14 | March 2026
The SCBO Vision Frame: Our Mission to Reach Ohio for Christ By Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, executive director Editor’s note: This is the first of four articles on the SCBO Vision Frame. They will run monthly through June.
Six years ago, the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO) embarked on an invigorating new chapter, for - mally articulated in the mission statement unveiled in 2022: “Inviting Churches to Rediscover Gospel Multipli- cation.” This statement is the culmination of a deliberate, two- year process that began when messengers of the 2020 SCBO Annual Celebration, held at Dublin Baptist Church, approved a plan for SCBO leaders to collaborate with Denominee to implement a comprehensive new vision frame. This strategic initiative signifies a pivotal shift, moving beyond mere growth to embrace a profound, foundation- al commitment to multiplication rooted in biblical convic- tion. At the core of this new mission is a clear and compel- ling theological and practical mandate: “Churches plant churches.” The SCBO recognized that the dynamic, self-propagating nature of the early church, as described in the New Testament, remains the model for advancing the kingdom of God today. By placing the onus and the opportunity for multiplication directly onto its member churches, the SCBO is calling for an activation of the innate potential within every local church. This is not just a call for more outreach, but for
systemic and sustainable replication of disciple-making churches. One of my favorite ways to relax is going to the beach, hanging out in the water, and maybe catching a few waves. After about 30 minutes, I often look up and can no longer see my condo. Initially, my first thought is al - ways, “Who moved my condo?” I had drifted and was completely unaware of my movement! In many ways, our churches start white hot for missions and evangelism, and then over time, begin slowly drifting. What was a laser focus on outward relationships, mis- sionally, quickly shifts to an inward focus inadvertently. To help combat this missional drive and to facilitate this vision, the SCBO is committing to tangible, actionable investment in its congregations through the development of a “multiplication pipeline for every local church.” This pipeline represents a strategic framework designed to equip, train, and resource churches to become send- ing agents. The SCBO’s role is defined as one of both invitation and investment: “We invite and invest in your church to send the saved.” This partnership structure ensures that every local church, regardless of size or current capacity, has the resources and guidance necessary to participate in spreading the
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