Meet Our Pastor
Sydney & Jennifer Ropp
Sydney and Jennifer Ropp, and their four children, reside in Lancaster County, PA, where Sydney serves as the Senior Pastor of Church of the Word International.
Jennifer serves an essential role in the church as the bookkeeper, secretary, and assistant to various ministries, while also being a dedicated full-time homemaker.
They were raised in conservative Mennonite homes—Sydney in the Ozarks of Missouri and Jennifer in Northwestern Ohio. In 2000, Sydney moved to Southwestern Colorado, and Jennifer joined him later that year after their wedding. There, they established their home and built their business, working as entrepreneurs for 11 years.
In early 2009, they had a life-changing encounter with the Lord. This radically transformed their worldview and opened their understanding of what it means to live a Spirit-filled life through the power of God. As a result, they planted a sister church in Colorado.
As they continued seeking God’s direction, He led them to Southeastern PA in the summer of 2011 to assist Apostle Dale Armstrong in the work of Church of the Word International. Sydney first served as Assistant Pastor before stepping into the role of Senior Pastor in 2014. He continues to provide apostolic oversight to their sister church in Delta, Colorado, and also serves as the Senior Pastor of their church plant in Richmond, VA.
Additional Responsibilities & Interests
- Aviation & Ministry: Sydney is a pilot for Church of the Word International’s ministry aircraft, using it for church planting and ministry travel across the U.S.
- Global Missions: Together, they frequently travel internationally, strengthening and supporting both local and global believers.
- Security & Tactical Training: Since 2015, Sydney has received extensive training in tactical shooting, hand-to-hand combat, and TCCC medical training. His focus has been on third-party protection and church security, working with multiple organizations.
Their greatest passion is to help people encounter the love of Jesus Christ and step into a life-changing relationship with the Father, which is available to all who seek Him.
Outside of ministry, they enjoy staying active through physical fitness, playing games, and participating in sports together.