Dayton, Ohio native and longtime Selma resident the Rev. Steve Kopp has a passion for Selma. As the new pastor of Memorial UMC, located at 2150 Broad St., Kopp wants to bring his mission of “community” to his church members.

“There are needs,” Kopp said, who started his position Jan. 1. “When I think about what I wanted to do for this church, I wanted to be the church we needed in Selma — to reach out to the community. Exuberance isn’t quite a big enough word to describe it — we’re excited about serving.”

Kopp, who moved to Selma in 1973, retired from Globe Metallurgical Inc. after 34 years. As a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and March of Dimes, Kopp also coached Dixie youth baseball and basketball and soccer at the local YMCA.

“I know some of the things that need to be done here,” Kopp said of his leadership. “I have to figure out how to max our members to feel the same way.”

Since taking his position a little over one month ago, Kopp and friend, Winston Williams, recently started up the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization at Selma High School.

“Our first meeting was Jan. 27 and we had 29 people to come out to our second meeting Friday,” Kopp said. “We have to reach our youth … help them see Jesus. We want to be his (God’s) hands and feet and I want to help the church find out what our hands and our feet can do.”

Kopp said he’s energetic and optimistic about his future at Memorial.

“I’m absolutely excited to serve there and serve the community I’ve lived in since 1973,” Kopp said. “We’re in an ideal location — next to the new high school; our mission statement is ‘we’re going to enter to worship … depart to serve.’ We can serve the best after we find out who we are.