MOMENTUM 2012 is just around the corner. I hope that everyone is prayerfully con-sidering attending this great event. This year we again have made some changes. As always we pray that they are good changes that will enhance the conference to encourage your attendance and participation. So what are those changes?• Momentum2012hasbeen

moved from February toMarch

• Momentum2012hasbeenmoved from Cedarville University to Lifepoint Church, Columbus (In2012 this move is to assist in promoting the NAMB emphasis on church plant-ing as part of their Send North America initiative. Columbus is a Send Cityand Lifepoint is a NAMB sponsored church plant)

• Momentum2012hasbeenchanged from a 2 day event toa1dayevent(thatdateis Tuesday, March 20th)

• Momentum 2012 has itsown dedicated website:(www.momentumconfer-ence2012.com). Visit the site often for any conference changes or updates. Chang-es (if any) will be finalizedbyThursday,March1

• There will not be any onsite meals offered at Mo-mentum 2012 (there are73 eating establishmentswithin 7 minutes of Life-point Church)

• The abbreviated LifeWayBook Storewill not be onsite this year. Instead you will have the opportunity tovisittheLifeWayStoreatthe PolarisMall (which isless than 10 minutes from Lifepoint Church)

• The ladies will have theirown afternoon ministry Workshop led by JenniferKennedy Dean. REGIS-TRATION IS REQUIRED. GenoaBCwill be hostingthis event and I am sure it willbeveryrewardingandencouraging for those that attend.

• AnofferingwillbetakenatMomentum 2012 that will benefitanewchurchplantinMetroColumbusAsso-ciation. Come prepared to give.Donationswillbetaxdeductible.

Pleasevisitthewebsiteforcomplete Momentum details. Ibelieveyouwillfind thedayto be a rewarding experienceand a worthwhile investment of your time and energy. Momentum 2012 will be

divided into three sessions (morning,afternoon,andeve-ning). Each session will have praise and worship time as well as two preaching messages. The afternoon session will also include six workshop oppor-tunities for practical ministry insights and ideas. THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FOR ATTENDING MOMENTUM OR ANY OF ITS MINISTRY WORKSHOPS.However,seat-ing will be limited for eachconference workshop and seats willfillthatdayonafirstcomefirstservebasis. I believe youwill find thespeakinglineuptobediverse.Each speaker is in a ministry setting that is reaching people for Jesus Christ and each hasa unique story to tell. Ben Mandrell is a former collegiate minister that now pastors the EnglewoodBCinJackson,TN.He was listed on the Top 10 SBC“PastorsToWatchListfor2010.” He is a young innova-tive leader in our convention. Ed Litton is the pastor at FBC North Mobile, AL. Ed has avery unique personal testimo-ny that speaks to the goodness of God’s grace through per-sonaltragedy.JonathanFalwellis pastor of the Thomas Road BC in Lynchburg, VA and is

actively involved in the life and ministryofLibertyUniversity.Thomas Road is the 23rd larg-est church in America. KevinEzellisthenewpres-ident of the North American Mission Board and has beengiven the enormous responsi-bility and task of re-inventingandre-energizingourSouthernBaptist ministry in America. The former pastor of Highview BC in Louisville, KY is also the father of six children, three ofwhomhavebeenadoptedfromforeign nations. Lee Powell is the pastor at Cedar Creek Church in Perrysburg,OH. The church meets today in three different locations in Northwest Ohio and has an av-erage attendance of more than 8000 weekly. Cedar Creek is the 59th largest church in America. Former Ohio Evangelism Di-rector, David Wheeler, will bebackwithusthisyearspeakingto the importance and effec-tiveness of using servant evan-gelism as a strategic ministry model. David currently serves in three different ministry areas atLibertyUniversity.

Ourladieswillalsobeen-couraged thisyearby thepre-sentation of Jennifer KennedyDean. Shewill be speaking attheladiesluncheon(beingheldat Genoa BC) and will also lead a workshop session for ladies only concerning “praying for the harvest.” Jennifer is thePresident of The Praying for Life Foundation and a noted speaker and encourager. As always the music will beoutstanding.Thepreachingwill be encouraging and chal-lenging. The peer networking opportunities will be endlessand yes, THERE WILL BEFREE MINISTRY RESOURC-ES for all that attend. I hope to see you there! For more in-formation or if you have ques-tions feel free to contact me at 614-309-9738 or jackhelton@scbo.org or www.momentum-conference2012.com.

ThereIsVictoryInJesus,JackHeltonEvangelism Resource Group Leader

OhiO Baptist MessengerPUBLICATION OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF BAPTISTS IN OHIO

FEBRUARY 2012 | VolUmE 60 No. 1

INSIDE: MissionsRoundTable . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2Cleveland Church Planting . . . . . . . Page 3Chaplaincy Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4Women’sMinistries . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 8-9 Press Toward The Mark . . . . . . . . . Page 12

MOMENTUMACCELERATING CHURCHES AND LEADERS

Ben Mandrell, Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, TN

Ed Litton, First Baptist Church, North Mobile, AL

Jonathan Falwell, Thomas Road BC, Lynchburg, VA

Kevin Ezell, NAMB

LITERACY WORKSHOPS

Page 5

ENCO

UNTERING GOD’S AWESOME

POW

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VBS 2012

Pages 6 and 7

Week of Prayer for

North American MissionsAnd the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®

anniearmstrong.com

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®is a registered trademark of WMU®

AAEO8.5x11Poster.indd 1 4/27/11 8:35 PM

Annie Armstrong Page 11

Homegoing of Sue SlighSCBO Administrative Assistant died January 16, 2012. Search “Homegoings” on www.scbo/news for obituary.

