News and information from around the Ohio Conference
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Video Message from Elder Bob Cundiff
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"I'm so happy to report, that as early as this coming Sabbath, June 6, many church buildings across the Ohio Conference will be open for face-to-face worship," begins Bob Cundiff, Ohio Conference president.
Pastors received permission to begin reopening church facilities during their weekly Zoom meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Safety is paramount, and all pastors and church leaders are encouraged to utilize the "Facility Reopening Plan" document, available at
www.ohioadventist.org/virus
.
"Not all churches will be open this Sabbath, as some congregations are going to ease back into their buildings more slowly," he said. Members should reach out to their local pastor, church social media platform, or church website for the timeline on when your specific church will reopen for in-person gatherings.
Cundiff also addresses the turmoil which has gripped our nation since the killing of George Floyd. He shared about the statement from the Columbia Union Conference President’s Council: A Call for Justice, Prayer and Peace; a taskforce and other action items "that are designed to position the Seventh-day Adventist Church to contribute in a positive way to the conversation currently taking place in our nation."
The Columbia Union Conference has called for June 6 to be a special 𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℙ𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣 for our nation. "Whether you choose to worship from home, or face-to-face as a church family, I hope that you will join the many thousands of Seventh-day Adventists across the state of Ohio who want to engage in our culture at this critical time and act as ambassadors for the Kingdom of Christ. This is the real solution to racism, hatred and violence. It's to have a personal relationship with the risen Christ," said Cundiff.
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Ohio Conference Enters Stage 2 of "Ministry Does Not Stop" Action Plan, Churches Reopen
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What does this mean?
Ohio Conference churches may resume face-to-face worship beginning as early as this Sabbath, June 6, following the Ohio Conference "
Facility Reopening Plan
" and CDC guidelines.
Ohio Conference President Bob Cundiff will share more in his weekly video address, premiering at 12:30pm this afternoon.
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Ohio Conference Invitation to Join Unionwide Day of Prayer, June 6
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Join the Ohio and Columbia Union Conferences this Sabbath, June 6 at 4:00 PM for a unionwide "Day of Prayer." Leaders from across the Columbia Union will unite to pray for justice, healing and peace for a country in crisis. Presidents from conferences, health care networks and education entities will share personal testimonies, offer prayer and read passages of scripture.
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Mr. Not Relevant
By Michael Stough II, Pastor Delaware, New Carlisle, Springfield First District
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As we begin the transition back to worshiping in our buildings once again, I’ve found an unexpected guest waiting for us. He’s big, hairy, black, and can have a rather angry disposition. He’s the 800-pound gorilla in the room, and his name is Mr. Not Relevant. I guess he has actually been in our churches for quite some time. However, it took a pandemic, which closed our buildings, to make us more aware that Mr. Not Relevant is here, and it doesn’t look like he is planning to leave anytime soon.
At this point, some of you may be asking what a gorilla named Mr. Not Relevant means.
It is this, we as a denomination, are not keeping pace with the times we are living in, even though we are encouraged by Christ to keep watch. In our coming back to church I fear too many are saying, “Whew! Glad all that online stuff is over with.” Previous to this, I heard many people in church districts express their disdain over the thought seeing their pastor every week even if some of those weeks it was on a screen. “I can just stay home, turn on the TV, and do the same thing,” is a far too common expression. It appears we are approaching church, Sabbath School, and worship as something to be consumed instead of something we are a part of, forgetting it’s not about us, but about Christ, whose name we wear. The shared experience of serving our God together is so often belittled or misunderstood.
The time has come for us to realize, the digital age is not something which is going away, it’s not a fad. Although far too many people use it for hate and evil, God can and is using it to reach people whom we could never reach without it. Mr. Not Relevant ask us to think about this, example, the membership of the Ohio Conference is just over 12,000 people. Now let’s be generous and say 2/3 of those people (7950 people) are actually active church members. Faithpoints, the primary communication for the Ohio Conference only has a subscribership of 2700, or 33% of that 7950. So, 66% are not in touch with weekly updates and special news items affecting us as a people. Imagine a work environment where only 33% of the people were paying attention to or knew about important information concerning their job. That company wouldn’t stay in business long.
There are many congregations, even some Adventist ones, and some of those here in Ohio, who are leveraging the new normal of being digital. Pastors, local church leaders, and members are discovering more engagement, and not less in being digital. Where once people felt uncomfortable coming to an evangelistic series at a rented hall or church, they are quite comfortable joining from their living room. In having meetings on Zoom or other platforms, they are asking deeper questions in trying to answer not just the issues of the heart, but issues of the world around us. Others are feeling more connected and not less in a hectic world where they can now use their ever-present smart devices to visit with one another.
With the doors, both physical and digital, beginning to open, I hope you tell Mr. Not Relevant where the door is and invite him to leave, because our message is still relevant, our ministries are still relevant, even our buildings are still relevant. We need a willingness and can-do attitude to change and meet people where they are at, which is more and more the digital world, showing them how relevant Jesus and His love is for today.
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Dashers Travel Nearly Three Times Around Ohio's Buckeye Trail
by Joel Greve, Centerville Youth/Young Adult Pastor
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Over the first six days of the 40-Day Dash, 149 of the 259 people registered reported their miles. Thus far those 149 traveled 2365.48 miles!
If we divide that number by the number of submissions, we get an average of 15.8 miles per person. If we assume that the average would continue throughout the other 110 people, then those who did not submit their report would have walked/run an additional 1,738 miles. That means that over the first six days, we have walked/run/cycled 4,103.48 miles.
For the Dash, we are going to be using the Buckeye Trail as our guide to walking around Ohio. If you have never heard about this trail you can click the link provided to learn more. This trail is 1,444 miles long and circles Ohio near the boarders stopping at different sights around the state.
So far, our group has traveled 2.84 times around Ohio and the Buckeye Trail!
Bonus: Ohio is 220 miles long and 220 miles wide at its most distant points. So we have walked 18.65 times across the width of Ohio!
Have you forgotten to log your miles? Do so this week and be sure to submit your report form.
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Three Ohio Conference schools celebrated eighth grade graduations last week: Clifton Christian Academy, Mansfield Adventist School, and Worthington Adventist Academy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations had to take place in unique ways - from a drive-up procession of cars to a parade around town to the homes of graduates, to personal visits from teachers and pastors - each student was made to feel special in acknowledgement of their considerable achievement during an unprecedented time.
"These young people have worked very hard and deserve some recognition for the efforts they have put forth. I appreciate that teachers and administrators who have worked very hard to make their day special," said Ohio Conference Education Superintendent Richard Bianco.
Your Ohio Conference family congratulates all graduating students for their hard work and success. May God richly bless each of you as you begin the next chapter of your lives.
#MinistryDoesNotStop
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Read the Current Issue of
Mission Ohio
in the Columbia Union Visitor
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Highlights of this issue include new Ohio Conference president, Bob Cundiff and his wife Tanique; Ohio Conference students excel in the third annual Geography Challenge and Art Auction.
Read these articles and more in the current issue of
Mission Ohio
in
Visitor
magazine.
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Heidi A. Shoemaker, Communication Director
Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
1251 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45419
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