CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The vast majority of the state's Free Will Baptists live in Southern West Virginia, from Beckley, Charleston and Huntington to points south, said James Cox, a former Free Will Baptist pastor and the promotional director of the West Virginia Free Will Baptists.

Free Will churches are plentiful around Logan and Williamson, Cox added.

"Most are outlying. You can drive Route 10 from West Hamlin to Logan, you'll probably pass 20 of our churches," Cox said. "A few will be on the road, but most will be up the side roads."

There are 173 Free Will Baptist congregations that belong to the state association and another 40 or 50 that are unaffiliated, Cox said.

Two of the four churches Cox pastored have been in West Virginia: Whitman Free Will Baptist Church near Logan in the mid-1970s and Sophia Free Will Baptist Church near Beckley from 2000 to 2002.

Cox attends Springdale Free Will Baptist Church, on Cow Creek in Teays Valley. The church has about 50 members. "We're average size for West Virginia."

Pastor Larry Cooper leads the Springdale congregation, and he is an average Free Will West Virginia pastor in at least one respect. He runs an appliance-repair business by day, Cox said. "Fewer than a dozen are full-time in West Virginia. Most are bi-vocational. That's not true of our denomination as a whole."

Racially, West Virginia congregations tend to be entirely or predominantly white, Cox said. "It's not that blacks aren't welcome."

A pastor with a day job requires only supplemental income from the congregation, freeing up resources to maintain a building and pursue projects, Cox said. "There are disadvantages, too. The pastor isn't always available in an emergency, and the pastor is usually exhausted because of dual responsibilities. But we have very godly and dedicated men who devote their lives to their churches."

The Free Will Baptists don't ordain women, Cox said. "Our churches couldn't run without our women. They can serve on boards and otherwise fill leadership roles."

Cox, 66, has had varied day jobs himself.

He was a dean at California Christian College in Fresno, Calif., and had administrative positions at Southern West Virginia Community College and Greenbrier Community College, which is now New River Community College.

Reach Bob Schwarz at bobschw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The vast majority of the state's Free Will Baptists live in Southern West Virginia, from Beckley, Charleston and Huntington to points south, said James Cox, a former Free Will Baptist pastor and the promotional director of the West Virginia Free Will Baptists.

Free Will churches are plentiful around Logan and Williamson, Cox added.

"Most are outlying. You can drive Route 10 from West Hamlin to Logan, you'll probably pass 20 of our churches," Cox said. "A few will be on the road, but most will be up the side roads."

There are 173 Free Will Baptist congregations that belong to the state association and another 40 or 50 that are unaffiliated, Cox said.

Two of the four churches Cox pastored have been in West Virginia: Whitman Free Will Baptist Church near Logan in the mid-1970s and Sophia Free Will Baptist Church near Beckley from 2000 to 2002.

Cox attends Springdale Free Will Baptist Church, on Cow Creek in Teays Valley. The church has about 50 members. "We're average size for West Virginia."

Pastor Larry Cooper leads the Springdale congregation, and he is an average Free Will West Virginia pastor in at least one respect. He runs an appliance-repair business by day, Cox said. "Fewer than a dozen are full-time in West Virginia. Most are bi-vocational. That's not true of our denomination as a whole."

Racially, West Virginia congregations tend to be entirely or predominantly white, Cox said. "It's not that blacks aren't welcome."

A pastor with a day job requires only supplemental income from the congregation, freeing up resources to maintain a building and pursue projects, Cox said. "There are disadvantages, too. The pastor isn't always available in an emergency, and the pastor is usually exhausted because of dual responsibilities. But we have very godly and dedicated men who devote their lives to their churches."

The Free Will Baptists don't ordain women, Cox said. "Our churches couldn't run without our women. They can serve on boards and otherwise fill leadership roles."

Cox, 66, has had varied day jobs himself.

He was a dean at California Christian College in Fresno, Calif., and had administrative positions at Southern West Virginia Community College and Greenbrier Community College, which is now New River Community College.

Reach Bob Schwarz at bobschw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.