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 10 OCTOBER 2025
The Cooperative Program Makes a Difference in Ohio
Full story on page 7
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Featured This Month
Why I Engage in the SBC by Dr. Jeremy Westbrook God is Worthy of our Praise by Adam Pursel
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The Importance of the White House
The Cooperative Program Makes a Difference In Ohio OBF Golf Tournament Breaks Fundraising Record for CampUCan
Annual OAAF Conference Emphasizes Unity
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Two Green Bell Peppers
Send Relief Serve Tour Coming to Toledo in 2026 Don’t Have A Worship Leader? Try CCLI’s New Lyric Videos
Have You Signed Up For SBC Worship?
Revitalize Your Bible Study Ministry at Lifeway’s Group Essentials Conference
21 Days of Prayer Launches 2026 Campaign Evangelism Grants Fuel Outreach Projects
Your Motive Matters...
Emily Hurt Joins SCBO as Ministry Assistant - Events Regional Worship Leaders Hold First Gatherings Florida-Ohio Partnership Assists Cayman Brac Island Church
So You Want to Advertise in The Messenger?
The Ohio Baptist Messenger Staff
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, editor-in-chief Stephanie Heading, managing editor
Seth Wicker, digital communication assistant AJ Frasure, director of IT
-- 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 Ave Columbus, Ohio 43240
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Why I Engage in the SBC I am often asked why I choose to be a Southern Bap- tist and why I am so involved in what appears to be an archaic system. Isn’t the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) irrelevant? I choose to engage in the SBC for two clear and com- pelling reasons. Confession Southern Baptists have a clear, concise and compelling confession of faith known as the Baptist Faith & Mes- sage. It was written in 1925, revised in 1963, 1998, and finally in 2000. We know what we believe and why we believe it, and the foundation of our faith is rooted in the scriptures. In an era of postmodernism and pluralism, we need doctrinal fidelity more than ever. One of the incredible benefits of being connected to the Southern Baptist Convention is the autonomy of the churches that comprise it. When we planted Living Hope Church over sixteen years ago, we had a national spon- soring church in Memphis, Tennessee and a local spon- soring church in Dublin, Ohio. Both of these churches are still leading churches in our convention. Though our church looked a little different from those that sent us, we all believe and hold to the same confession of faith rooted in the scriptures and the Baptist Faith & Message. I am thankful that before I was born, and soon thereafter, Southern Baptist leaders fought for and won the battle over the inerrancy of the Bible. As a leader in the SBC, I stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before me and allow me to lead from the inerrant, inspired and infallible view of the scriptures that
is held among our convention and seminaries. It was not always that way. Cooperation Another compelling reason I choose to engage is the Cooperative Program, commonly referred to as CP. Just as the Baptist Faith & Message was introduced in 1925, so was the Cooperative Program. Southern Bap- tist churches were being asked for funds by agents com- ing from seminaries, mission boards and other entities, and the system was broken. In an effort to promote a more balanced distribution to all, the Cooperative Program was born. Since 1925, twenty billion dollars have been given to SBC seminaries and mission causes. No other denomination or network can come even close to this collaborative effort to fund and fuel missions around the globe. Simply put, we can do more together than we can alone. I am grateful that in my hometown of Memphis, the Bap- tist Faith & Message and Cooperative Program were in- troduced. Now, a century later, these two pillars of SBC life are the reasons I still choose to engage. Moving Forward,
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook Executive Director-Treasurer, SCBO
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President’s Pen God is Worthy of our Praise Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps 96:1–6). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
God is worthy of our praise!!! Each Sunday, we have the privilege of gathering with our church families to worship the Lord. Once a year, we have the privilege of gathering with our SCBO family for our Annual Celebration and Pastor’s Conference. I know we’re all incredibly busy, and it can be difficult to make the trip to our Annual Meeting…but I’d love for you to come! I would love to sing to the Lord with you. I would love to pray with you and hear from his word with you. I would love to be encouraged and edified to better serve the church with you. To be honest, I love all that stuff way more than the reports and the voting…but the reports and the voting help us to partner together to declare God’s glory among the nations! And I do love that!!! “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” This year, the Annual Celebration is in my hometown, hosted by the church that I helped to plant 12 years ago. I love my hometown and I love my church, and - to be honest - I’m genuinely excited to welcome you to my community. So, I hope you’ll come…to worship, to pray, to study, to grow, to learn, to vote, to encourage, and to be encouraged. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!” As always, I want to remind you: there are amazing resources in our state to help church leaders faithfully proclaim Christ in their communities. You can always reach me at president@scbo.org. Grace and Peace, Adam Pursel SCBO President
