The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, affectionately known as, “The Chapel” or “COGS” was founded in 1981 under the leadership of Pastor Robert E. Briggs, who served as Pastor Emeritus until his passing a few years ago. In 1997, Rev. Rohan K. Hepkins began his tenure at the Chapel and is the current Pastor.
Rev. Hepkins and his wife Joy have three children: Naomi, Rachel and Ruthanne . The Hepkins’ are residents of the Yeadon Community – Yeadon has been their home since they married in 1983. Rev. Hepkins is a graduate of Eastern University and the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, earning B.A. and Master of Divinity Degrees, respectively. He was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica and lived in London, England until he was ten, then immigrated to the U.S. in 1970 and became a naturalized citizen. Sis. Joy is originally from South Africa where she grew up in the Anglican archdiocese founded by her grandfather Dr. Musi, which eventually called Bishop Tutu, whom she served under as a Sunday School Teacher. Sis. Joy currently serves as an RN, OCN at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital where she is an Oncology Nurse Manager. At the Chapel, she currently serves as Christian Ed Director.
Rev. Hepkins has also served the community in previous positions as Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, secretary of the Yeadon Zoning Board, and is currently the mayor of Yeadon. Part of his vision is to see Yeadon grow as a vibrant community – with the church serving her residents as the centerpiece of community fellowship and diversity, with the church serving in an integral role.
In unison with the church leadership, we are actively and constantly seeking to fashion The Chapel to meet our philosophy of ministry. Consequently, we continue to reach out to all people in nurturing fellowship, unity and harmony so that the Yeadon community will not only maintain her spiritual vitality, but also realize her full potential as a destination of choice. We believe that the church is an indispensible agent to that goal and that is what we seek to model at the Chapel.
Our fellowship currently has 12 distinct nationalities represented among us. We are a body of different colors, ethnicities and cultures where we have a unique blend of diversity that is rare in churches today. We continue to grow and develop as a body of diverse believers and as spiritual neighbors with a great outreach thrust within our community. Every year on the first Sunday in March, we celebrate our diversity with a unique diversity day service where we end with a “taste around the world.” Consequently, we believe that the best years of COGS is ahead of us – as our diversity and multi-cultural language base remains our strength!
It is the Pastor’s vision for the Chapel to become a 24/7 open church to the community for prayer and worship as we prepare to reach all within our community. We also plan to expand the Chapel to have aftercare and day care programs for our residents. The Chapel has maintained a Pantry Ministry in the past, we minister to residents at Manor Care Nursing Home right here in Yeadon each month, and we are about to embark on a Prison Ministry to change lives of incarcerated inmates in our local prisons.
Therefore the Chapel is a place where one can grow and make an eternal difference for Christ in real and tangible ways. We are looking for folks that want to work for the kingdom who share the same vision. For more information, contact the church office at 610-626-2815 or Pastor Hepkins directly at: 610-888-3459.
Blessings & Peace in Christ our Lord !!