The Ohio Baptist Messenger is the monthly news publication of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. Visit www.scbo.org to learn more...
VOLUME 73 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2025
Rise in SCBO Cooperative Program Giving Impacts Ohio and Beyond
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Featured This Month Rise in SCBO Cooperative Program Giving Impacts Ohio and Beyond by Dr. Jeremy Westbrook
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Jesus is Worthy of Our Best by Adam Pursel
Completing Annual Church Profile Benefits SCBO Churches Spreading Salt and Light at The Ohio State University
Resolve to Renew and Refocus in 2025 Elyria Pastor Named Fire Department Chaplain
SCBO Evangelism Grants Fund Outreach Events Across Ohio
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The Ministry of Presence after Flooding in Spain
VBS Preview Event Encourages and Equips Volunteers and Leaders
The Ohio Baptist Messenger Staff
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, editor-in-chief Stephanie Heading, managing editor
Seth Wicker, digital communication assistant AJ Frasure, digital communication assistant
-- Tell us your story -- The Ohio Baptist Messenger is a monthly publication highlighting what the Lord is doing in SCBO churches or min- istries, and we need your help! Tell us your story and we could feature it in an upcoming issue of The Messenger . Please submit your stories to messenger@scbo.org. For more information, please contact Stephanie Heading at messenger@scbo.org.
Published monthly by The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio for members of Southern Baptist churches in Ohio. | 9000 Antares AveColumbus, Ohio 43240
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Rise in SCBO Cooperative Program Giving Impacts Ohio and Beyond Thank you, Ohio Baptists!
Students from cooperating churches in Ohio who at- tend one of our six seminaries have half of their tuition covered by Cooperative Program funding. We are thankful for the churches that give faithfully and sacrificially through the Cooperative Program to help us reach our neighborhoods in Ohio and the nations around the world for Christ. We appreciate all who openly pro- mote, support and commit to the Cooperative Program among our family of churches, associations, and min- istry partners. May Ohio Baptists commit ourselves to the celebra- tion and promotion of the Cooperative Program within our churches, associations, and entities in its one-hun- dredth year. Thank you for helping us invite churches to rediscover gospel multiplication due to your giving through the Co- operative Program.
Cooperative Program giving is on the rise at SCBO and the impact is not only felt locally here in the Buckeye State but also nationally through the North American Mission Board and our six seminaries, and globally through the International Mission Board. Since 1925, the Cooperative Program has provided a comprehensive funding mechanism for like-minded Baptist churches to support missions around the world, all the time, at the same time. It was in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, that the Cooperative Program was officially adopted as our primary funding mechanism for missions and evange- lism. In May, the Cooperative Program will celebrate 100 years of cooperative efforts among Southern Bap - tists. Since SCBO began in 1954, Ohio Baptists have con- tributed over $188,000,000 through the Cooperative Program to fund missionaries, disaster relief efforts, church planting, church revitalization, chaplaincies, evangelistic initiatives, discipleship strategies, pastor care, Christian education, Baptist communications, compassion ministries, and more. The Cooperative Program has enabled us to see over eighty churches planted and replanted and a ninety-six percent increase in baptisms over the past three years! Nearly eighty missionaries serving overseas with the International Mission Board are from Ohio and your Co- operative Program dollars are sustaining them on the mission field.
Moving forward,
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook Executive Director-Treasurer, SCBO
New Career Opportunity at SCBO Executive Director, Ohio Baptist Foundation The Ohio Baptist Foundation is officially accepting resumes for the position of Executive Director. This is initially a new part-time position. Please visit www.scbo.org/obf to learn more and view a job description. If you are prayerfully inter- ested, please send your resume to our Ohio Baptist Foun- dation Interim Executive Director, Dr. Jeremy Westbrook at jwestbrook@scbo.org.
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President’s Pen Jesus is Worthy of Our Best
A new year is often a time for us to take stock of our stewardship. It reminds us that we have choices. We have been and will continue to make choices about how we steward our time, talents, finances, health, relationships, etc. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We are his sheep. In this short passage, we learn a few things about ourselves: 1. Jesus’ sheep hear his voice 2. Jesus knows your name…he knows you personally 3. Jesus’ sheep follow him As you reflect on your stewardship choices, I want to encourage you to remember that Jesus knows you. He loves you. If you get better at listening to and following him, you won’t be more saved. He knows your name. He loves you! I also want to challenge you: Jesus is worthy of your best. What can you do this year to better hear his voice? What can you do this year to better follow him? Whatever it is, Jesus is worthy! One of the great things about being an Ohio Baptist is the support. Help is just an email or phone call away. There are amazing resources in our state to help church leaders. We can help you proclaim the Word of Christ in your community so that lost people can hear and respond to the gospel! You can always reach me at president@scbo.org. 10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 10:1–4). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Grace and Peace, Adam Pursel SCBO President
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Completing Annual Church Profile Benefits SCBO Churches Each year Southern Baptist congregations are asked to report several statistics about their church in a doc- ument known as the Annual Church Profile (ACP). But why should SCBO churches complete the ACP? There are many good reasons. Here are just a few: It is good to stop and see the condition of your flock
