News and information from around the Ohio Conference
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"Pent-Up"
by Bob Cundiff, DMin, Ohio Conference President
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Some weeks ago President Trump made the prediction that the American economy would rebound quickly once reopened. He employed the interesting word picture that the economy was “pent-up” which is to say that the negative economic impact of COVID-19 would quickly reverse as American workers returned to their jobs.
Regardless of one’s particular political persuasion I hope this prediction proves to be correct. I say that out of care and concern for the many families whose finances have been devastated by the pandemic and who struggle with the uncertainty that the loss of a job brings.
Whether or not his word picture about how this “pent-up” energy will impact the economy is accurate, I like the word picture and sense that it is an accurate way to describe our church. Our members have a pent-up energy and are anxious to make up for the time COVID-19 has taken from us.
Almost daily I receive inquiries as well as inspirational stories about churches in the Ohio Conference that are moving the mission of the church forward in our new reality. Some remain active in the newly discovered sanctuaries of live streaming and social media worship platforms, while others have returned to simplified live worship services and experiment with air hugs and elbow bumps as new ways to greet members and guests.
Did you know that during the pandemic the Ohio Conference has had 75 baptisms? It’s true! These outreaches have been largely been conducted virtually and have opened a world of new possibilities for how we can build God’s Kingdom remotely. I’ve said all along that we will emerge from COVID-19 differently than we entered, and that part of that different will be a new appreciation for digital evangelism.
So what will you do with your pent-up energy? How about using your spiritual giftedness in a new and creative way? You could host a watch party in your home and invite your friends to be a part of a spiritual discovery group. You could start a new Facebook page that targets people with a particular interest while adding a spiritual component that allows you to share your faith. Or how about supporting a group of young people in your church in their efforts to become digital missionaries?
Whether your passion is creating digital content or facilitating spiritual discovery and discussion through digital means, you now have a larger platform available on which to stand as you share your faith. Though that platform has been around for a few years, what is different now, is that the pandemic has pushed our society further into the digital world. Let’s see what God can do with a group of Spirit-led believers when they unleash their pent up energy to share the Gospel with Ohio!
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Ex Nihilo
By Michael Stough II, Pastor Delaware, New Carlisle, Springfield First District
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Honestly, I’m exhausted. I know many of you are too.
In what seems like an eternity ago, most of us had never even heard of Zoom. Social media was what we used to keep up with loved ones. Worship was what took place primarily on Sabbath mornings in a building, not on the soft glow of an electronic screen anytime throughout the week. Life has changed, and in process it left us exhausted.
But I want you to stop and think, is this what is really making you exhausted? Could it be we were already exhausted before all the events of COVID-19 started?
In a quote by Andy Stanley, he asks, “Is there anything you’re currently doing that for which you have to manufacture energy?”
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Stop and think about this. In our quest to “do church,” it becomes clear we in far too many cases are trying to manufacture something out of nothing. In an effort to involve as many as possible in a worship service, we create worship schedules which are constantly looking for some willing victim to get up front and participate. Because when I was a kid there were six different classes for ages 0-18, there’s got to be just as many now, even though there are only three kids at church and the age range means there are three separate classes, one for each child. Every week there’s an announcement for a singing band to go to the local nursing home in which no one shows up. I could go on, but you get the point.
Now, I don’t want you to get me wrong, all of the above can be very important. However, when the energy required to keep all this happening is trying to be created from nothing, it becomes exhausting. Besides, the last time I checked, only God can create something out of nothing.
As churches reopen, now is an excellent time to really sit down and look at the future of your local congregation. What are the important things to be focused on? In our effort to create something from nothing are we doing something God isn’t asking of us? I have always been a proponent of churches focusing on doing a few things well instead of many things poorly. I’ve also believed it is important to start small and work big. Yes, there have been times when I’ve poured a lot of energy into something in the church. But when I did, or do, I always make sure there is more than just me who is on board. Then, the team has goals too, goals of time and effort, to know how much energy should be expected to add into the system in creating self-sustaining momentum. Then there are also the times in which it’s necessary to put some things to rest. Both decisions are difficult, one because it requires energy to get it going and the other because of all the energy which was put into it to get it going.
In the end, it’s important to let our Father lead. He will provide the needed energy to accomplish His purposes, for only He can create something from nothing.
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Discovering the Power of God's Word
by Peter Simpson, Hispanic Ministries Coordinator
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Between June 27 and July 4, 2020, an online evangelistic campaign was held by our Hispanic Ministry pastors in cooperation with all the churches and congregations all across the state of Ohio.