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The Importance of the White House Never in the history of our society has the white house been more important. That may sound like a political slo- gan from last year, but it remains true. You see, I’m not talking about THE White House. I’m talking about the white house on your street. And for that matter, the gray one, the green one, the blue one, the beige one, the brick one, and even the one with the color you would never pick. I fully admit that the title of this article was “clickbait.” I did it to prove a point. The title, “The Importance of Relationships over Politics,” just wouldn’t have had the same impact. In our politically polarized society, many Christians fall vic- tim to spending more time on politics than on their own neighbors. Sometimes we may be guilty of caring more about THE White House than the family that lives next door. In the rural, small-town context of southeast Ohio, rela- tionships must matter more than our political stances. We, as the church, need to handle political conversations with humility and truly believe that relationships are more im- portant than winning an argument or an election. Decisions and issues at the federal level matter, but eter- nity matters more. That’s the point Paul is making in Romans 13. He calls for Christians to be submissive, even encouraging, to the governing authorities. He then returns to the idea of love, specifically loving our neighbor, followed by the reason for both— our time here is short. Whether Paul is referencing the return of Christ or our own deaths, he is correct. Our time is limited. Therefore, we must make the most of our days. The implication for us is that our few days are better spent loving our neighbor more than political criticisms and con- troversies. If the government is not asking you to violate God’s law, just obey and stay focused on what really mat- ters. Governments come and go as God wills, but our cit- izenship is in heaven. That perspective should change us. We can still be politically active. We can still have dis- agreements on big issues. We can still challenge each other’s thinking. We live in a great country that allows for all those things. However, as citizens of heaven, may we be seen primari- ly as people of peace, people who care about individuals rather than what political team they support. I believe the Christian life has more to do with all the hous- es near you rather than the white one on Pennsylvania Av- enue. By Josh Remy, Southeast Region catalyst
Here are a few suggestions to make every house a priority: How about reaching out to the people in that white house, learning their names and interests? How about reconciling with them over an issue that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things? How about remaining active in their lives despite obvious differences in just about everything? How about simply re - lating to them more intentionally and showing them the love of Christ through hospitality and friendship? Whatever it looks like, we are given only so much ener- gy and so much time. Let’s spend both on what matters most. The White House will fade, but the souls in every house are forever.
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The Cooperative Program Makes a Difference In Ohio
By Stephanie Heading, managing editor
CP Impacts the College Campus/Church Planting In the Southeast Region, Church Planters Caleb Burlile and Joe Kaloger minister to the next generation at Ohio University through H2O Church Athens. Their ministry context is ripe for the harvest as college-aged individu- als are among the most under-reached groups in Amer- ica today. “In Acts, Jesus said you will be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. And for me, the Co- operative Program and the Southern Baptist Convention are an opportunity to be a part of that and cast a vision for our church – we are part of what God is doing in Ohio, what God is doing in the Midwest, or America,” Kaloger said. “We’ve had some IMB missionaries come and share about the exciting things God is doing in their locations, and that could not happen if not for the Cooperative Pro- gram. For me, it’s fulfilling what Jesus called us to do, and the Cooperative Program is a great way to do that.” CP Impacts SBC Culture In the Northeast Region, Pastor Gary Frost, The Open Door Church, Girard, has served at nearly every level of Southern Baptist life. He’s been a pastor, Association- al Mission Strategist (AMS), and Vice President of the North American Mission Board. (NAMB) He has seen how CP impacts Southern Baptist culture. “We call it a program. It’s a cooperative culture. What I’ve found is that oftentimes, some have thought that the Cooperative Program is like a membership in a club. It’s not a membership in a club. You know, like ‘What are my benefits if I give to the Cooperative Program?’ The issue is it’s not what you get out; it’s what you are joining together with others to do in advancing the kingdom,” Frost said. “I talk to friends in other denominations, particularly church planting and mission work around the globe, and the Cooperative Program is the envy of denominations. Our missionaries aren’t coming back to raise funds. They’re coming back to tell the story.” CP Impacts the Nations in Ohio In the Southwest Region, Travis Smalley, NAMB Send City missionary, Cincinnati and pastor, Lakota Hills Bap- tist Church, and Amer Safadi, Arabic church planter and pastor, Kingdom Family Arabic Church, Cincinnati, have a passion to reach the nations moving into southwest Ohio. The Cooperative Program is an integral part of their mission. “I think we can do more together than we can apart
At 100 years old, the Cooperative Program (CP) is still making a difference in Ohio, impacting multiple ministry contexts. “It is clear that Southern Baptists see our cooperative effort as something essential to what it means to be Southern Baptist,” said Buzz Kocher, SCBO director of strategic initiatives. “Our giving to the Cooperative Program spurs on mission, church planting, mission- ary sending, theological education, and much more. It’s crucial to understand what it means to be a convention working together.” CP Impacts the Small Church In the Northwest Region, Pastor Darrell Deer, College Heights Baptist Church, Elyria, is a big believer in the Cooperative Program. When people ask him why his church supports CP, he is ready with an answer. “I point them to two things,” he said. “I point to our sem- inaries, and I point to the International Mission Board, and the Cooperative Program is essential to both of those things.” Deer also appreciates the partnerships created through CP giving. “CP enables us as a small church in northern Ohio to be part of so much more. Because of the Cooperative Pro- gram, we are able to prayerfully and financially support mission work around the world and be part of the next generation of pastors, seminary teachers and Sunday school teachers.”