March 20, 2012 • Lifepoint Church, Columbus

Page 2 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012

The Ohio Baptist Messenger (ISSN 0472-7096) is published every other month by the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio; 9000 Antares Avenue; Columbus, Ohio 43240-2011. Periodicals Postage Paid at Columbus, Ohio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Ohio Baptist Messenger; 9000 Antares Avenue; Columbus, Ohio 43240-2011.

Jack Kwok, Ohio State Convention Executive Director-Treasurer, Editor; Linnett Snodgrass, Administrative Assistant; Spangler Production & Design, Publication Layout. Published every other month for members of Southern Baptist churches in Ohio. Subscriptions provided out of each church’s Cooperative Program gifts. Member of Baptist Press, news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.

By: Rachael CarterNorthcoast Association

This past November, Lo-rain Baptist Church hosted a rededication service for their new sanctuary. During the service, Pastor Dempsey Miller made the following statement, “The insurance company said ‘No,’ the Bank said ‘No,’ butGod’s people said ‘YES.’” The statementcameaboutlastyearwhen Lorain Baptist Church experienced the collapse ofthe trusses in their sanctuary roof. After approaching the insurance company, they were told their claim was denied due to faulty trusses. Looking for help elsewhere, they ap-proachedthebank. Thebank

told them they were too small or not large enough to secure a loan. Thankfully, God’s peo-ple heard the need and said ”YES!” With the help of theState Convention of Baptist in Ohio, The Buckeye Builders, Northcoast Baptist Associa-tion, and the help of four mis-sion teams from Mississippi, Lorain Baptist Church is once again meeting in their Sanctu-ary, complete with new truss-es, sheetrock, paint and carpet. As part of the rededication service, Pastor Dempsey and Lorain Baptist Church had the privilege of baptizing 2 adultmen and a teenage boy. Allof this was possible becauseGod called and His people said “Yes.”

God’s People Said YES!

SEEKING STAFFPort Clinton Baptist Church on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie is seeking a Bi-vocational pastor. Contact Ivan Dowdle @ 252-933-1972 for further information.

First Baptist of Trenton, Ohio SBC is accepting resumes for a Senior Pastor.  Please send all resume’s to secretary@fbctrenton.com

February 2012 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 3

Clough Pike Baptist Church (Southern Hills Associa-tion) celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Sunday Novem-ber20,2011.GreetingsandrecognitionsweregiventothechurchfromDavidCoppedge(SouthernHillsAssociationalMissionary), Jack Helton (State Convention of Baptists inOhio),andBobbyWelch(SouthernBaptistExecutiveCom-mittee).BrotherWelchbroughtthemorningmessageandagooddayofworship,remembrance,andcelebrationwasen-joyedbyallthatattended.

50 Year Anniversary at Clough Pike Baptist Church

Pictured are Jack Helton, Bobby Welch, Kara Barnette, and Pastor Tim Barnette.

(L-R) Pastor Tim Barnette and Jack Helton.

(L-R) Pastor Tim Barnette and Bobby Welch.

By Tobin Perry, Baptist PressJan 9, 2012

CLEVELAND,Ohio(BP)—Achurch planting renaissance is on the horizon in an unlikelylocale. Southern Baptists in Cleveland believe they’re onthe edge of something big—a church planting movement that could change the city. But they’ll need Southern Baptist partners from elsewhere to see it come to fruition. “Cleveland needs people wholoveJesus,”saidDanGh-ramm, a North American Mission Board church planter in West Cleveland. Amongthe 65,000 people in the area where he works, Ghramm says there are “less than 300 to 400 people in a Gospel-preaching church on Sunday morning.” Thenumbersdon’tgetbet-ter in other places in metro Cleveland. Forty-two percent of Clevelanders aren’t affiliated withareligiousbody—Chris-tian or otherwise. Only 5.5 per-cent are in evangelical churches, compared to almost 40 percent in the state of Mississippi. Despite the fact that South-ernBaptistshavebeeninvolvedin Cleveland since the 1950s, there are only eight South-ern Baptist churches within the city limits— or one SBCchurch for every 53,000 people. Five of those churches are less thanfiveyearsold.Includethepopulation and churches for all of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, and that’s one SBC church for every 42,500 people. Southern Baptists in Cleve-land and throughout North America are working together

to change that through Send North America: Cleveland —an effort to reach the metro area byconnectingchurchplanterswith established churches inother parts of the nation. Kevin Litchfield, SendNorth America: Cleveland’scity coordinator, sees Southern Baptists in the city at the front endofsomethingbig. “I’ve never seen this much God-activity in our area,” said Litchfield, who also serves asa church planting catalyst for Cleveland Hope, the local Bap-tist association in Cleveland. “This time last year we had two church planters in the pipeline. If we really went at it, we could have 20 right now. We couldpotentially see 15 to 20 church-esplantednextyear.” WhenLitchfieldfirstcameto the association in 2006, less than 2 percent of the associa-tion’sbudgetwasgoingtowardchurch planting; today, it’s nearlyhalf(47percent). That kind of progress will be required tomeet the goalsthat the Cleveland strategy group has established for thecity:starting100churchesoverthenextfiveyearsand256bythe year 2020. To reach those ambitiousgoals, Southern Baptists in and around Cleveland need the help of partners elsewhere. The local strategy group already has built partnerships withchurches in Tennessee, Ken-tucky,Arkansas,AlabamaandOklahoma, among others, butmore are needed. Churches interested in partnering through Send NorthAmerica:Clevelandcan