Jesus frequently gave illustrations about shepherds and sheep. The shepherd only knows they have all their sheep if they count them. When one is missing, they leave the others to go get the one. Church lead- ers have this same responsibility to keep a count. It is good to share your numbers with someone else Near the end of his earthly life Jesus had a conver- sation of this type with the Father. He reports that he had been given a dozen men “entrusted to him.” He gave a report that he had kept them all except the son of destruction (John 17:9-12). Jesus was willing for John to publish those numbers! Yes, we can have this accountability discussion with God, but the transparency of sharing them with some- one else keeps us from pretending with others that things are different than they are. While we want to set a positive tone, this transparency shows our hope is not dependent on being bigger, better, or without setbacks. It is good to maintain a historical record The people of Israel did not always know that some- thing they had just experienced was beyond amaz- ing, and that it would change multiple generations. To drive this point home sooner rather than later, God would tell them to place markers or standing stones to mark that occasion. They would refer back to that point in time to remember God’s provision. We don’t often get such immediate prompts today. So, the markers are often contained in our church’s history. When we look back and see a year with a large number of baptisms, that is a standing stone. When we see a season where God provided despite
lean finances, that is a marker. We only have such in - dicators if we track such trendlines. It has practical benefits As new staff members come to your church, they need to see the trendlines of activity, hardships, and blessings your church has experienced to better lead you in the future. If your church ever seeks financing, a lender should always trust annually reported numbers shared with a third party over your best estimates of that history now. The ACP is a short set of questions to record the con- dition and activity of your flock. This history is acces - sible for you online in SBCWorkspace. And it is shared with your association, state convention, and national entities to tell the condition of our shared work in a common mission. There’s still time to submit the 2024 Annual Church Profile. Please visit SCBO.org/ACP and take 1-2 min- utes to complete your church’s profile today. Original article courtesy of Lifeway Research
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Spreading Salt and Light at The Ohio State University
By Stephanie Heading, managing editor
Since moving to Ohio from Iowa, Harrison Guetzko has discovered two things. He loves sharing the gospel with students at The Ohio State University (OSU) and he loves being a Buckeye. Guetzko is the director of The Salt Company, the col- lege ministry of The Capital Church, Columbus. The Salt Network, which is based in Iowa and partners with Send Network, planted the church in 2021 near the OSU campus. According to its website, “The Salt Network is a fami- ly of churches committed to reaching college students and planting churches in university centers across the country.” Currently, there are 30 Salt Network church plants in 15 states with 1476 student leaders, and over 8,000 col - lege students participating in the ministry. In Guetzko’s ministry at OSU, he is sharing the gospel with students in much the same way he heard it when he was in college. “As a student at Iowa State, I got saved when I was 20,” he said. A realization that he didn’t have his life together motivated Guetzko’s search for meaning. “God decided to use circumstances in my life to allow me to see my need for Jesus,” he said. “I got saved in October 2016.” After graduation from Iowa State in 2019, Guetzko en- tered a Salt Network program to become a Salt Director. “It’s a two-year residency where you have the ability to assess the call of ministry in your life and what God’s doing with it,” he said. It didn’t take long for him to know he was heading in the right direction. “Right away I just saw so much value in being invit- ed into the movement of God on the university campus and inside of the local church.” In 2021 Guetzko accepted the opportunity to help plant The Salt Company and The Capital Church near the OSU campus. “It feels like an opportunity to do something that out- lives me. I really wanted to be a part of that,” he said. Three years later, Guetzko and his wife, Lydia, have set- tled into life in Columbus and are enjoying their ministry in the Buckeye State. “It’s The Ohio State University! What other school would I want to be a part of?” he exclaimed. “Jumping on the bandwagon was easy. When your football team wins 11
times a year and that’s a letdown, it’s pretty fun to be a part of that.” Since its inception, The Salt Company ministry has grown from 20-25 students to over 260 students at - tending its Thursday night gathering, and The Capital Church is running 275-325 people in service on Sunday morning. “We are seeing God’s faithfulness in how he is grow- ing our congregation,” he said. “It feels like really deep roots and big decisions to follow Jesus are being made both on the college side and the community side.” Guetzko is grateful to have a front row seat to the Lord’s work at OSU. He saw God’s work this past October with The Salt Company Fall Conference. “We annually do this Fall Conference because we think it’s an opportunity for students to encounter Jesus and develop a deep rela- tionship with him and with other people,” he said. However, Hurricane Helene roared through the south- eastern United States and remnants of the storm crossed into Ohio making travel to the conference loca- tion on Kelly’s Island impossible. The event was post- poned for three weeks. Harrison Guetzko, director, The Salt Company of The Capital Church, Columbus
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“What’s ironic is that there’s a Salt Network church plant in Gainesville, Florida, that had their Fall Conference the same weekend,” he said. “They were able to have it, but ours got canceled in Ohio.” Guetzko rebooked the conference. “We typically have a guest speaker come, but with the rescheduling be- cause of the hurricane, he wasn’t able to come,” he said. “We have two-and-a-half weeks to throw the new one together and to refund people who weren’t able to come anymore.” Despite the time crunch and the lack of a speaker, Guetzko relied on God, reorganized the event, and served as the primary speaker himself. Using 2 Corinthians, he preached four messages high- lighting how God loves us, transforms us, sustains us and invites us. “It was a really, really simple framework,” he said. “I felt so thankful for how it felt like the Spirit was leading in the preparation of that because it just felt really natural to say what we wanted to say.” One student at the retreat stood out. A student told Guetzko that she was walking through a significant sea - son of anxiety and depression that was causing her to lose hope. But by the grace of God, she said that Jesus
Nearly 200 Ohio State students traveled to Kelly’s Island for the 2024 Salt Company Fall Conference.
seemed more hopeful than ever after the Fall Confer- ence. “She wouldn’t have been able to attend our conference when it was originally supposed to happen three weeks earlier,” he said. “I’m convinced that God worked every- thing out to specifically have her be in attendance and I’m praying we continue to hear stories like that as we meet with students going forward.”