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through the Cooperative Program,” Smalley said. The SBC has approximately 47,000 churches, and the average SBC church has 60-70 members. But something special happens when the CP gifts from all SBC church- es come together. “We’re the largest missionary Protestant force in the history of the world. And so if we’re going to reach all the nations, we can’t do that alone. We have to do that working together with like-minded believers, like-minded churches, and the Cooperative Program, I think, provides a wonderful mechanism for us to do that through South- ern Baptists. “When you give, you’re helping even yourself. You’re helping your church. And you help other churches to be planted. You help the missions. You help the missionaries to be in the field and planting without any fear,” Safadi said. “When you give, you give for multiplication.” CP Impacts IMB Work In the West Region, retired IMB Missionaries Jeff and Barbara Singerman, First Baptist Church, Kettering, have first-hand knowledge of how the Cooperative Program impacts missionaries on the field. “We had a place to stay, we had a car. We were able to minister to others. You know, missions is not cheap,” Jeff Singerman said. “And then, as churches are growing, we need to train leaders. We need to disciple folks, and the Cooperative Program, along with the Lottie Moon Christ- mas offering, gives us the ability to stay there without having the burden of trying to knock on people’s doors and write support letters. You can focus towards the mis- sion. You can do the work.” CP Impacts Ohio Baptists - Together In the Central RegionDean Fulks has been the lead pas- tor at Lifepoint Church, Lewis Center, since its beginning in 2004. Today, Lifepoint Church is one church with six campuses: Lewis Center, Delaware, Marion, Plain City, Westerville, and Worthington. He was introduced to the Cooperative Program as a student at Ohio State Univer- sity. “So I distinctly remember going to that membership class at Lane Avenue, and them talking about the Cooperative Program, and saying, ‘You know what, our missionaries never have to leave the field.’ Now, they leave to come home for furlough every however many years, but they never have to leave the field, because all of our churches cooperate together. I’ve always thought the genius of the Cooperative Program is ‘together.’” Missed an Episode? If you missed an episode in our CP100 series you can find the entire series at http://scbo.org/cp100.
For the past six months, SCBO has been cele- brating the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program with “CP100,” a series of interviews high- lighting the impact of the Cooperative Program on churches and individuals in each of Ohio’s six re- gions. The final episode of CP100 takes place in Ohio’s Central Region. Dean Fulks has been the lead pastor at Lifepoint Church, Lewis Center, since its beginning in 2004. Today, Lifepoint Church is one church with six cam- puses: Lewis Center, Delaware, Marion, Plain City, Westerville, and Worthington. He was introduced to the Cooperative Program as a student at Ohio State University. “So I distinctly remember going to that member- ship class at Lane Avenue, and them talking about the Cooperative Program, and saying, ‘You know what, our missionaries never have to leave the field.’ Now, they leave to come home for furlough every however many years, but they never have to leave the field, because all of our churches cooper - ate together. I’ve always thought the genius of the Cooperative Program is ‘together.’” Don’t miss CP100 – Episode Six: Pastor Dean Fulks, Lifepoint Church, Lewis Center. Celebrating the Cooperative Program: CP100 – Episode Six: Pastor Dean Fulks, Lifepoint Church, Lewis Center
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OBF Golf Tournament Breaks Fundraising Record for CampUCan
By Kevin Heaton, SCBO financial administrator
SCBO Financial Administrator Kevin Heaton and Executive Director Dr. Jeremy Westbrook congratulate the winning team with a score of -16 at the Ohio Baptist Foundation Golf Invitational. The team members (l to r) are Jordan Addley, Jacob Byrd, Cam Conley and Kevin Walsh.
It was a banner year for The Ohio Baptist Foundation (OBF) Golf Invitational held in mid-September at The Lakes Golf and Country Club, Westerville. Breaking all previous OBF fundraising records, the event collected a total of $14,000 with proceeds going directly to CampUCan, a ministry of SCBO. Sponsor contribu- tions for the Golf Invitational were up $3,950 more than last year. A record number of 22 teams and over 84 participants enjoyed a day of golf, food and prizes, and learned more about The Ohio Baptist Foundation’s investment in the kingdom. CampUCan is a ministry that provides mentorship and a summer camp experience for urban young men, while introducing them to the life-changing message of the gospel. Kirby Mitchell, CampUCan director, shared with the golf- ers about how he came to Christ because of a mentor who shared the gospel with him at the age of 13. CampUCan is reaching inner-city youth in the same way with the power of the gospel, changing the hearts and minds of hundreds of young men who will take that mes- sage of hope back to their own communities and families. Reginald Hayes, CampUCan founder and SCBO director of convention relations, explained the impact the camp has had on those who attend. Since its inception, Cam- pUCan has provided a fully-funded camp experience for 654 young men from urban areas in Ohio. Two hundred and ten young men have come to faith in Christ, and 41
of those young men have followed in believer’s baptism! The success of the OBF Golf Invitational also comes from the support of sponsors and participants. This year, there was a new level of sponsorship offered during registration, giving golf teams the option of be- ing a Camper Sponsor, with a $300 donation. Golf teams purchased 17 Camper Sponsors, totaling $5,100. WatersEdge Financial Services, Cedarville University and the Kentucky Baptist Foundation continued their longtime sponsorship of this tournament. We have also gained new sponsors – On Par Simulators, Division 7 Roofing, UBS Financial and The Walk Foundation – which led to an increase of $4,000 in sponsorship support from the last year. Please visit scbo.org/obfgolfouting to learn more about the sponsors. This OBF Golf Invitational was not only a great day of golf but also reflects the charitable support and commitment of our Ohio Baptist pastors and their congregation mem- bers. Along with Cooperative Program contributions from our churches, the funds raised during the golf outing will continue to ensure that CampUCan remains a free camp experience for all who register. We’re very thankful for the participation and support for this tournament and look forward to increased sponsor- ship and participation in September 2026. If you, your church or business would like to know more about being a partner or sponsor of the 2026 OBF Golf Invitational, please contact Kevin Heaton, kheaton@scbo.org or Jer- emy Westbrook, jwestbrook@scbo.org.