get started by visiting namb.net/cleveland and clicking on the“MobilizeMe”button. The Cleveland local strat-egy group has divided the 1.7 million people in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties into eightregions,aimingtofindachurch planter to start a hubchurch in each region. Those hub churches will, in turn,start multiple other churches. They also plan to start a church planting school within each region. The strategy group ten-tatively expects to launch fiveof the eight regions within the nexttwoyears. Besides the regions, the group plans to start at least 39 African American or intention-ally multi-cultural churches within the Cleveland city lim-its. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 53 percent of Cleveland residents are African American. James Edwards believesgood days are ahead for Cleve-land. The pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and longtime Cleveland resident looks for-ward to being a part of whatGod is going to do in the city. “I look at this city like when JesuswasstandingoverJerusa-lem and crying out for the city,” said Edwards, who has lived in the city more than 50 years. “He’s telling His disciples that theharvestiswhite,thelabor-ers are few. I see people coming to Cleveland, partnering with us to plant churches, seeing people actually come to Christ, learning to be with Jesus likethey’ve never been before.LearningmoreaboutHimandfollowing in love with Him.

Cleveland could see 100 new churches in 5 years

Page 4 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012Visit www.GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey for more information.

Take the 2012 SBC Church Compensation Survey today…

Visit www.GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey for more information.

Take the 2012 SBC Church Compensation Survey today…

Thebi-annualSBCChurchCompensationSurveyisunderway.SponsoredbyyourBaptiststateconvention,GuideStoneFinancialResourcesandLifeWayChris-tian Resources, this year’s survey is again online. In 2010, almost 12,000 church employees participated, and we’re counting on you to make this year’s survey a success. •Thesurveytakeslessthan10minutestocomplete. •Customizedreportsonsurveyresultswillbeavailableonlinethissummer. For more than a decade, the SBC Church Compensation Survey’s results have beenusedbyfinanceandpersonnelcommitteestoestablishcompetitivecompen-sation packages for ministers and support staff. Your participation will help make this year’s survey the most complete yet. Ministers, secretaries and maintenance/custodial staff are invited to participate. Take the online survey today. Visitwww.GuideStone.org/CompensationSurveybyMay31,2012.

© 2011 GuideStone Financial Resources 19083 11/11

2012CHAPLAINCY TRAINING

March 9 (6 pm) thru March 10 (8 am—3 pm)

Reynoldsburg Baptist Church887 Rosehill Road

Reynoldsburg, Ohio  43068Bring your gear and sleep in the church!

Or ask for a list of local motels

Pre-registrationRequired:COST$40.00Includes:snacks,Sat.breakfast&lunch,materials

ToRegisterContact:Al Banner, DR Chaplain Coordinator

(937)885—7872orEmail:Albanner@cbceng.com

This training is for men and women who desire to serve as a Disaster Relief Chaplain. This is one step in the process that takes approximately one year and includes other requiredtraining in one of the DR Ministries, including Food Service, Child Care, Chain Saw, and Communications. Critical Inci-dentStressManagement(CISM)isalsorequiredandwillbeprovided at a nominal cost in 2013. You must also provide reference letters and complete a NAMB questionnaire.

Ministry Assistants from 16churchesgathered inJune2011 at Highland Baptist Churchtoattendthefirstan-nual Ohio Ministry Assistants Conference. Using the theme Growing IntoAnException-al Ministry Assistant, Mrs. Donna Gandy from LifeWayChristian Resources trained and encouraged Ohio’s Min-istry Assistants to “optimizetheir God-given gifts in min-istry service.” OMA Chaplain Norma McMurray (Greater DaytonAssoc.), who encouraged at-tendees tobe likeAaronandHur in her devotion time, opened the morning session with prayer. Participants en-joyed a catered lunch from Flyer’s Pizza, door prizes,goody bags and the warmhospitality of the Highland

Baptist Women’s Ministryand administrative staff. Following three informa-tive teaching sessions, OMA members held their first an-nual meeting. Officers elected for 2011-2012 are President

Lisa Townsend, Vice Presi-dent Valerie Markley (Uni-versity Baptist, Middletown), Secretary Karen York, Trea-surer Cheryl Sellers (South-ern Hills Assoc.) and Pub-licity & Events Coordinator

Darlys Bullock (UrbancrestBaptistChurch,Lebanon). Ohio Ministry Assistants is open to any Southern Bap-tist administrative personnel in Ohio – paid, volunteer or retired. An application form

and further information is available from any OMA of-ficer, on Facebook or at ourOMAblog,http://ohiominis-tryassistants.wordpress.com/.