Resolve to Renew and Refocus in 2025 By Mark Jones, SCBO revitalization consultant
The new year is here and many Ohio Baptists have made resolutions about their diets, workloads, Bible devotions, exercise, and other areas of life. Perhaps you have made resolutions yourself. If you are like many other pastors, you might resolve to lead dif- ferently than you did last year. According to the dictionary, as a verb “resolve” means to decide firmly on a course of action. “Resolve” as a noun is a firm determination to do something. Before making a resolution, we must review and assess the need for the resolution. What needs to be resolved in your community? What needs to be refocused within your congregation? What causes you to stumble in your resolve to lead well? What do you need to resolve to have the resolve necessary for revitalization? My prayer over the next year is to encourage each of us to begin a journey of renewal by refocusing on the kingdom of God and his desire for each of us. Will you “resolve to have resolve” when it comes to renewal by refocusing on his kingdom above all else? May our heart’s prayer be “Father, may your will be done and your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” To help your resolve, several events are being offered in 2025.
Dr. Richard Blackaby, president of Blackaby Ministries, is coming to Cuyahoga Falls in March to speak on the ways of God. In May, pastors will be encouraged during the Lead Well Conference in the Northeast Region of Ohio. Later in the year, Mark Clifton, NAMB senior director of replanting, is coming to Lancaster and the South- west Region to encourage pastors to have resolve in the journey. In addition to events, there are multiple revitalization tools available–from the weekend of Awakening to a season of refocusing. This year pastors can become part of Overseer cohorts to assist them in casting vi- sion and developing a deployment strategy. Resolutions are best accomplished by goals set. My 2025 goals in revitalization are to see six regional con- gregations go through a Church Renewal Journey - Awaken weekend; ten congregations complete the Corpus Vitae Refocus process; twenty-four pastors complete the Overseer cohort; six additional Pathfinder coaches trained; and ten percent of our congregations complete a Pulse assessment. Would you like more information? Email me at mjones@ scbo.org or go to scbo.org/revitalize.
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Pastor Joshua Hargis, his wife, Alicia, and children, Elliana, Adrian, Fiona, Reagan.
By Stephanie Heading, managing editor Elyria Pastor Named Fire Department Chaplain
A weekly outreach to firehouses turned into an oppor - tunity for an Elyria pastor and church replanter to be- come the volunteer chaplain for the Elyria Fire Depart- ment. Pastor Joshua Hargis, Elyria Church, and members of his congregation started delivering home-cooked meals weekly to the firehouses in Elyria three-and-a- half years ago. “We were trying to figure out how to engage the city in a way that was not event driven,” Hargis said. “I asked a few people within the church if they would help and we started making home-cooked meals and feeding the fire department on Mondays.” About 18 months into the project, the Elyria Fire Chief contacted Hargis and asked him to stop the outreach. “He felt like we were just doing something unneces- sary,” he said. “One of the firemen said, ‘No, I’d keep doing it if I was you.’ So we decided to keep doing it against the Fire Chief’s wishes.” In May 2024 Hargis heard from the fire department again. “The Fire Chief called me and asked if I would consider being the chaplain and developing a chaplain program for the Elyria Fire Department. Hargis accepted the offer and in October 2024, he was sworn in as a public servant for the city of Elyria. “I am
a volunteer, so I don’t receive any benefits for it other than the ability to be on site and those types of things,” he noted. Being Fire Chaplain is just one of the many responsibil- ities Hargis currently shoulders. “We (Elyria Church) are a small church, a growing church, but also an inner city church, which comes with a whole new set of demands,” he said. “And we just launched a community center, the Black River Com- munity Center.” Hargis is also married to his wife, Alicia, and they have four young children. Despite the demands on his time and schedule, Hargis has carved out regular time to spend with firefighters. “Right now is a lot of relationship building,” he said. “Sitting with them drinking coffee, learning about their families, learning about their hobbies, and those types of things.” The Elyria Fire Department has four firehouses and among the 75 firefighters in the department, only two are professing believers. “So there’s a major need to be able to have a gospel ministry in this context,” he said. “On the other hand, they are very private.” Story continues on the next page...
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A few months into the job, Hargis is seeing progress in building relationships. “We’re now getting into the place where I feel like I’m welcomed,” he said. “The first few months I did not feel welcomed, and some went out of their way to let me know that I was not welcome. After some time I’ve been more well received.” The Elyria Church weekly meal ministry to the fire de - partment has also opened relationship pathways with the firefighters. “Three and a half years of seeing them every week has really helped.” Hargis made his goals for the chaplain ministry clear to all Elyria firefighters. “The very first day that I met with them I made my introduction and I told them that I was there to be a friend and to be a compassionate, kind help, but the greatest help is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.” In addition to building relationships with firefighters, Hargis is also on call for the difficult days, and the fire department has already had one bad day since he be- came the chaplain. Two children, ages nine and ten, were struck by a car, and one of them passed away.
“I was called out that night to meet the firemen when they returned to the station,” he said. He wasn’t able to meet with the family of the victims on that particular day but has since developed a protocol to minister to bereaved families. “We’ve worked out a way that I have direct access through the fire department and meet the family, be with them, and build those relationships,” he said. “We’ll be able to do that, which will be another avenue of doing ministry within our city.” As Hargis and Elyria Church continue to find ways to build relationships and engage the city of Elyria, he be- lieves his call to chaplain ministry is a long-term com- mitment. “I think that this is a program that I will be investing in, probably until I retire. “Because longevity is key in transformation,” he said. “I want to be around long enough to plant the seed, to watch God work in some- one’s life, and to be there to help them walk with God when they’re ready to make that decision.”