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Annual OAAF Conference Emphasizes Unity The 2025 Ohio African American Fellowship (OAAF) Annual Conference brought together African American pastors and their wives from across Ohio for a time of building and refreshing. By Pastor Rodney Jackson, Movement Church, Toledo, and Tameka Jackson
As OAAF President, I hosted the event with my wife, First Lady Tameka Jackson, as well as OAAF Vice President, Rev. Darryl Baker, pastor, Change Church, Pickerington, and First Lady Patrice Baker. The conference began with a fiery worship service for the pastors and included many guests from outside of Ohio. Pastor Gregory Perkins, president of the National African American Fellowship, delivered the annual mes- sage. Perkins is Pastor of the View Church, Menifee, California. A highlight of the conference was celebrating the first-ev - er OAAF Pioneer Award, which was awarded to Pastor Reginald Hayes, SCBO director of convention relations. During the conference, pastors’ wives, who created The Leading Ladies Network, met separately for a time of great fellowship and refreshing. During the same time, OAAF pastors were treated to a host of presenters who spoke to them about the impor- tance of building and strengthening themselves through partnerships and relationships. Guest speakers included Lifeway National Director of Black Church Ministries, Dr. Mark Croston, NAMB Ur- ban Church Replant and Revitalization Specialist, Pas- tor Colin Pugh II, senior pastor, Clinton Baptist Church, Clinton, Maryland, and Patrick Coats, regional catalyst, Florida Baptist Convention.
Local speakers included Pastor Ivan Stewart, Kingdom Models Church, Columbus, SCBO Executive Director Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, and Reginald Hayes. Other SBC state conventions sent representatives to the conference to learn from the OAAF’s experiences and history of working together. “It was a privilege to witness the Ohio African American Fellowship’s strong partnership with the SCBO and Ex- ecutive Director Jeremy Westbrook. “The Annual Meet- ing was a beautiful display of unity, structure, and king- dom purpose in action,” Pastor Kevin Moss, Oklahoma State African American Fellowship president, said. “As an out-of-state Fellowship President, I was inspired by the organizational strength and vision demonstrated in Ohio. The Ohio Fellowship reminded me that when God’s people work together, great things are accom- plished for his glory.” Members of the Ohio African American Fellowship recently gathered for their annual conference.
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Two Green Bell Peppers On the night of August 9, 2025, Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, was inundated by 14 inches of rain in just 24 hours, flooding the basements of 16,000 homes. Wisconsin-Minnesota SBDR Director Ben Seamans mo- bilized teams to respond to the historic rainfall. One of those teams was Ohio Disaster Relief. We recruited a flood recovery team, feeding team, chap - lains, a shower attendant, and an incident command per- son and set up a site at Northwest Baptist Church, Mil- waukee. A recovery team from Michigan DR and a couple of volunteers from Kansas-Nebraska DR joined us. During a disaster, Ohio DR looks for affected residents who are elderly, disabled or unable to do the necessary recovery work themselves. Finding these residents re- quired sifting through 7,000 requests for help, but it led me to Angie. In the past year, Angie’s life has been very difficult. She lost her husband, lost her right leg and lost her daughter “to the streets.” On top of those struggles, the flood left her with 8 1/2 feet of water in her basement. All Angie could do from her wheelchair was look at the water and wonder, “What now?” When I arrived at Angie’s house, she greeted me with a smile. A few people had cleaned out her basement, but it still needed mold remediation. After completing some miscellaneous work, I sprayed the basement to keep mold from growing. After I finished the work, Angie shared the story of her life. Tears filled her eyes as she shared about her hus - By John Heading, Ohio Disaster Relief director
band and the daughter she lost. We talked for a while, and then I told her that after we finish a recovery job, we offer the residents a Bible and information about what it means to have hope through Jesus Christ. When I asked her if she would accept a Bible, she said, “Yes.” Then she told me that she was a Muslim, and she would accept the Bible if I would accept two green bell peppers that she had grown herself. I immediately ac- cepted the peppers. Before I left, I asked if I could pray for her, and without hesitation, she said, “Yes.” While I don’t know what Angie will do about faith in her own life, I do know she has the word of God. As believ- ers, we never want to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ. You never know what God might do.
