My Affiliations (each link opens in a new window):
​
I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, in recovery for sexual addiction and codependency, and my name is Dan Copeland. I am honored to co-lead the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Bethesda Church in Huron, SD.
​
I ride a Victory Hammer and am a member of Broken Chains JC. While I promote all these organizations, this site is not officially endorsed by any of them. This "about" page is purely for the sake of transparency. The primary goal of this website is to point people to the one and only True High Power, Jesus Christ, who loves me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
​
I have shared my testimony and also filled the pulpit at numerous churches around South Dakota. For the purpose of transparency, my personal doctrinal statement is below. This does not necessarily reflect the doctrinal positions of any organizations I am associated with.
I believe:
1) in the historically recognized orthodox Christian faith, and in those things which are common to the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.
2) that there is ONE God who eternally exists in the three persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3) that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, fully God and fully man. That he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the Cross for the sins of mankind, was buried and rose again the third day. He now sits at the right of the Father’s throne in heaven, making intercession for the saints as their advocate.
4) that the Bible is the inerrant (without errors in the original texts), infallible (perfect, unable to misguide), inspired (God-breathed) Word of God, and the only true rule for all faith and life.
5) that humans were created in God’s image and for His pleasure, to bring Honor and Glory to the Triune God; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
6) that since the original fall, humans are born with an innate tendency to sin and selfishness, and that all who are able to understand moral right and wrong have chosen moral wrong and are thus spiritually dead, which means separated from God. All people must therefore be spiritually born of God by faith in Jesus Christ and his substitutionary, sacrificial payment for our sins. No human work is capable of uniting us with God or earning merit in his sight.
7) that the Holy Spirit indwells and equips each true believer and empowers them to live godly lives.
8) in the Resurrection of all mankind, who will stand before God the Righteous Judge. Those who are believers will pass on to eternal life and those who are not will be lost to the curse of eternity in a literal Hell.
9) in a literal six-day creation of all matter and life in the universe, a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis, and that these lay a firm foundation for understanding the whole Bible.
10) in baptism by immersion in water as an act of obedience by those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ, and that the sacraments are not a matter of salvation, but merely signs of the Covenant of Grace.
11) that within the Christian faith there are many traditions with many origins. Christian traditions may offer some insight to truth, but traditions are not binding on a Christian and are not equal in authority with scripture. A Christian should examine the traditions they follow to determine if they are a help or a hindrance to living a godly life.
12) that liberties are given to the Christian in order to serve others without restraint. Christians must discern their own motives and be sure that their participation in various entertainments is not serving the flesh.
13) that God ordained human sexuality to be enjoyed within the covenant bond of marriage, which is only between one man and one woman. Marriage is itself a symbol to us of Christ’s covenant love for the Church. Any variation or “alternative” is a corruption of the image of God and a form of self-worship.
14. that those suffering with sexual identity issues are not necessarily in sin merely for having that struggle, but do commit sin when they embrace or experiment with dressing and/or behaving as the opposite sex. Such people are sinners like myself, in need of the Gospel, and should be loved and not shunned. But the sanctity of manhood and womanhood should not be compromised.
​