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SCBO Evangelism Grants Fund Outreach Events Across Ohio
“Thanks for partnering with us for our Black Walnut Festival here in Camden. The gospel was put into many hands during the annual two-day event which included connecting with vendors, car show participants, and festival patrons. Thanks to SCBO and Southwestern Baptist Association for partner- ing to get the gospel out.” –Pastor Greg Jackson, FSBC Camden Black Walnut Festival, FSBC Camden
Campus Outreach Concert - H2O Church, Wright State University, Dayton
“Thank you, SBCO, again for the grant to do a concert on the campus of Wright State University! We handed out free Chick-fil-A during the live concert. Three people shared tes - timonies from the stage and students also heard the gospel proclaimed. Students were invited to experience the same joy, victory, and freedom that was shared in the testimonies. We also had a team of people intentionally sharing Jesus with students sitting down and listening! There were 60-80 people who came through and we have a handful of people we get to follow up with...thank you again so much!!! Be blessed for being a blessing! We are so thankful to be a part of SBCO and what God is doing at our church on the campus of Wright State University!” –Pastor Josh Ortega, H2O Church, Dayton
“It was a rainy day but that didn’t stop people from coming to receive food, hygiene and clothing items. As always we prayed before the event and we had more than enough volun- teers which gave us more time with the community. Although we saw no professions of faith, we did have gospel conversa- tions and prayed for those we encountered. Two ladies, both with a carload of children, asked us to pray for them and their children. As I was praying, a little boy asked if he could pray too.” –Pastor David A. Williams, Life Transformation Church, Dublin Life Transformation Church, Outreach Event, Dublin
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Fall Conference, The Capital Church, The Salt Company, Columbus
“Thank you all so much for praying for us and with us! We had an incredible weekend. The weather was perfect, all of the logistics went smoothly, and it seems as though the weekend led to some really incredible growth for students both relationally and spiritually. Our students are currently filling out a debrief from post-conference talking about what their takeaways were, and so far, we have stu- dents who want to be baptized, move on church plants in the Salt Network, and dive deeper in their walk with Jesus. A highlight of the weekend for me was talking to a girl after our main session on Saturday night. We had been teaching on 2 Corinthians 4, where the author, Paul, says that our suffering is temporary and light compared to the weight of glory that is waiting for us in heaven because of Jesus.
She told me that she had been walking through a significant season of anxiety and depression that was causing her to lose a lot of hope, but by the grace of God, she told me that Jesus seems more hopeful than ever before after this weekend. On top of that - she wouldn’t have been able to attend our conference when it was supposed to originally happen three weeks earlier. I’m convinced that God worked everything out to specifically have her in attendance this weekend, and I’m praying we continue to hear stories like that as we meet with students going forward. Your support means the world to us, and your generosity makes weekends like we just had possible for students.” –Harrison Guetzko, director, The Salt Company, Columbus
Fall Outreach Event - Lifepoint Church, Worthington
“Thank you, SCBO, for the generous contribution to the Lifepoint Worthington outreach event at the end of October! We had a FAN- TASTIC turnout from the community and saw around 1500 folks come through our area. We had a team of volunteers personally connecting with everyone. We had a lot of engagement with people through our communi- ty board questions that gave us an opening to talk with folks. The questions were: “Does the church have a place in a modern city?” and “Is religion a ‘bug’ or a ‘feature’ in a modern society?” The funds from SCBO allowed us to feed hundreds of people, pro- vide games, candy, professional photobooth and more! Our city was blown away by how much we were able to do with our team and said they have never had a church partner with them at this level. They’ve given us an open invitation to come back to the rest of the city’s events. It was a huge opportunity to engage our city and both show and share the love of Jesus. Thank you so much for your partnership in making this possible!” –Dan Osborn, teaching pastor, Lifepoint Church, Worthington
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The Ministry of Presence after Flooding in Spain By Dr. John Heading, Ohio Disaster Relief director
The ministry of presence is the first mission of Ohio Di - saster Relief. People who experience traumatic events need to talk and express their feelings. In late October, a massive flood struck the Valencia re - gion of Spain. An Ohio Disaster Relief team respond- ed to a call from missionaries in the area to come and help. Our team went from shop to shop in Paiporta, Spain, with the missionaries to talk to the survivors. These are their stories. Andrea is a young, single lady who operates a cleaning business out of a small shop in Paiporta. As her work day wound down on October 29, she was getting ready to make the five kilometer trip to her apartment. It began to rain. In just a short time the street in front of her shop flood - ed. She saw a car float by, and soon a city bus floated past her shop.
Roseanna cooks Valencia paella for the Ohio DR team.
During our time in Paiporta, we encountered a man who came to help with the flood recovery and was helping rebuild a hostel. He walked to Paiporta the day after the flood and saw bodies along the road. Every shop owner on the street had a story to tell, and our Ohio DR team practiced the ministry of presence as we cleaned up the destruction and shared the gospel with many of the storm’s victims. And then there’s Roseanna. She is a retired surgeon who hadn’t had a long conversation with anyone for over two years. Our team met her on the sidewalk outside our hotel. We invited her to join us for coffee at the church around the corner, and she said yes. She came every day at 9 am for coffee and conversation. On the night before we left, she made everyone Valencia paella. In just a few days, on a sidewalk she never uses, Rose- anna found a new family. “It’s not just work, it’s people,” said Angela Jolley, IMB missionary to Valencia, Spain. Disaster Relief is about the people we meet and the hope of Jesus we get to share with them.
Shop owner Andrea with Ohio DR Team members in Paiporta, Spain.
Scared, she called her father and he told her to go to the highest point in her shop, which was a storage room with shelves. She climbed onto the top shelf and for the next seven hours, she stayed there as the flood waters in her shop rose to seven feet deep and began to fill the storage area. The water stopped rising before it got to her. Across the street from Andrea’s shop was the local ex- ercise club. We met the guys who operate the club. On the night of the flood they had to knock a hole in the wall to swim out of the club with a couple other people. We also interacted with the owner of a private police academy who joined his fellow officers after the flood to start search and rescue in the area. He discovered a number of bodies of the victims.