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Send Relief Serve Tour Coming to Toledo in 2026
By Dr. John Heading, Ohio Disaster Relief director
communities, local churches and one project for airmen and families at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Serve Tour is returning to Ohio on September 25-26, 2026, to bring compassionate care to hurting commu- nities in Toledo. Volunteers, like you, will serve local churches, bivocational pastors, low-income schools, and other organizations needing assistance. Projects may include light construction, painting, landscaping and hosting sports camps or block parties. By partnering with the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO) and Northwest Baptist Association, Send Relief is making it easy for you and your team to have a lasting impact on the lives of Toledo’s most vulnerable. If you or your church are considering participating in the Toledo Serve Tour, please register your team now to get started with free access to resources like prayer guides, online training and more! Registration doesn’t obligate you to serve, but it does give us insight into how many volunteers are thinking about coming. The number of volunteers will dictate how many projects we can accept. Please visit https://www.sendrelief.org/serve-tour/tole- do-serve-tour-stop/ for more information and to register your team today! you don’t have instrumentation to accompany your lead vocal. And, you can create setlists and control them live with shortcut keys to make it as easy as possible. For churches with 99 or fewer people, it’s only $150/ year. This could be a great way to level up your worship when you don’t have much in the way of resources. To get access, just go to https://songselect.ccli.com/lyr- ic-videos, log in to your account, and then add this to your annual subscription.
One of the most amazing examples of Southern Baptists working together for the kingdom is found at Send Relief Serve Tours. A Send Relief Serve Tour is a compassion ministry proj- ect in which local churches identify needs in their com- munities, and volunteers come together during a two- day project to meet the needs while sharing the gospel. Send Relief provides guidance and the funds for the projects through the Cooperative Program. The first Serve Tour in Ohio was in Dayton in 2022. The Dayton Serve Tour brought together 650 volunteers to tackle 38 targeted projects. The projects included four in the Dayton Public Schools, as well as in low-income
Don’t Have A Worship Leader? Try CCLI’s New Lyric Videos This one is hot off the presses! Apparently, CCLI just released a new add-on subscription that provides lyric videos in singable keys for congregational use.
This means that if you don’t have a worship leader, you can have ready-made content with songs that sound great and appear to be pretty easy to use. Even better, when I played around with it, I could cus- tomize quite a lot, including the background, back- ground color, and text font. Even better, you can remove the vocal from the track if you want to sing it live, but
Have You Signed Up For SBC Worship? SBC Worship was launched in June at the national Annu- al Meeting in Dallas. It’s a collaboration with The Worship Initiative and Southern Baptist seminaries, state conven- tion consultants, and local worship pastors. Our own Joe Kibbey, Central Region worship catalyst, Living Hope Church, Columbus, is serving on the advisory committee alongside key leaders like Dr. Joe Crider, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Kenny Lamm, North Carolina Baptists.
There’s free content already available, including daily de- votionals, training videos to encourage congregational singing, free song resources, and live events to help you lead your church to worship more deeply and truly than ever before. To get access to these free resources, check out sbcwor- ship.com.
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Revitalize Your Bible Study Ministry at Lifeway’s Group Essentials Conference
This conference is ideal for Sunday school or group min- istry directors, pastors, ministers of education, and sim- ilar positions, especially those who have been serving in their role for five years or less. The Lifeway Group Essentials Conference is free and in- cludes dinner on the first night and lunch on the second day, along with snacks. Lodging is not included. The conference begins on Monday, October 27, from 12:30 to 6 pm, followed by dinner together as a group. On Tuesday, October 28, the conference resumes at 8:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm. Register for the Conference at https://www.lifeway.com/ en/events/group-essentials. To register by phone, call 800.254.2022. Information for this article provided by Lifeway Christian Resources What a beautiful day together! The 2025 SCBO An- nual Women’s Event reminded us that even when life feels overwhelming, God is our strength. Thank you to Carrie Holt and every woman who came to be encouraged and equipped. The attendance this year was the largest yet, and we are looking for- ward to The 2026 SCBO Annual Women’s Event on September 26, 2026. 2025 Annual Women’s Event at Genoa Church, Westerville
GROUP ESSENTIALS
FIRST BAPTIST KETTERING 3939 SWIGART ROAD, DAYTON, OH 45440
Monday, October 27 12:30 - 6:00 p.m. then dinner together as a group
Tuesday, October 28 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
lifeway.com/grpessentials
Is it time to breathe new life into your church’s Bible study ministry? If so, make plans now to attend The Group Essentials Conference, October 27-28, at First Baptist Church, Ket- tering, 3939 Swigart Road, Dayton, 45440. The Group Essentials Conference is a FREE two-day event that equips participants to revitalize their Bi- ble study ministries by learning principles for growing healthy Bible study groups, best practices for enlisting and training workers, the eight signposts that indicate group members are growing as disciples, and more! Plus, participants will develop a plan of action they can implement upon returning to their churches. Lifeway’s Director of Group Ministry, Ken Braddy, will lead the sessions. Ken has more than 25 years of experi- ence leading education ministries in the local church and has led two to become the fastest-growing churches in two different states. He is an author, blogger, and con - ference leader. Registration is limited, so sign up soon. Attendees receive a conference notebook, Bible, and three books related to Sunday School leadership— Breathing Life into Sunday School, Building a Disci- ple-making Ministry, and Breakthrough: Creating a New Scorecard for Group Ministry Success. During the event, attendees will be given access to 17 different digital books and the accompanying plans to use in the church.
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21 Days of Prayer Launches 2026 Campaign Three years ago, after speaking at a pastor’s conference, the host pastor talked to me about launching the new year with 21 days of prayer in his church.