Ohio Ministry Assistants Conference at Highland Baptist

February 2012 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 5

From left to right: Sandy Wanner (First Baptist of Gahanna), Nawal Picard (Northside Baptist of Youngstown) and Sue and Paul Braun (Reynoldsburg Baptist)

YourOhioTeam2011MissionTriptoJor-dan and to Israel was one of the most successful tripsever.Wewanttothankyouforyourprayersandsupport.Theteammembersweremadeupof three Southern Baptist Churches here in Ohio ledbyMrs.NawalPicard. In Jordan we saw believers strengthenedthrough ourWomen Conferences. In Israel notonlywereweabletoholdthreeconferences,dis-tribute over 1,400 pieces of literature and workwithourIMBrepresentativesbutweledtwoladies

totheLord,onefromaCatholicbackgroundandtheotherfromtheM’limDriuzebackground(ItwasamazingthatJewelbecameapreciousgeminthesightoftheLordJesus).AlsotheLordopenedtwonewavenuesofministry–wewereablecon-nect with our friends at The Baptist Village outside of Tel Aviv and we worked with the Bedouin in the southern part of the country. Please continue to pray for the fruits of our labor andour continuedyielding toGod’s calland His will.

Arab Ministries in the Middle East

Until the early 80’s most SBC churches were very much alike–wehad ‘FiveStarchurches’–everybodyhadSun-day school, discipleship training, wor-ship,WMU, andBrotherhood.The80’sushered in the ‘What’s hot now’ Era…the Willowback movement some havecalledit.Wewenttoconferenceshostedbychurchestellingushowtheyaredoingit, then went home and tried to imitate them…programswereseenasevil,wor-ship wars began, etc. Some succeeded,many crashed, discovering every church is unique, what works there may not work here.WehavenowenteredtheCustomizedChurchEra–church-esareasking:Whoarewe?Whyarewehere,now?Church-esarecreatinganewscorecard.Wekeepscoreofwhat isimportant.BeforeitwastheABC’s:Attendance–Baptisms–CashorNickels–Noses–NewmembersorBuildings–Budgets–Bodies–Baptisms.Weoftenaskedtwoquestions:Didwedobetterthanlastyear?Anddidwedobetterthaneveryone else? Nowthequestionsbecome:WhatdoestheFatherwantourchurchtobeandtodo?Howwellarewedoing?Isthereasecrettotransformingbelieversintodisciples?Whatdoesittakeforachurchtobetransformational?Whyaresomechurchesconsistentlycreatingdiscipleswhoselivesarebe-ingtransformedbytheGospelandothersarenot?TofindanswersLifeWayconductedacomprehensiveresearchstudyof the modern American church. It involved contact with more than 7,000 churches and personal interviews with 300 churchleaders.EdStetzerandThomRainersharethere-sults inTransformationalChurch:Creating aNewScore-card for Congregations. The significance and breadth of theTransformationalChurch research is unprecedented and revealing – God isdoingamazing things in today’s churches.Wehave theevidence of that activity, and the characteristics are appar-ent.ThesechurchesarewheredisciplesarebecomingmorelikeJesusandthechurchactsmorelikethebodyofChrist,transforming their communities and the world for the king-dom of God. But Transformational Church is not a church model or someplug-and-playformula.It’sanorganiccombinationofsevenkeyelementsthatotherchurchesareusingtobecometransformational. The Transformational Church Assessment Tool(TCAT)givesyouasnapshotoftheperceivedpresentreality based on the seven elements:missionarymentality,vibrantleadership,relationalintentionality,prayerfuldepen-dence, worship, community and mission. This powerful on-line tool can help you quickly assess where your church is strong now and the areas that need development. The assessment is now available through the SCBOwebsite (www.lifeway.com/tc/ohio/). We have fourteentrained consultants in Ohio ready to partner with you to develop strategy recommendations for your church. Contact Steve Hopkins (SteveHopkins@scbo.org or 614-827-1820)orDwayneLee(dlee@scbo.org or 614-827-1824) for information on how you can enlist a Transforma-tional Church consultant. A ministry of the Cooperative Program giving of South-ern Baptist churches in Ohio.

Transformational Church Consultants Available for

Ohio Baptists

LITERACY WORKSHOPSJanuary 13th & 14th ESL Workshop at Cedarville University 14 Hour Workshop Training with Pam Elkins

February 2012 ESL Workshop at First So. Bapt ChurchDate to be determined 14 Hour Workshop Training with Teri Kelley South Point, Ohio

February 25th Mission Round Table display Spring Hills Baptist Church, Granville, Ohio

March – September 14 Hr Workshop training available for English as a Second Language and Tutoring Children and Youth ministries

October 2012 Literacy Mission Ministries Brunch and Date to be determined Conference. RSVP Required to Teri Kelley

November – December 14 Hr Workshop training available for English as a Second Language and Tutoring Children and Youth ministries

If your church is currently involved in Literacy Missions and we have not met or talked about your ministry recently, PLEASE contact me via email at: Terik5@Zoomtown.com so we can get acquainted. I look forward to hearing from you and finding out how God is moving in your ministry. As the new State of Ohio Literacy Missions Coordinator, I will ask that you supply a contact name and phone number as well as an email address.

Check out SCBO/Literacy Missions on Facebook! Become our “friend”.

Page 6 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012

Location: Highland Baptist Church3460 Hoover RoadGrove City, OH 43123 Date: March 9-10, 2012 Attractions:• FullLifeWayVBSBookstore• Acc-u-cut• DoorPrizes• OpenHouse5:00pm–7:00pm

Friday night• CoreClasses• Electives• VBSMusical

Vacation Bible School InstituteVacation Bible School Institute

Special Guest

Jeff Slaughter

ENCO

UNTERING GOD’S AWESOME

POW

ER

Registration & Cost: Jan. 3 through Feb. 29 scbo.org/register $10.00 per person (LunchIncluded)

On Site Registration the cost is $15.00 and lunch is NOT included

Come see Jeff for his last appearance!