“Thank you Volunteers, Always Loved”-- Valencia, Spain.
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VBS Preview Event Encourages and Equips Volunteers and Leaders By Myriah Snyder, Lifeway Christian Resources 14 | January 2025
VBS impact Thomas is especially excited about this year’s theme. Everything from the decor to the music to the activities are designed to point kids to God and who He is as re- vealed in His creation. Thomas said when a kid or adult starts to notice the tiny details, “that’s when you really begin to see how big God is, who He is and how He cares about even the tiniest of things.” Once they grasp that, their “only response is to praise Him, to make much of Him, to magnify Him,” Thomas continued. As attendees learn about Lifeway’s 2025 VBS, they also take a moment to celebrate the immense impact of past VBS seasons. Last summer, Lifeway celebrat- ed its 100th anniversary of ministry through VBS. Each summer, more than 2.5 million participants engage with Lifeway’s VBS curriculum across more than 25,000 churches. Thomas estimates around 70,000 people made a profession of faith in the 2024 VBS season alone. Thomas attributes this massive impact to God, but she’s thankful for the army of volunteers that makes VBS a reality each year in churches across the globe.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — In January, around 4,000 min- istry leaders and volunteers will gather in Nashville, Tenn., Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, and Ridgecrest, N.C., for Lifeway’s annual Vacation Bible School Pre- view events. These leaders will be immersed in Life- way’s 2025 VBS theme—“Magnified!” As they learn the VBS songs and motions, play the games and preview the snacks and crafts, they’ll be surrounded by decora- tions that bring the theme to life. “We want leaders to experience the fun and energy that encompasses VBS while we take a deeper dive into Psalm 34:3,” said Melita Thomas, Lifeway’s VBS spe- cialist. “As we lead them through Lifeway’s 2025 VBS material, the hope is that they begin to understand the grandeur and greatness of God through both small and large perspectives.” Ministry leaders will experience firsthand that this en - gaging theme is meant to point them, and the kids they’ll be leading in VBS this summer, to worship God and reflect on His majesty. The Lifeway 2025 VBS Preview event will not only ex- plore the theme of this summer’s VBS, but it will equip potential volunteers and church leaders with the train- ing, tools, motivation and inspiration to craft their church’s VBS into an impactful and engaging event for kids of all ages.
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Practical breakouts further equip leaders The VBS Preview breakout sessions will encourage at- tendees to not only grasp the theme but to understand why VBS is important and why their roles matter. At- tendees will leave the sessions equipped with practical tools and tips for the work before them. Breakout sessions will offer overviews of: • Teaching resources for every age from infants through adults • Rotation resources including snacks, recreation, music, missions, and crafts • Strategies for VBS directors • Multi-age and Backyard Kids Club resources • Decorating ideas Practical sessions are designed to equip new and ex- perienced volunteers in areas including: • Leading a child to Christ • Navigating the unexpected at VBS • Best practices for behavior management • Effective follow-up strategies • Creating a safe and secure campus
Additionally, there will be four Spanish breakout ses- sions. More information about breakout sessions at VBS Preview can be found at Lifeway.com/VBS. Changing how they view their role These events are formulated to comprehensively train volunteers who may not be actively involved in Kids Ministry at their church. At the end of the event, orga- nizers, hope leaders and volunteers feel prepared and confident to lead VBS this summer. “It really changes how they view their role during that week of VBS,” Thomas said. All the VBS resources will be available for purchase in the event’s Lifeway store at each site. For those who want to touch and assess the materials in a tangible way, this shopping experience is a great option. The two-day events will take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan.10-11, 2025; Houston on Jan. 17-18, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 24-25, 2025; and Ridgecrest, N.C., on Jan. 31-Feb.1, 2025. For more information on Lifeway’s 2025 VBS and to register for a VBS Preview, visit Lifeway.com/VBS.
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Job Postings
SENIOR PASTOR Wapakoneta Baptist Church, Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta Baptist Church, Wapakoneta, OH is seeking a senior pastor for a small, but well-established congregation. This is a bi-vocational position. The prospective candidate must agree with and support the Baptist Faith and Message as we are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It is preferred that the prospective candidate have some ministerial education and five or more years of experience in a senior pastor role. Please send resumes and/or inquiries to: Donald W. Jump, dwjump@bright.net , or call 567-356-0326 PASTOR Margaret Wynn Memorial Baptist Church, Poland, Ohio Margaret Wynn Memorial Baptist Church, Poland is seeking a pastor to lead a church that is small in number, but not small in faith and love. We are seeking a candidate for pastor who will lead the church to function as a New Testament church, work with the Church Council, committees, and volunteer church staff to lead the church to achieve its mission; proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers; and care for church members and other people in the community. We also prefer a candidate with pastoral experience and a degree from an SBC seminary. To apply, please submit the following information: cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in this position; salvation testimony; resume with ministry experience; educational background and at least three references; doctrinal statement of theological view on core doctrines; and a link to your sermons. To submit your completed information or request a complete job description please e-mail Debbie Hunt, Pastor Search chairman, mbcpastorsearch56@gmail.com or Jerry Stare, church moderator, at soccerdad24@zoominternet.net or by mail to Memorial Baptist Pastor Search Committee, 56 Water Street, Poland OH 44514.