By Dr. Dave Earley
healed, jobs were found, church conflicts were minimized, and church baptisms and attendance increased. As pastors shared the results with their friends, the num- ber of churches involved grew to 735 from 44 nations last year. We used a different book, 21 Keys to Answered Prayer. We saw similar fantastic results. We observed that the more effort a church invested in planning and preparing the campaign, the greater the re- sults. This year, we anticipate that 800 churches will be involved. We are using a new book designed to build faith, Praying the 21 Greatest Promises in the Bible. Let me encourage you to: Go to the website and become familiar with the campaign. www.21daysprayer.org. Reg- ister as a “US Pastor.” Plan to lead your church through the 21 Days of Prayer global event from January 5-25, 2026.
As I prayed about it, God reminded me of an Andrew Mur- ray quote, “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will accomplish more for evangelism than anyone in history.” I felt like God was leading me to call several pastors to unite and start the new year with a churchwide prayer initiative. It evolved into a campaign of four sermons and daily read- ings from a book designed to inspire people about prayer, The 21 Most Effective Prayers in the Bible. Additionally, we encouraged churches to hold extra prayer meetings and incorporate more prayer into their existing church services. We developed a website loaded with helpful material designed by pastors and prayer warriors for pastors and prayer warriors. www.21daysprayer.org. As we spoke with other pastors, the number of churches involved increased. Today, it is a global disciple-making ministry with 20,000 followers worldwide. When we in- vited pastors from around the world to join us, they re- sponded. Soon, we had over 600 churches from 40 na- tions involved. Their feedback from the first year was overwhelming. Churches obeyed the command to make Jesus’ house “a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). Pastors obeyed Paul’s exhortation to “put prayer first” (1 Timothy 2:1). People sought first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). And God blessed! People were saved, families were restored, finances were provided, individuals were
Arabic Church Planter and Pastor’s Network Gathered in Dublin
The Arabic Church Planters and Pastors recently came together at Dublin Baptist Church for the Arabic Church Planters and Pastor’s Network and Gathering. Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO executive director, spoke to the group of potential church planters among the Arabic people. “It is absolutely incredible what the Lord is doing here,” he said. Pastor Amer Safadi, Arabic church planter and pastor of Kingdom Family Arabic Church, Cincin- nati, leads this Arabic church planting movement.
October 2025 | 15
Evangelism Grants Fuel Outreach Projects
Second Annual Pig Roast, Life Church, Monroe Life Church hosted its 2nd Annual Pig Roast–our largest outreach event of the year. Built around the evangelism training we’ve been practicing in our small group discipleship program, this event provided an incredible opportunity to connect with our community. We were blessed to serve over 240 people—nearly 100 more than last year. God worked in powerful ways, allowing us to meet new families, build rela- tionships, and even welcome several guests to our Sunday service the follow- ing day. One especially moving story came through our Life Kids Director, who con- nected with a family in crisis. Their young daughter had been hospitalized with an undiagnosed illness, and the mother, overwhelmed and unsure how she would feed her family, came across our Pig Roast sign. She shared how relieved she was to find not only a meal, but also care and encouragement. Stories like this reflect the heart behind this event—meeting real needs while pointing people to Jesus. We are deeply grateful to SCBO for their support and give all glory to God for the success of this outreach and the many lives touched through it. – Chris Schwartz, executive director, Life Church Lorain County Fair Outreach, NorthCoast Baptist Association, Vermilion Thank you once again for the evangelism grant. It helped us tremendously in this outreach effort. We had a total of 1,882 engagements, 95 people prayed with, and 21 gospel conversations! We had 22 people from the association serving in this eight-day effort. Those 22 came from six different churches in our association. Over 350 New Testaments were passed out. One of the many conversations concluded with recommending a few of our churches that were close to Elyria. This family moved from Parma to Elyria! Having our association name at the fair gave this family a chance to find their new church home! Blessings to you from the NorthCoast Baptist Association. – Steve Mayes, NorthCoast Baptist Association, AMS The Plunge Outreach Event, H20 Church, Cincinnati The Plunge was great! It’s tough to know the number of people since it’s an outdoor event, but we had 20 or so people at each life group, and we have eight life groups. This means that over 150 people came to the event and heard the gospel preached, and countless more heard it since we were out- doors and blared everything over a loudspeaker. I’ve heard of a lot of good connections people made with the students who are joining their small groups. – Cassi Rohlfer, H20 Church, Cincinnati
16 | October 2025
Fall Outreach, H20 Church, Athens Thank you so much for your support of our fall outreach events! We passed out 4,000 water bottles to students moving in on campus, along with personal invitations to our services. We had 200 students attend our kickoff service, which was a record attendance for our church. We are so grateful for the sup- port from the SCBO. – Pastor Joe Kaloger, H20 Church, Athens
October 2025 | 17
Your Motive Matters... By Mark Jones, Revitalization coach and consultant “Motive is, literally, something that moves a person; an inducement, something that leads a person on; an in- centive, something that inspires a person.” – Dictionary. com What is your motive? I have questioned my motive in ministry at times. Why do we do what we do? Why do we pray as we pray? Why do we preach what we preach? Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to have multiple conversations with pastors and leaders of growing, plateauing and declining churches. Regardless of where their congregation was on the growth spec- trum, I sometimes wonder what is their real motive? In Revelation, chapters 2-3, we see Jesus addressing issues within the churches. All of the churches were less than 50 years old at the time of their letters. Ironically, each of these churches began strong and had a king- dom motive. They were declining and dying because they moved from a Jesus-driven kingdom motive. So, why do you do the events you do? Is it for God’s church to grow, or so that your church will grow? Recently, I have been concerned that our measurement is who walks through our doors rather than who re-
sponds to the gospel message. How do you pray, and what do you pray? Are your prayers based on compas- sion for your community and the reverent fear of God, or are your prayers based on congregational decline and fears of financial shortfalls? James 4:3 “You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” I have recently considered my prayers. I want to make sure I am asking for God’s glory and not simply my own gain. Do you preach because you think you are skilled in delivery, or because you are convicted of your calling? Do you love the people to whom you preach, or do you simply love preaching to people? We must love God’s word more than the world, but we are also to love the world to whom we preach the word. Revitalization begins with a motive check. Do you simply want to survive because of all the sweat you have put into the church, or do you desire to thrive because of the blood Jesus poured out for His church? For more information about church revitalization, visit https://scbo.org/revitalize, or contact me at mjones@ scbo.org.
