14 | December 2025
Urban Pastors Participate in Antioch Perspective Workshops Seventy urban Ohio pastors recently participated in the Antioch Perspective workshops, sponsored by SCBO in each of Ohio’s six regions, to equip pastors and church leaders with processes to help congregants grow from members into leaders, strengthening the impact of their churches. By Reginald Hayes, director of community relations
love and assistance they provide to local neighborhoods through Christ. “Local churches within urban contexts are pivotal light- houses of hope, encouragement, and resources in dark parts of major cities. Many people within cities are isolat- ed and are looking for help,” Owens said. Research from The Barna Group indicates, “The con- nected generation is looking for the church to provide real, tangible, meaningful, developmental opportunities.” David Kinnamon noted, “They want the church to be a laboratory for leadership development, not just a place for spirituality.” The report “Inside the Urban Church” says, “In gener- al, there is a sense that churches in metro areas offer a chance for connection, have a positive influence, and are valuable members of the community.” Owens commented, “The local church must be a place that disciples new believers, raises future leaders, and empowers current leadership teams, if we want to make an impact within our local community for the name and fame of Jesus. Having these processes in place is cru- cial if the church is going to attract and retain Millennials and Gen Z.” For more information about the Antioch Perspective workshops, reach out to Owens at sowens@scbo.org.
Stephen Owens, pastor, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Bedford, and SCBO Northeast Region catalyst, led the workshops, based on his book, “The Next Leader.“ He led workshops in Ohio’s urban centers – Cincinnati, Co- lumbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, and Youngstown. After carefully documenting and applying each step of the biblical techniques used by the Antioch church in the book of Acts, as well as the growth and success at Mt Calvary Baptist Church, he believes every urban church can use his material to intentionally connect with its di- verse community and develop successful leaders and churches. The Antioch Perspective workshop covers three phases of ministry - discipleship culture, intentional apprentice- ship, and leadership development. “Each phase is necessary in developing a holistic disci- pleship process that moves believers to deeper levels of commitment to Christ and his church,” he explained. By supporting and encouraging pastors, the Antioch Per- spective approach helps urban churches increase the
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