SENIOR PASTOR Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Wilmont
Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Wilmont, is seeking a bi-vocational pastor to lead our congregation. Wilmont is in Stark County near Canton. We are part of the SBC, SCBO, and the Buckeye Central-Erie Association. We hold firmly to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We are a down-to-earth congregation striving to become increasingly faithful to scripture in all matters of faith and practice. Qualifications:
- Meet biblical qualifications as required in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. - Deep commitment to Christ and a passion for God’s glory and the gospel.
- Devote 15-20 hours per week to the work of ministry. - Fully agree with the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but not required. Please send questions and résumés to: Pastor Search Committee, Faith Missionary Baptist Church P.O. Box 3 Wilmot, OH 44689-0003, or email to bcedom@gmail.com
PASTOR Woodsfield First Baptist Church, Woodsfield
Let the Ohio Baptist Messenger help your church find a new pastor or staff member! The Messenger is offering classified ads free of charge for Ohio churches searching for new pastors and staff members. The Messenger is read by churches and individuals in Ohio and across the country. To submit a classified ad, please send brief information about the position along with a return phone number or email: classifieds@scbo.org Woodsfield First Baptist Church is seeking a pastor. We are a conservative Southern Baptist Church with a blended style of worship, located in the small southeastern Ohio community of Woodsfield. Our church has the desire to grow and we seek a pastor who has the same desire, as well as the ability to work with compassion and love with all types of people. The church is seeking a man called to be a Southern Baptist pastor who agrees with the Baptist Faith and Message. He should also meet the biblical requirements listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 Peter 5:1-4. Pastoral experience and pastoral education are preferred. Send resume to: Pastor Church Committee Chairperson, Woodsfield First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 604, Woodsfield, OH 43793, or Email to: fbcwoodsfield@gmail.com. The church Facebook page is 1bcwoodsfield.
Cooperative Program Giving Report (SCBO) December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024
CHURCH NAME
SBC ID#
REGION
ASSOCIATION
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
1040 Global 4LIFE Worship
0589857 Central 0585555 Southwest 0585004 Northwest 0589860 Central 0588567 Southwest 0528802 Northeast 0595967 Central 0540980 Southwest 0587150 Northeast 0525329 West 0565637 Northeast 0576373 Central 0588707 Northeast 0595391 Northwest 0246090 Southwest 0588899 Central 0242180 Central 0246512 Northeast 0566679 Northwest 0244236 Southwest 0384032 Northeast 0593836 Southwest 0583283 Central 0571994 Northeast 0373936 Southwest 0583841 West 0242735 West 0595165 West 0242750 West 0454777 Southwest 0594664 Southwest 0587880 Southwest 0435255 Southwest 0376202 Southeast 0568822 Southwest 0396051 Central 0577585 Northeast 0594836 Southwest 0592075 Southwest 0588915 Southwest 0589930 Southwest 0242487 Central 0246694 Northeast 0242818 West 0504142 West 0378356 Central 0398891 Southwest 0584810 Northeast
SCN
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
-
Cincinnati Area
200.00
A Fresh Wind Ministry Abishek Nepali Bhutanese
Northcoast
1,980.00
SCN
-
Abundant Life
Cincinnati Area Cleveland Hope Greater Dayton Southwestern Greater Dayton Greater Dayton Buckeye Central/Erie Summit
801.78 700.00 750.00 375.00 300.00 50.00 550.00
Abundant Life Community Church Abundant Life in Christ Church
Agape Bible Fellowship
Agape Korean Baptist Church
Agape Ministries
Agape Nepali Baptist Church
Airway Baptist Church
1,911.81
Akron Hmong Baptist Mission All Nations Baptist Church All Points Church Hudson All-nations Baptist Church Allison Avenue Baptist Church
Summit
606.45
SCN
2,857.00
Cleveland Hope Northwest Ohio Southwestern
-
1,852.92 3,591.99
Almighty Bhutanese
SCN SCN
-
Alum Creek Baptist Church Austintown Baptist Church
2,400.00
Steel Valley Northcoast
260.00
Avon Baptist Church
2,876.65 1,175.00 11,599.07
Awakenings Christian Fellowship
Greater Dayton Cincinnati Area Greater Dayton Cincinnati Area Steel Valley Cleveland Hope Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area Muskingum Valley Cincinnati Area SCN Greater Dayton Cleveland Hope Cincinnati Area Southwestern Greater Dayton SCN
Beacon of Christ Church
Beacon Of Hope Baptist Church Beavercreek Baptist Church
-
23,858.51
Berachah Baptist Church
-
Berachah Church
1,200.00
Beth-El Messianic Congregation & Ministries
50.00
Bethany Baptist Church
10,966.00
Bethany Baptist Church Clarksville Bethany Nepali Church Bethel Baptist Church Bethel Unity Baptist Church Beverly Baptist Church Bloom Baptist Church Brantwood Baptist Church Bridge Church at Perry Blanchester Community Ministries
- -
579.14 200.55
1,454.95
-
38,590.25 6,830.00 1,482.54 2,003.73
Bridge City Church
Bridgepoint Community
-
Bridgeview BC
2,639.42 3,500.00