Emily Hurt Joins SCBO as Ministry Assistant - Events By Stephanie Heading, managing editor
There’s a new addition to the SCBO Team. Emily Hurt, a member of Violet Baptist Church, Pickerington, is the new Ministry Assistant for Events. Emily brings her education and
said. “I also love to travel, and I had the opportunity to live in Spain for nine months before starting at SCBO.” She also has a special interest in the Olympics. “Another passion of mine is the Olympics; I got to work in broadcasting at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.” Emily brings her education, hobbies and travel experi- ences into her new role at SCBO and is excited about the possibilities and the impact she hopes to make. “In my role, I will support the SCBO Regional Catalysts and other SBC partners for the behind-the-scenes lo- gistical needs to help make their events great. I grew up attending and being impacted by SCBO events such as Seneca Lake Youth Camp and Super Summer, so it’s a full-circle moment to now join the team that makes them happen,” she said. “I pray that God will use my giftings to continue the effectiveness and impact of SCBO events.”
Emily Hurt, SCBO ministry assistant for events
real-world experience to the position. In 2024, she graduated with a degree in Media Commu- nications from Asbury University, Wilmore, Kentucky, where she was a witness to the 2023 Asbury Revival, a 16-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit that began in the student chapel service on February 8 and continued through February 23, 2023, drawing thousands to the Asbury campus. Among Emily’s interests and hobbies are movies and musical theatre. “Singing showtunes is one of my favorite hobbies,” she
18 | October 2025
Regional Worship Leaders Hold First Gatherings
Southwest Region Worship Leaders’ Gathering Southwest worship leaders met to encourage one another, learn from each other and grow as we lead our congregations in our various contexts. Whether we’re full time or volunteer, ministry veterans or newer to ministry, we want to be equipped to lead in our churches to help all of the Southwest Region better worship the only true God who is worthy of all. – Southwest Region Worship Catalyst David Anderson Southeast Region Worship Leaders’ Gathering The first Southeast Region Worship Gathering was a huge success!! I final - ly wrapped it up after 3 1/2 hours! The discussion was great, and everyone was incredibly thankful for this opportunity. I had them write two things they thought were going well with worship at their church, one thing that needs improvement, and their goals for worship. Then we discussed their answers. They are super excited about Worship 4:24 and the free resources on the SCBO site. This gathering was something they all needed, but didn’t even realize it. Looking forward to the next one! – Southeast Region Worship Catalyst Sarah Walton
October 2025 | 19
The Gathering Place to Become The Church at Kettering
Pastor Dan Mullins, former pastor of The Gathering Place, Kettering, hands over the shepherding staff to Pastor Ralph Green IV, who will lead the replant of the church under the name, The Church at Kettering. When the church replant launches in 2026, First Bap- tist Church Kettering will become the umbrella name for three campuses: The Church at Sugarcreek, The Church at Eastmont, and The Church at Kettering.
20 | October 2025
Florida-Ohio Partnership Assists Cayman Brac Island Church In June, Pastor Audley Scott retired from Hillside Chapel Baptist Church in Cayman Brac Island. However, since then, he has not been able to identify a successor for the ministry that has captured his heart for well over 36 years. By Dr. Gerald Saffo, retired pastor, United Faith Community Church, Reynoldsburg
Through the relationship of Jeffery Singletary, Central Florida regional catalyst, and Reggie Hayes, SCBO di- rector of convention relations, the two came together and contacted me as someone who understands the im- portance of finishing well from full-time pastoral duties, while supporting the congregation. I am retired from full-time ministry at United Faith Com- munity Church, Reynoldsburg, and stepped in to help Pastor Scott and Hillside Chapel during this season. I have spent time communicating with Pastor Scott, and have recently served as the interim pastor for Hillside Chapel. I have been a senior pastor for well over 32 years, serv- ing on the board of GuideStone Financial for seven years, where the mission is to serve the pastor at the crossroads. It’s exciting to see what the future will bring for the congregation and Pastor Audley Scott as they ’Set the
Stones,’ (1 Samuel 7:12), for the future of Hillside Chapel Baptist Church. For more information about the senior pastor position, contact: Pastor Audley Scott, Hillside Chapel of Cayman Brac, Hillsidechapel@gmail.com or Scottaud@candw.ky, +1 (321) 252-2277. Pastor Audley Scott, Pastor Gerald Saffo and the congregation of Hillside Chapel Baptist Church.