Our Hispanic church in Westerville was the host for this great event. This series was entitled: "Discovering the Power of God's Word," and it was preached by Pastor Lail Fuentes, from Panama. Pastor Fuentes is one of our talented and innovative pastors in our ministry, as well as the pastor of the church where the series was broadcast. It was amazing because of the perfect combination and unity among pastors and members pursuing the same goal and purpose, the salvation of many.
God gave us the blessings to see 17 new souls coming to His feet during this week, and many more are being prepared for baptism in the near future.
The team is now aiming towards our next evangelistic series at the end of this month in the city of Akron.
Thanks for your many prayers and support.
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How Adventist Education Helps Families Know They Are Loved
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Adventist Education is central to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; at its very core is Jesus. The mission of
Adventist Education seeks to develop a "whole person" concept in each student. Our schools work to educate young people to accept service as a way of life, to be sensitive to the needs of people at home and in society, and to become active members in the Church. We want our children to thrive in the kingdom of God!
Seventh-day Adventist schools benefit from a curriculum especially designed for single and multigrade classrooms. The North American Division Office of Education has developed excellent, high-quality, standards-based materials for all classrooms. The curriculum is designed so that students are constantly connected with Christ and the possibilities He has for each life. Our schools often have a family atmosphere that is similar to what students encounter in the real world outside the classroom.
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It is this family atmosphere which has helped our Ohio Conference students and educators thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. While school buildings were closed and classes transitioned to online platforms this spring, the need to stay connected in-person remained. Thinking outside the box, Spring Valley multigrade teacher Michele O'Geare (grades 1 and 2), decided to "spread a ray of sunshine" to her students and their mothers over the Mother's Day weekend in May.
"I ordered special aprons for Mother's Day and packed goody bags for my students. I spent eight hours on Saturday and three hours on Mother's Day delivering these to twenty homes, spanning from Fairborn to Hamilton," said O'Geare. "The joy on my students' faces is one I will never forget. This is why I am in this mission field, not to be recognized, but to make a difference and to let my students and their families know they are loved. Of course we stayed six feet apart and did pretend hugs."
Stories such as this one, and others shared throughout the year, are just the tip of the iceberg. Lives are being changed in all 11 of our Ohio Conference schools. Please continue to pray for our students and educators as our schools finalize their plans to reopen next month, and prepare once again to "roll" with whatever changes come their way this year. While we may not know what the 2020-2021 school year will look like, we do know Adventist Education will help make disciples for Christ in the 21st century.
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G. Alexander Bryant Named North American Division President
by Kimberly Luste Maran, Assistant Director, Communication, NAD
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On July 9, 2020, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s General Conference Executive Committee met virtually to receive the name of G. Alexander Bryant, the recommendation for division president, from both the North American Division’s nominating committee and executive committee. Bryant was confirmed in a vote of 153 to 3.
Ted N.C. Wilson, General Conference president and, as policy indicates for the vote of division president, chair of the NAD nominating and executive committees held on July 6 and July 7, said, “I'm looking forward to a renewed focus on the three angels' messages and I believe that Elder Bryant can help lead in that great adventure, because that is what is entrusted to each of us. [He] is a mission-focused individual. He is someone who is a careful listener to people. He will take [these cares] to the Lord and ask for guidance. … I believe that God can use him in a very, very special way.”
“I am first indebted to God for His call to ministry and secondly to those who have poured into my life over the years," said Bryant in response to the vote. “I am deeply humbled by the confidence Elder Wilson, our chair, and the NAD and GC executive committees have placed in me with this assignment. This task is too big for one individual or office. It is abundantly clear to me that it takes all of us working together to advance God's kingdom and I just deeply covet your prayers.”
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July 4, Independence Day, was a beautiful day for a baptism!
After completing her Bible studies during the COVID-19 lockdown with Middletown district pastor Fred Shoemaker, Jody made the decision to publicly dedicate her life to Christ, and was baptized that afternoon in the Little Miami River.
Jody was surrounded by dozens of family, friends and Middletown church members as she shared this memorable day with them, including her parents and children. This day was even more special by the presence of Middletown matriarch, Mildred Hall, who has known and shared the love of Christ with multiple generations of people - including her granddaughter, Jody.
Join us as we welcome Jody into the worldwide Adventist Church family!
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Inspirational Quote of the Week
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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 the Worthington Church growing younger as they fuel a warm community, and Kettering Church youth leadership uniting during a crisis.
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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