Ohio Baptists celebrate unity, pray for revival
By Karen L. Willoughby
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (BP) – During its recent annual meeting, the 704 churches in the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio celebrated 70 years of growth in the convention, several new initiatives underway at the present time and near future, and prevailing unity among Ohio Baptists.
Baptisms in the last year were up 32 percent, to 2,300 across the state, reported Executive Director Jeremy Westbrook.
“There was a great spirit of unity and celebration of God’s activity in our work this year,” Westbrook told Baptist Press. “Our Cooperative Program giving is ahead, we reported 23 new churches this year, 15 new plants, five replants and three new affiliates.
“Our Send Ohio strategy is working really well,” Westbrook added. “We’ve seen 49 plants or replants in the last two years.”
With the hiring of Mark Jones, pastor of Freedom Hill Community Church, Stow, as part-time consultant, a new revitalization strategy is underway in Ohio. “Churches in 10 of our 15 associations have already engaged,” Westbrook said.
Ohio’s 70th gathering started with a pastors’ conference Nov. 6, and the annual meeting Nov. 7, both at Genoa Baptist Church in Westerville.
The 237 messengers from 112 of Ohio’s 704 churches voted unanimously to “reject in its entirety” an abortion amendment to Ohio’s state constitution, which nonetheless was voted into law, thereby allowing the termination of pregnancies up to “fetal viability” as determined by a physician.
New officers: President Adam Pursel, pastor of LifePoint Church in Mount Vernon; First Vice-President David Welsch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Heath; Second Vice-President Karlie Hale, pastor of One Love Community Church in Cleveland; Recording secretary Mary Leigh Snowden, member of Clough Pike Baptist Church in Cincinnati; Assistant recording secretary Charity Betts, member of First Baptist Church in New Lebanon.
In other business, messengers approved a $5,394,000 budget for 2024, same as in 2023, with $4,800,000 in Cooperative Program giving from churches, half of which – $2,400.000 – is to be forwarded for global SBC causes.
Retired pastors and their wives who receive a check each month from GuideStone Financial Resources’ Mission:Dignity program will receive a 13th check each year from now on with money provided in SCBO’s budget.
Also new in the budget, scholarships to Cedarville University for the children of Ohio pastors. Cedarville, affiliated with SCBO since 2003, has a student body of about 5,500 students and 150 degree programs including nursing, business, theology and pharmacy.
Also new this year, ethnic work in Ohio was included in the state convention’s budget. African American, Hispanic, Arabic and Deaf groups gathered at various times throughout the year.
SCBO organized and implemented CampUCAN, a week-long retreat this August for 85 urban young men, ages 9-17, living in troubled communities. By week’s end 45 of the young men – mentored by 23 volunteers – had made professions of faith in Jesus.
Now in its second year with a partnership with the Florida Baptist Convention, Ohio’s six regions have been paired for mutual support with six Florida regions.
Prayer and fasting became an expanded thrust across Ohio this year, with Bill Elliff leading in day-long prayer events, first with state staff and then with associational leaders, followed by five gatherings in four regions of the state.
Other prayer-related events included two-day prayer summits, (Acts) 6:4 Fellowship “Reclaim” events, and studies of “Transforming Prayer” or “Leading on our Knees” or “Prayer Boot Camp.”
Churches across Ohio (the nation and the world) have been invited to participate in 21 Days of Prayer starting Jan. 1, 2024,
Read more about what God is doing with and through Ohio Southern Baptists by reading the Ohio Baptist Messenger.
Interspersed with convention business and reports from state staff and SBC entities was worship led by “Chosen Road” from West Virginia, and messages from three Ohio leaders: Westbrook, outgoing President Ray Umphrey, and Greg Cooper, pastor of FBC Groveport, who delivered the annual sermon.
“For 70 years, Ohio Baptists have made a commitment to take the gospel across the street and around the world,” Westbrook said. “After leaving the 70th annual celebration, Ohio Baptists are praying and preparing for revival in the Buckeye state that would lead to an awakening across the United States and around the world.”
Iowa Baptists ‘Uniting in Faith’
By Ben Bradley, BCI Communications Director
ANKENY, Iowa (BP) – First Family Church in Ankeny hosted the 2023 Baptist Convention of Iowa Annual Meeting & Pastors’ Conference on Nov. 3-4. This two-day event brought together pastors, church leaders and their spouses, fostering an atmosphere of learning, fellowship around the Gospel and mutual encouragement.
The event drew about 140 pastors and church leaders, including 80 messengers, representing more than 50 churches around Iowa.
Pastors’ Conference and banquet
The BCI Pastors’ Conference was a new addition to the event, incorporating meals and small group interactive workshops that balanced learning and fellowship. Eric Schumacher, BCI’s new pastoral ministry director, set the tone for the day during the general session with a devotional from Romans 1, emphasizing that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation from beginning to end.
“I appreciated vulnerability, humility and hope present as pastors and wives shared their hearts with one another,” Schumacher said after the event. “It was a joy to see brothers and sisters learning, worshiping, rejoicing, weeping and even disagreeing with one another as they fellowshipped and encouraged one another in the hope of the Gospel.”
The breakout sessions were aimed at specific ministry areas and encouraged networking throughout the event. The day concluded with the annual BCI Pastors & Wives Banquet, dedicated to honoring and encouraging BCI pastors, and especially their wives, highlighting their unique roles in ministry.
Partnerships in Action
The 2023 BCI Annual Meeting offered updates on encouraging developments in Iowa through BCI churches. Guest speakers Ben Mandrell, Lifeway president, and Jonathan Howe, SBC Executive Committee interim president, candidly addressed the challenges of leadership, recent controversies and the need to approach past hurts with grace and truth. Additionally, the introduction of childcare at the event aimed to enable wider participation, allowing more church leaders, especially mothers and pastors’ wives, to engage fully.
Reflecting on a decade of impact
“This year was my 10th BCI annual meeting as executive director, and it was one of our best ever,” said Tim Lubinus. “I enjoyed seeing attendees meeting for the first time and also those reconnecting with old friends. At the meeting, we passed our largest budget ever and elected an experienced Executive Board. Finally, we were all inspired by the stories of what God is doing in the BCI and across the SBC. As I reflect on all 10 years, it is so easy to see the impact of our collective efforts and am reminded of Acts 12:24, ‘But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.’”
Business
Messengers approved a $1.3 million budget for 2024, an 8 percent increase from last year. The portion of Cooperative Program giving that will be forwarded to SBC national entities remained at 75 percent, representing no change from last year. Additionally, messengers approved a few updates to the BCI constitution and discussed several issues that have been in the news lately concerning other SBC entities.
Messengers re-elected the following men as officers: President Tim Trudeau, pastor of Grace Community Church in Boone; First Vice President Eric Trout, pastor of Restoration Church in Adel; Second Vice President Grady Adkins, executive pastor of Coram Deo Bible Church in Davenport; Secretary Jerome Risting, Temple Baptist Church in Mason City.
The 2023 BCI Annual Meeting will be Nov. 1-2, 2024.