Bridgeway Baptist Church
Ohio Valley
Bridgeway Baptist Church - Riverside Campus
Cincinnati Area
-
SCN
13,650.00 3,766.63 10,072.95 7,540.00 2,100.00
Pillar Church
Broadman Baptist Church Cuya Falls Brookside Baptist Church Brookville Road Baptist Church Brunswick Community Church
Summit
SCN
Southwestern
Summit
Page 1 of 14
Cooperative Program Giving Report (SCBO) December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024
CHURCH NAME
SBC ID#
REGION
ASSOCIATION
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Burlington Baptist Church Butler Community Church C3 Freedom House Calvary Baptist Church Calvary Baptist Church
0244665 Southeast 0592246 West 0594399 Central 0242503 West 0595196 Southwest 0245910 Southwest 0378992 Southeast 0245761 Southeast 0398123 Central 0245258 West 0394932 Northwest 0587151 Northeast 0566602 Central 0586945 Northeast 0246538 Northeast 0424309 Central 0246710 Northeast 0596481 Central 0592344 West 0243535 Northeast 0586610 Central 0243816 Central 0411728 West 0389510 West 0245613 Northwest 0245779 Southeast 0581020 Southwest 0244202 Southwest 0589853 Southwest 0580405 Central 0593280 Central 0592173 Northeast 0583587 West 0595083 West 0591347 Central 0589229 Southwest 0242347 Central 0593175 Central 0584043 Northeast 0590942 Northeast 0590597 Southwest 0580040 Central 0596819 Northeast 0244186 Southwest 0245506 Northwest 0242859 West
Scioto Valley Greater Dayton
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
3,167.00 7,500.00
SCN
-
Greater Dayton
6,500.00
Ohio Valley
- -
Calvary Baptist Church Blanchester Calvary Baptist Church McConnellsville Calvary Baptist Church Middletown Calvary Baptist Church Piketon Calvary Baptist Church Shreve Calvary Baptist Church Wilmington Calvary Missionary BC, Dayton Calvary Southern Baptist Church
Cincinnati Area Muskingum Valley
3,750.20
Miami Valley Scioto Valley
-
7,609.76
Buckeye Central/Erie
-
Greater Dayton Greater Dayton West Central
6,718.22
- - -
Carrollton Bible Chapel Cedar Hill Baptist Church
Summit
SCN
2,350.00
Center of Hope Bible Fellowship Centerville Christian Fellowship
Cleveland Hope Greater Dayton
-
6,000.00 1,384.49 23,716.45 4,664.45
Central Baptist Church
Steel Valley
Central Baptist Church Marion Central Community Church
Buckeye Central/Erie
Summit
Change City
SCN
700.00 150.00
Chardon Christian Fellowship Charisma Word Ministry Charity Missionary BC, Copley Cherry Hill Baptist Church, Korean Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church Chillicothe Baptist Church Christ the King Church Christ the King Eastern Hills Cheryl Richie
Cleveland Hope
SCN
-
Buckeye Central/Erie
300.00
Greater Dayton
1,200.00
Non-Associational Northcoast Scioto Valley Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area
100.00
-
550.00
- -
Christ the Lord
Greater Dayton Greater Dayton
444.00 120.00
Christian Evangelical Baptist Church Christian Family Development Center Christians United in Christ Baptist Church
Ohio Valley
1,400.00
SCN SCN
-
Chroma Church
6,349.00
Church in the Valley Church in the Wild Cincinnati Tamil Church
Cleveland Hope
-
SCN
700.00
Cincinnati Area
-
Circleville First Baptist Church
SCN SCN
10,466.53 19,026.83 1,200.00
Citizens Church
City Church - Cleveland Heights City Church - Near West Side City of Refuge Baptist Church Clearview Community Church Clough Pike Baptist Church College Heights Baptist Church City Hope Church Cliff Hartley Columbus Kale Heywet Church Columbus Kale Heywet Church
Cleveland Hope Cleveland Hope Cincinnati Area Cleveland Hope Non-Associational Cincinnati Area SCN
-
10,104.12
-
750.00 100.00
12,220.71 15,197.23
Northcoast
Columbus Jesus The Shepherd Korean Baptist Church 0596458 Central
SCN SCN SCN
-
0016447 Central 0593015 Central
285.48
-
Page 2 of 14
Cooperative Program Giving Report (SCBO) December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024
CHURCH NAME
SBC ID#
REGION
ASSOCIATION
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Columbus Myanmar Church Columbus Tamil Church
0596752 Central 0581515 Central 0596024 Southwest 0438085 Southeast 0580377 Central 0019071 Southeast 0588636 Southwest 0378844 Northeast 0567729 Southwest 0461426 Northeast 0404343 Northeast 0591553 Northwest 0592552 Northeast 0245407 Southeast 0569067 Southeast 0592343 Northeast 0581669 Central 0591918 West 0590099 Northwest 0244632 Southwest 0584862 Central 0243386 West 0580563 Central 0591485 Central 0580380 Central 0583431 Central 0245472 Northeast 0417105 Southwest 0468876 Northeast 0594076 Northeast 0242875 West 0470880 West 0453209 West 0242727 Central 0596350 Central 0588823 Southwest 0572663 Southeast 0586156 Southwest 0245456 Southeast 0592136 Central 0412189 Central 0401729 Northeast 0246165 Southwest 0245067 Northwest 0243550 Northeast 0245068 Northwest 0242305 Central 0245274 West 0579817 Southeast 0595308 0242974 West
SCN SCN
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
55.00
-
Comfort Missionary Baptist Church Cincinnati
Cincinnati Area Muskingum Valley Muskingum Valley Cincinnati Area SCN Cincinnati Area Greater Dayton Cleveland Hope Steel Valley
115.00
Community Baptist Church Dover Community Christian Fellowship Community of Faith Baptist Church