February2012|OhioBaptistMessenger|Page7

CLASSES PROvIDED IN ThE FOLLOwINg AREAS:•Pastors&Directors•Preschool&Kindergarten•Pre-teen/VBX/Youth•MiddleChildren&

Younger Children•Crafts•Missions/Music•Recreation/Snack•DecoratingIdeas

OThER INFORMATIONDoorPrizes.Literatureondisplay. Pre-orders made two weeks in advancewillbeavailableforpickupattheclinic.On-lineorderformswillbeavailable1/31/12atwww.scbo.org.

VBS ClinicsDATES AND LOCATIONS: Northwest RegionMarch 24 - 9am-12pmFBCPerrysburg590W.SouthBoundarySt.Perrysburg,Ohio43551

North Central Region March29-6:30pm-9:30pmFBC Vermilion6716W.RiverRd.Vermilion, Ohio 44089

Northeast Region April 14 - 10am-12pmBroadman Baptist Church350 E. Bath Rd.Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223

Southwest RegionApril 14 - 10am-12pmFBC Kettering3939 Swigart Rd.Beavercreek, Ohio 45440

South Central RegionApril 24 - 7pm-9pmNorthview Baptist Church1139 Northview Dr.Hillsboro,Ohio45133

Southeast RegionApril 28 - 10am-12pmFaith Baptist Church200 Grove Rd.Belle Valley, Ohio 43717

This past weekend was an “amazing”waytogetourVBSIOhioteamtrainedbythefolksat LifeWay while seeing God’sbeauty at Ridgecrest,NC. Wehad twelve from our State VBS team that were able to makethe trip down to Black Moun-tain.WekickedtheeventoffonThursday with the worship rally and all of the new moves taught tousbyJeffSlaughter.Wethenmadeourwaytothefirstbreak-out session and didn’t come up for air until our alarm went off at5:30AMonSaturday.Itwasawhirlwindof excitement andwe got tons of great ideas for our VBSI Ohio event as well as theregionalclinics thatwillbethroughout Ohio. The classes

were great and the theme of GodsAmazingWondersisjustwhat our world needs to hear in today’s hopeless state. We arepraying for all of the communi-tiesthatyouareapartofwillbetouchedthroughVacationBibleSchool this year. Book your trip now for VBSI Ohio March 9-10

at Highland BC in Grove City (Southwest Columbus area)andbeapartofthetrainingop-portunitiesthatwillbeoffered.

WendyHammockBible Teaching and Leadership Resource Group, SCBO

Amazing experience as vBS Ohio Team trained for this year’s vBS

(L-R) Wendy, Amanda and Dwayne take a test flight.

Doug Morgan, Debbie Lee, Mike O’Bryant, Dwayne Lee, Karl Chadrick, Amanda Mishne, Wendy Hammock (back row) Lori Wilson, Teresa Johnson, Kelli Watson and Marki Osborn (front row).

ROYAL AMBASSADOR

CONgRESSAPRIL 20 - 21, 2012

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH1167 Highview Drive

FAIRBORN, OHIO

ThEME: “HAVING A CHRISTLIKE

CONCERN”CAMPCRAFT COMPETITION

TRACK MEET TROPHIES AWARDED

Prepare now to bring your Royal Ambassador

Chapter to the annual Con-gress. Plenty of fellowship, messages from God’s Word, challenges, individual and chapter competitions, and

the famous R. A. Lunch (Hot dog/ chips / drink)!

COST: $ 10.00 per person

STATEwIDE MISSION PROJECT:

COLLECT RECYCLEABLES AND BRING THE FUNDS TO CONGRESS. TRACK YOUR POUNDAGE SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE CHAP-

TERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS. MONEY WILL BE DONATED TO A LOCAL FOOD BANK. MEDALS AND PATCHES

WILL BE AWARDED.

CONTACT BOB ANDES (937) 581-1239

FOR MORE DETAILS

CONTACT: WendyHammock,614-827-1826orwehammock@scbo.org

The following ministries of Northwest Ohio Baptist Association were advertently omitted from the printer pocket calendar:

Crosswalk, BGSU, LeAnna Pickerel Disciple House, John Cattell Southside Life Station, Dan Stevenson

See www.scbo.org for full contact

information.

Page 8 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012

Metro Columbus Chris-tianWomen’sJobCorps(MC-CWJC)celebrateditsTen-YearAnniversary on Saturday, No-vember 19, 2011 at the StoweMission Center in Columbus,Ohio. This true “homecom-ing”wasattendedbymentors,participants, volunteers, and supporters associated with the organization.Hugsand smilesaboundedindicatingthebondsthat formed throughout ten years of ministry. The evening began with apotluck dinner coordinated byJackie Hendrix. People packedthe room to capacity! Deric Norrisprovidedkeyboardmu-sic throughout the evening. The program included testimonies to the ministry over the past ten years. Board President, El-venor Johns, read a certificateof congratulations from the Ohio House of Representa-tives. It noted that MCCWJChasachieveda “remarkable re-cord of service to the area byhelping prepare women for life byteachingnecessarybasiclifeskills including the importance of sustained employment, hous-ing, and child and medical care.”

