December 2025 | 5
2025 Annual Celebration central, the word of God is the authority, the sick and hurt are welcomed and brought, faith is demonstrated, negative attitudes are discouraged, and all glory goes to God. “Stay focused on preaching the word of God. Proclaim the word of God,” he said. “Make disciples across the street and around the world.” Outgoing SCBO President Adam Pursel, pastor, Life Point Church, Mount Vernon, delivered the President’s Address, challenging the messengers. “Ministry is difficult,” he explained. Pursel stated that the Great Commission is the mission of believers. “The mission is worth the work,” he said. “Do you agree?” Kale Booher, pastor of Life Point Church, Delaware, brought the Annual Sermon, “Finishing the Race,” from 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and 2 Timothy 4:1-8. Through the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, Boo- her encouraged believers to stay focused despite the hardships in ministry. “If you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecut- ed,” he said. “We are in the fight and are going to have difficulty.” He exhorted pastors to abide in Christ, to be compe- tent in God’s word, to preach the word, to rebuke and
exhort with patience and teaching, to do everything with creativity and passion, to stay laser focused, and to finish well. “Don’t retreat. Pass on what you have learned,” Booher said. “Run all the way to the finish line.” Business Session In the business session, messengers approved the 2025-2026 budget of $4,890,480.00, up one percent from last year, while Ohio remains a 50/50 CP state. The budget increased funding for 13 line items and also included one new item. “IMB Pastoral Scholarships is a new initiative between IMB and SCBO to offer financial assistance for pastors who have never been on an overseas mission trip to go for the first time,” Westbrook said. The newly-elected 2026 officers are President Dave Welsch, pastor, First Baptist Church, Heath; First Vice President Karlie Hale, pastor, One Love Communi- ty Church, Cleveland; Second Vice President Austin Mathis, pastor, Grace Church, Harrison; Recording Secretary Charity Betts, First Baptist Church, New Leb- anon; and Assistant Recording Secretary Kay Arnold, First Baptist Church, Lancaster. The 2026 SCBO Pastor’s Conference and Annual Meeting is set for November 9-10, 2026, at First Bap- tist Church, Kettering, and will include an IMB Sending Ceremony.
Reginald Hayes, director of community relations, and members of the historic first Ohio African American mission team to Uganda, address the messengers of the 72nd SCBO Annual Meeting.
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