3,424.43 1,200.00
- -
Connection Point Church Cornersburg Baptist Church Cornerstone Baptist Church Cornerstone Baptist Church
3,915.87 9,101.58 1,000.00 2,800.00 300.00
Cornerstone Bible Baptist Church Cornerstone Church of Aurora Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church
Summit
Northcoast Steel Valley
450.00 490.00
Cortland Trinity Baptist Church Coshocton Baptist Church Countryside Baptist Church
Muskingum Valley Scioto Valley Cleveland Hope
1,881.07
-
Cove City Church Covenant Church
1,600.00 21,500.00 6,000.00 4,640.85
SCN
Covenant Church of Perrysburg Creek Road Baptist Church
Northwest Ohio Cincinnati Area
Creekside Church
SCN
480.00
Crestview Baptist Church Clayton Cross Community Church (C3)
Greater Dayton
50,793.58
SCN SCN SCN SCN
- - - -
CrossPointe Church
Crossroads Baptist Church CrossRoads Baptist Church
Crossroads Church, A Baptist Congregation
Cleveland Hope Southwestern Non-Associational Greater Dayton Cleveland Hope Cleveland Hope Greater Dayton
679.40 200.00
Crosstown Community Church Crosstown Community Church CrossWalk Worship Center
2,200.00
84.00
Cuyahoga Valley Church
40,055.00 13,835.00 30,000.00 1,620.00
Cuyahoga Valley Church Brunswick Campus
Dayton Avenue Baptist Church Dayton Chinese Christian Church Dayton Korean BC Discovery Church DiverCity Church Dover Baptist Temple Dreamers Church Dominion Firehouse Chapel Dresden Road Baptist Church Dublin Baptist Chinese Church East Conneaut Baptist Church East River Road Baptist Church East Toledo Baptist Church Dublin Baptist Church Eastlake Baptist Church Eastland Baptist Church Eastview Baptist Church Ebenezer Baptist Church Eastland Heights Baptist Church
Greater Dayton Greater Dayton
600.00
SCN SCN
-
922.19
Cincinnati Area Muskingum Valley Cincinnati Area Muskingum Valley Steel Valley Southwestern Northwest Ohio Cleveland Hope Northwest Ohio SCN SCN
-
1,100.00
705.00 500.00 500.00
99,114.43
827.28
9,584.04
-
2,700.00 15,943.38 3,525.00 9,101.68 3,950.41
SCN
Miami Valley Scioto Valley
Page 3 of 14
Cooperative Program Giving Report (SCBO) December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024
CHURCH NAME
SBC ID#
REGION
ASSOCIATION
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Edgewood Baptist Church Eldorado Baptist Church Elk Creek Baptist Church
0463869 West 0584896 West 0245282 West
Miami Valley Greater Dayton Miami Valley Northcoast Scioto Valley West Central
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
9,426.54
- -
Elyria Church
0595711 Northwest 0245787 Southeast 0247189 Northwest 0559096 Central 0583413 Central 0594401 West 0591455 Southwest
1,242.50 1,625.40
Emmanuel Baptist Church Jackson Emmanuel Baptist Church Sidney
937.71 390.00
Emmanuel Deaf Mission
SCN SCN
Emmanuel Fellowship Church
1,800.00 1,500.00
Engage City Church
Greater Dayton
Ephphatha Baptist Church
Ohio Valley
-
Erieside Church
595307
20.00 120.00
Erieside Church on the Boulevard Everybody's Tabernacle Fairfield West Baptist Church Fairland Southern Baptist Church
Northeast
Cleveland Hope Greater Dayton Southwestern Scioto Valley
0525337 West
-
0586751 Southwest 0397299 Southeast 0244210 Southwest 0584811 Southeast 0246579 Northeast 0489328 Southeast 0412494 Southwest 0246322 Southwest 0245084 Northwest 0247023 Northwest 0596813 Southwest 0434696 Central 0596743 0582058 Central 0568823 Southwest 0380170 Southwest 0401711 Northeast 0415976 Northwest 0242339 Southeast 0246173 Southwest 0577073 Southeast 0242784 West 0242099 Central 0429688 Northwest 0595529 0433136 Southwest 0242826 West 0386052 Central 0247007 Northwest 0244178 Southwest 0245001 Northwest 0585499 Central 0411991 Southwest 0242800 West
1,200.00
825.00
Fairview Baptist Church Faith Baptist Chapel Faith Baptist Church
Ohio Valley Scioto Valley Steel Valley
3,907.00 1,261.43
894.53
Faith Baptist Church Belle Valley Faith Baptist Church Blanchester Faith Baptist Church Cincinnati Faith Baptist Church Lambertville Faith Baptist Church Sidney
Muskingum Valley Cincinnati Area Southwestern Northwest Ohio West Central Non-Associational Buckeye Central/Erie Non-Associational Ohio Valley
37,905.60 5,555.92 1,282.00 1,200.00
-
Faith Center Church Faith Journey Church
200.00
-
Faith Missionary BC, Wilmot Faith Outpost Church Faithway Baptist Church
1,536.71
- -
SCN
Fayetteville FBC FBC Anderson Hills
Cincinnati Area Cincinnati Area Northwest Ohio Scioto Valley Steel Valley Ohio Valley Scioto Valley Greater Dayton
391.13
1,200.00
FBC Andover FBC Antwerp FBC Ashville FBC Auburn
719.79 781.32 875.98
1,685.00 4,259.28 1,158.92 8,594.09 6,043.02 2,872.67 250.00 6,000.00 5,637.84 4,194.00 2,115.00 2,053.52 1,300.00 1,278.41 58,227.51 13,200.00 5,778.08 -
FBC Beaver FBC Bellbrook FBC Bellville FBC Birmingham FBC Bradford FBC Bright FBC Brookville
Buckeye Central/Erie
Northcoast
Greater Dayton Cincinnati Area Greater Dayton
FBC Carroll FBC Celina FBC Cleves FBC Clyde
SCN
West Central Ohio Valley Northcoast
FBC Columbus FBC Edenton FBC Englewood FBC Fairborn FBC Fairfield FBC Farmersville
SCN
Cincinnati Area Greater Dayton Greater Dayton Southwestern Greater Dayton
0242933 West 0242958 West
0246199 Southwest
0242966 West
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