Join Us to Make a Difference at Serve Tour Toledo in 2026 By Matt Pardi, Northwest Region catalyst 6 | January 2026
I have great memories of our team heading down to Day- ton in 2022 with a group from our church to participate in Serve Tour Dayton. We did landscaping and cleaned up at a pro-life preg- nancy center. The bonding time and opportunity to serve the city were special. Ohio Baptists have another awesome opportunity to do this in our Northwest Region in 2026, as Toledo will be- come the center of compassion-driven ministry on Sep- tember 25–26, when Send Relief brings Serve Tour Tole- do to our city. This two-day outreach effort will unite churches, volun - teers, and community partners with one mission — to meet real needs, build lasting relationships, and share the hope of Jesus with our neighbors. As someone who has watched God move powerfully across our region, I couldn’t be more excited. Serve Tour Toledo isn’t just another event; it is a catalytic moment. When Send Relief partners with local churches and as- sociations, communities are strengthened, people are encouraged, and the gospel is displayed through tangi- ble love. The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO), North- west Ohio Baptist Association (NCBA), and local church- es will be working closely with Send Relief to coordinate dozens of service projects across our region. We will also partner with the West Coast Association, H2O Network, and churches across our state, and our team effort will accomplish many jobs that tangibly demonstrate God’s love. These jobs may include school revitalization, neighbor-
hood clean-ups, light construction, outreach events, ministry support for bivocational pastors, food distri- bution, sports camps, and more. I’m looking forward to helping our local ministries like Southside Life Station, Wellspring, and Mosaic. Every project will be designed to meet physical needs while opening the door for spiri- tual conversations. What makes the Serve Tour so special is that it equips churches long after the weekend is over. Our hope is to work through and build local churches. Past Serve Tours around the country have helped congregations establish new partnerships, launch ongoing ministries, and re-en- gage their own members in hands-on mission work. My hope is that Toledo experiences that same long-term im- pact — that this weekend ignites a renewed passion for serving our city year-round. We are praying for hundreds of volunteers from across Ohio and neighboring states to join us. Typically, these events bring over 400 volunteers. Additionally, we are blessed that tens of thousands of dollars will be invested in our area from the Cooperative Program. Whether you’ve served on mission trips before or this will be your first time, there is a place for you. Families, students, senior adults, and entire church groups can all serve together. Registration for initial church interest is open now. Please register today at https://www.sendre- lief.org/serve-tour. Mark your calendar, begin sharing the news, and start praying now for God to move in powerful ways. And I be - lieve God is going to use the Serve Tour Toledo in 2026 to bring hope, unity, and the love of Christ to the people who need it most.
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