So You Want to Advertise in The Messenger?
Did you know that you can advertise your church’s event in The Messenger ? The Messenger is more than telling stories of how God is working; it’s also about connecting churches, leaders, and ministries all across Ohio. And one of the best ways to do that is through sharing your events and opportuni- ties! There are certain standards and guidelines we ask ev- eryone to follow when advertising. These guidelines are not here to stifle creativity, but to make sure the story of the gospel shines clearly and beautifully. They’re the framework that lets your ad or event announcement sing in tune with the bigger story of what God is doing across Ohio. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” If our meal times can glorify him, then surely our fonts, logos, and messenger ads can too. For our advertisers, this means your message won’t just fill space; it will complement the bigger picture. We
want your ad to look its best, and that happens when it works hand-in-hand with The Messenger’s overall style. Consider it less about rules and more about teamwork. Together, we’re building something excellent, approach- able, and God-honoring. If you’d like to advertise in The Messenger or share your event, it’s simple. You can submit your information online at scbo.org/event-it or email us directly at messenger@ scbo.org. Full brand guidelines are available at scbo.org/ brand-guidelines, which will help you prepare graphics in a way that complements The Messenger’s style. Unfortunately, not everything submitted can be included. We do our best to fit as much as possible, but sometimes space or timing makes it impossible. The Messenger isn’t about fonts or margins; it’s about Jesus. And when every detail points to Him, we’re com- municating the gospel with clarity, creativity, and joy! At the end of the day, excellence isn’t about perfection; it’s about striving for excellence with what God has entrust- ed us, and that goes way beyond graphics and ads!
Job Postings
FULL-TIME KIDS MINISTER | Jersey Church, New Albany The Kids Minister at Jersey Church plays a vital role in leading children from birth through 5th grade to know and follow Jesus in age-appropriate and engaging ways. This position is responsible for creating a fun, welcoming, and spiritually rich environment where kids can grow in their faith and understanding of who God is. A key emphasis is partnering with parents in the spiritual development of their children and helping every child feel seen, known, and loved. Apply online at https://jerseychurch.org/ resources/employment/. SENIOR PASTOR | Hillcrest Baptist Church, Carlisle Hillcrest Baptist Church is looking for a new senior pastor following the retirement of Pastor Larry Lambes at the end of August. Please send a resume, statement of beliefs, and references to hbcadm820@gmail.com. FULL-TIME CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR | Dayton Avenue Baptist Church, Xenia Dayton Avenue Baptist Church is seeking a full-time Children’s Ministry Director who will oversee the preschool and children’s ministries of the church for children from birth through fifth grade, with special focus on managing programs and supporting families. For a full job description, including qualifications, administrative and leadership responsibilities, program manage - ment responsibilities, and personal development requirements, please contact Personnel Committee Chair Shelley Honnold at sphonnold@cedarville.edu. FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR | Milan Baptist Church, Milan Milan Baptist Church, Milan, is prayerfully seeking a full-time senior pastor. Inquirers can send a resume to milanbaptist5199@ gmail.com. BI-VOCATIONAL PASTOR | Ridgewood Baptist Church, Wadsworth Ridgewood Baptist Church, Wadsworth (https://ridgewoodbaptistch.org) is seeking a bi-vocational pastor with hopes to move fully vocational in the future. We are seeking a man of God to love and lead us after the loss of our previous pastor to cancer. We are a congregation of 40-50 in average attendance in a community of approximately 25,000, with fifty percent of the pop - ulation lost without Christ. We are seeking someone preferably willing to preach from the King James Bible. We are seeking someone to love and lead us to engage our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do not desire someone with a reformed persuasion. We believe scripture teaches the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. We desire a pastor who believes evangelism is import- ant and part of the discipleship process. If you are interested in becoming our next pastor, please send your resume to: Ridgewood Baptist Church, c/o Search Team, 7891 Ridge Rd., Wadsworth, OH 44281, or email our AMS at summitassociationams@gmail.com. WORSHIP MINISTER | Jersey Church, New Albany The Worship Minister will play a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of transformative worship within the congregation. This in- dividual will lead by example, inspiring and guiding the congregation to engage in worship that deepens their relationship with God and fosters personal growth. The role involves coordinating and providing leadership for both in-person and online Sun- day worship services, overseeing all aspects of worship rehearsals, and developing future worship leaders. To apply, please send an email to https://jerseychurch.org/resources/employment/. BI-VOCATIONAL PASTOR | First Baptist Church, Beaver First Baptist Church, Beaver, Ohio, is searching for a bi-vocational pastor to shepherd God’s people. If you feel God leading you to a new ministry challenge or have a desire to assist a church in completing the building of a new worship center, we would welcome your inquiry. Send resumes to the attention of David Burchett in care of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 44, Beaver, Ohio 45613.
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