history and New Beginnings Executive Director, V.J.Sanchez presented a historicaloverview onwhereMCCWJChasbeenandsharedhervisionofNewBeginnings.Shebeganwith, “I pour out my praise to the One who never ceases to amaze me, my God, my Cre-ator, Redeemer, Lord, Lover ofmysoul,WhosentHisonlySon to die for our sins and the sins of all mankind! As I think backoverthelifeofMetroCo-lumbusChristianWomen’sJobCorps, all I can say isWow!”In 2001 MCCWJC was regis-tered with National Women’sMissionary Union and beganclasses. Charlene Bingham was the Director of the program and Sanchez was one of thementors. After two years, Bing-hamaskedSancheztoconsiderbeing theDirector due to herretirement.Withtheleadingof

God through the Holy Spirit, Sanchez resigned her job atAEP, attended Site Coordina-tor training and took over the reins in April 2003. Sanchez became the in-structorforjobreadinessclass-es, computer classes, and the Bible teacher as well as book-keeper and check writer. Bev-erly Escobedo assisted withthe office until she becameemployed and could no longer volunteer. Then Donna Camp-bellagreedtoassistacoupleofdaysaweekasthebookkeeperand attended Site Coordinator training. She became the As-sistant Site Coordinator and began teaching Bible, Nutri-tional Cooking, and Preparing YourselftobeMentored.Soon,LynnTibbsbecameavolunteer.ShebeganteachingAngerMan-agement Classes and continues to do so. It has been amazingwatchingGodbringvolunteersone by one. For the past threeyears, Sanchez has not had toteach any classes. More classes have been added as volunteerscame forward. Sanchez de-clared, “I do not have the words

todescribehowhumbledIamwith how God has chosen to bless MCCWJC. There havebeentimeswhenIhavethoughtit couldnotget anybetter andthen God surprises me.” Last year MCCWJC wasrecognized by four organiza-tions; Columbus Rotary Club,Channel 4 Hometown Hero, Hands on Central Ohio, and The Jefferson Award. AlsoEugene Norris was enlisted to site coordinator of Christian Men’s Job Corps and hence anew name -Metro ColumbusChristianJobCorps(MCCJC).Norris is working with two male participants using a “one-on-one” approach. “Along with a new name, God has given us a new vision,” Sanchez stated, “during 2011we have struggled to have par-ticipants come to classes. I was wondering what God was say-

ingtous.ThroughBiblestudy,prayer, listening to the Spirit, and meeting with other service organizations,thecurrentstaffbelieves it is time to take theministry to people who are un-able to get to theMCCJC site- New Beginnings!” MCCJC is partners withInfinite Wisdom of Women,a new transitional home for women.LynnTibbs is theDi-rector of this program. MC-CJCwillbeabletoassistmorewomen in need with this pro-gram. God has opened the door forus tobeginminister-ing to Somali women in the Capital Park apartments. Wewillbeginwithsewingclasses,English as a Second Language, and tutoring for GED in 2012. MCCJChas alsobeen ap-proached by two freemedicalclinics, Helping Hands Minis-

try on Morse Road and Grace in the Linden area, to bringMCCJC to their sites. Godis calling us to MOVE from ourcomfortzone.Wearealsopartnering with the Vineyard Church to reach the homeless in our community. Sanchezsmiled and emphasized, “Goddoes not call us to do anything that He does not equip us to do. The question is, ‘Are we willing tobeequipped?”’ DebbieParkerledmusicforthe evening and sang a special selection, “Thank You Lord for All You’ve Done for Me.” Inspi-rational speaker Tifani Kend-rick began her talk by sharinga heart moving poem abouttrusting God; from fear to faith; bondagetofreedom;fleshtoHiskingdom. She spoke of how God has given us the gift of the Holy

Women’s Missions & Ministries Metro Columbus Christian women’s Job Corps Celebrates Ten Year history and New Beginnings

Debbie Parker inspires with a song.

Tifani challenges the group to “move beyond fear.”

The Stowe Mission Center Community Kitchen is filled to capacity!

Certificate of Congratulations from the Ohio House of Representatives

Certificate Presentation

MCCwJC ~ Continued on Page 9

February 2012 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 9

Women’s Missions & Ministries

BLOG www.scbo.org/wmm

Join Us On Facebook! OwN-Ohio women’s Network

Date Event

Upcoming Events

February 13-19 Focus on WMU WeekFebruary 18 Children’s Ministry DayFebruary 25 Ohio Missions RoundtableMarch 3 Southeast Spring RetreatMarch 4-11 Annie Armstrong North American Missions OfferingMarch 20 Momentum Ladies LuncheonMarch 24 Cleveland Hope Spring RetreatMarch 24 Southwest Spring RetreatApril 21 Northwest Spring RetreatApril 28 Beautiful FeetMay 5 Metro Columbus Spring RetreatMay 18-19 SLBA Spring RetreatJune 11-15 Kids Kamp 1June 18-22 Kids Kamp 2July 25-August 3 More than GoldJuly 30-August 3 Kids Kamp 3August 6-10 Missions CampSeptember 14-15 Fall Retreat & Mission CelebrationSeptember 16-23 Ray Roberts State Missions OfferingOctober 12-13 Mother Daughter RetreatNovember 8 Pastor’s Wives LuncheonDecember 2-9 Lottie Moon International Missions Offering

