maturity, biblical leadership in the home, and faithful service in the church. His focus is to help adults grow in Christlike character, deepen their understanding of God’s Word, strengthen their prayer and devotional life, and become equipped and ready to disciple others. Chris also shares in shepherding responsibilities through member care, counsel, and support, alongside the elder team.
Chris is the interim Principal at Agape Christian Academy’s Troy campus and holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from The Master’s Seminary. Chris is passionate about shepherding the local church and helping students grow in both faith and character. He and his wife, Michelle, have a son and a daughter.