MCCwJC ~ Continued from Page 8

The New Bethel Baptist Church in Nor-wood, Ohio was the site of a multi-cultural Christmas in 2011 with three congregations meeting in the same facility. The New Beth-el Baptist Church Choir presented, “An Old Fashioned Christmas” for the 206 worshippers attendingthe11:00AMserviceonChristmasmorning,December25.Manyofthefaithfulreturned for the6:00PMevening service tocontinuecelebratingtheLord’sbirthday. Good Shepherd Hispanic Baptist Church in Norwood, sponsored by New Bethel, re-ported 80 attending their Christmas Eve Service6:00-9:00PM,and40attendingtheirChristmasDayserviceat2:00PMonSunday. The Sudanese Baptist Church, sponsored

by New Bethel, hosted a special Christmasservice from 12:00 to 7:00 PM on Christ-masSunday.About200SudanesemetintheBayside Building/Family Life Center at New Bethel with groups coming from as far as Ne-braskaandTennessee. A spirit of cooperation was evident as three congregations that worship in three different languages in the same facility on a weeklybasis coordinated their schedules forthe special Christmas services. Surely the Lord was pleased to receive their praise. Kirk Pike is the New Bethel Baptist Church pastor. Submittedby:ChuckSams

A Multi-Cultural Christmas

Spirit and loaned us talents and skills so that we might glorify Him. SheremindedusthatGodisallaboutnewbeginningsthroughobe-diencetoHisWordandweareenlightened,equipped,andempow-ered for a purpose. Our purpose here on earth is to transform daily in Christ’s image. In order to do that, we must have a vision, write it, speakit,andliveit.Shechallengedusto“bethevision.” SiteCoordinatorLynnTibbsgaveanemotionallyinspiringtes-timonyofalifewithatroubledbeginningwhichwastransformedbyGod.Tibbstoldmembersoftheaudiencetheydidnothavetoparticipate in the activities that can destroy a life. She said, “I have alreadydonethatandcantestifythatitdoesnotwork.”TibbsisavitalleaderintheministryofMCCJCbecauseshecanidentifywithmany of the women and can personally testify that she has found a betterwaythroughapersonalrelationshipwithJesusChrist. V.J. Sanchez sharedpersonal comments about eachpartici-pantascertificateswerepresentedbyLynnTibbsandBoardMem-berSharonMcKenzie.Itisevidenteachwomanhasmadepositivestrides in her life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hopeandafuture.”Jeremiah29:11.

Submittedby:SandyWanner,Ph.D8035 Ashenden Drive, Blacklick, Ohio 43004254.541.5021(cell),614.604.6251(home)swanner@insight.rr.com

Page 10 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012

    Julio Pineda and his familymoved to the Cincinnati area from the Dominican Repub-lic.   Julio had been involvedwith rapid church planting systems in his home coun-try.   He was raised observingand working with missionaries as they planted churches.  The system used was a more simple, focused, and streamlined pro-cesstostartnewchurches.Ju-liohadbroughtthisknowledgeandbackgroundtosouthwest-ern Ohio and had implement-ed the process. Julio himself is a churchplanter.  He started an Hispan-ic church and then discovered and trained the future pastor out of the congregation.   He hasnowsetupasmall,butef-fective, church planting cen-ter/seminary.   Basic yet solid Biblical theology is taughtalong with church planting principles.  This is truly taking shape as a real “farm system” of planting churches.   Cur-rently there are twenty plus students.   As these students

graduate the desire is that they will either start or be a leadmemberofanewchurchstart. In the last couple of years a new Spanish speaking church hasbeenstartedinWestChes-ter, Ohio.  This new congrega-tion isbeingplantedby Julio’sson David Pineda.   They are meetinginthefacilitiesofLib-erty Heights church, which is part of the Cincinnati associa-tion.  Brad Cunningham is the

pastorofLibertyHeights.  Heled the congregation to open-ing the doors of opportunity and provided space for the new congregation to meet. Another new Hispanic con-gregation is in the process of being started from this minis-try in the Southern Hills Asso-ciation.  This new congregation plans to meet in the facilities of UrbancrestBaptistChurch.TomPendergrass is the pastor. He and Minister of Missions Doss Estep along with Mike Wright havebeeninstrumentalinhelpinginthis new start. The example these twopredominantly Anglo churches have demonstrated by open-ing their doors to other cul-tures to have the opportunity toutilizethesamefacilitiesforworship is a tremendous asset to Hispanic church starting. Recently, another new church start in the Ohio Valley Association has launched in the western section of Cincin-nati.   Associational Mission-aries Dennis Holmes, Chuck

Sams, and David Coppedge have been open and instru-mental in these new starts also. This effective and simple approach to church starting is tobecommended.  PleaseputJulio and his Church Plant-ing Center/Seminary on your prayer list.  It is always good to see the nations being reached

in our own backyard.   As al-ways, thanks to all SBC church-es for providing funds through the Cooperative Program to assist in these church starts.

Submittedby:  Gary Odom, Language Church Starter Strategist, State Convention

Be Onein a Million!

Praying for the Horn of Africa • April, 2012During the month of April, God is calling out 1 million people to pray for the 100 million people living in the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, and Northern Kenya.

Will you be one in a million?

For more information, visit prayforthehorn.com.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those livingin the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. —Isaiah 9:2

Hispanic Church Planting in Southwest Ohio

www.prayforthehorn.com and www.scbo.org for more details

To order materials contact Amanda Mishne, amanda@scbo.org

Pastor and Mrs Julio Pineda

February 2012 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 11

A GIFT TO ANNIE*

$1 Pack of door hangers promoting a new church start

$5 Hot meal for a resident at a homeless shelter

$10 Jesus Storybook Bible for teaching grade-school children

$15 Bible for a new believer

$20 Discipleship materials for a small group

$50 Witnessing tools and training for a mission team to share Christ with unbelievers

$100 Supplies for a neighborhood evangelistic outreach event announcing a new church start

$200 Scholarship for an inner-city child to attend a Christian summer camp

$500 Wireless lapel microphone for a new church plant

*Representative of how funds may be used.

NEW PASTOR & STAFF ORIENTATION

An orientation for new pastors and new staff in Ohio churches is offered in 2012. The orientation will begin at 9:30 a.m.and conclude around 3:00 p.m. The orientation providesopportunity for meeting state staff and learning of Cooperative Program resources available to the local church through theState Convention of Baptists in Ohio. Spouses are invited to attend.There isno fee,butadvancedregistration is required.ContactLinnettSnodgrass (lsnodgrass@scbo.orgor614-827-1776) to register.

March 15, 2012 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. State Convention of Baptists9000 Antares Avenue, Columbus

Phil Duncan Retires after 21 Years at Jersey Baptist Church

Search “Phil Duncan” at www.scbo/news

homegoing of

Jean Sommerkamp

Wife of Theo Sommerkamp died December 25, 2011

Search “Homegoings” on www.scbo/news

for obituary

Page 12 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | February 2012

A decade ago, two influ-ential people in my life went home to be with the Lord.Many of you may rememberDr.W.A.Criswell;few,ifanyofyou, would know Mrs. Melton. Dr. Criswell’s sermons, books,andpersonalencourage-ment blessed and shaped mylife tremendously. As a young student-pastor, I encountered liberalism. Dr. Criswell tookthe time to share and pray with me. His stand for the inerrancy of Scripture, evangelism, mis-sions,andexpositorypreachinginfluencedmy life greatly. Dr.Criswell’sexamplestrengthenedmy commitment to Southern Baptists during a time when some Southern Baptists were departing from our historical doctrinal positions. Most of all, Dr.CriswellencouragedmebyhisloveforJesus. Mrs. Melton helped to in-troduce me to Jesus. At thetime, we lived across the street from the Meltons. She kept my younger sister during the day and me after school until our parents returned from work. One day, she invited my sister and me to Sunday School. At first,weweren’tinterested.Theidea of “school” didn’t appeal to me.ShequicklyexplainedthatSunday School was not an all-day event. With a twinkle in her eye

anda smileasbigasall outdoors, she en-couraged us to come to Sunday School andlearnaboutJesus.Due to her encour-agement, it wasn’t a very difficult deci-sion. At that time, our family didn’t own a television. I’m not sure if we even owned a radio. After my sis-ter and I rode our stick horses aroundthehouseadozentimesor more, there wasn’t that much else to do on Sunday. So we agreed to go. Mrs. Melton’s excitementaboutsomebodynamed“Jesus”did create some curiosity that contributed toourdecision togotoSundaySchool. Wehadnever heard about Jesus; nordid we know what went on in-sidethechurchbuilding.Witha mixture of anticipation, ex-citement, and apprehension, we joined the Melton family as they walked to church. They took us into the churchbuildingthroughasidedoor. The building was newand still under construction. From the brilliant sunshine ofthe outside, we stepped into a dimly lit room. Before our eyes could adjust, some other people ushered us down some stairs intoadankbasement. Toour

surprise, they sepa-rated us. My sister’s destinationwasbet-ter than mine. They put her in a room at the foot of the stairs, while they directed me to a room at theverybackofthebasement that ap-pearedtobeaslargeas Carlsbad Cav-erns. Apprehension

had driven all the excitementoutofus.Wedidn’tknowwhatthey did to boys and girls indungeons like this. Relief replaced apprehen-sion when we recognized ourSunday School teachers. I think Mrs. Melton was my sis-ter’s teacher; Mrs. Anna Still-necker was mine. Mrs. Anna was a distant relative. She was thesisterofthehusbandofthesister of my stepfather. As I said, she was a distant relative. Mrs. Anna (who wenthome to be with our Lord in2001) would stop sometime duringtheBiblelessonandaskeach member of the class toshareaBibleverse. Icouldn’tparticipate because we didn’thaveaBible.Shewroteaverseon a piece of paper for me. WhensheaskedthenextSun-day,IquotedJohn3:16. Several months later, my pastor shared the entire plan of

salvation with me. I repented of my sin and placed my faith in thedeath,burial,andresur-rectionofJesus.WhenIaskedJesustoforgivemysinsandsaveme, He actually did it. My pas-tor(R.A.Bonewhowenthometo be with our Lord in 2005)shared the same Gospel with my mother (who went hometobewith Jesus in2008). Sherepented of her sin and placed her faith in the death, burial,and resurrection of Jesus forforgiveness of sin and salva-tion. Brother Bone baptizedbothofusintheWhiteRiveratBatesville, Arkansas into the fel-lowship of the Calvary Baptist Church. Eventually, all of our familyprofessedfaithinJesus. All of this occurred as a result of Mrs. Melton inviting us to come to Sunday School with her to learn more aboutJesus. With tears of joy andthanksgiving, I praise God for Mrs. Melton, Mrs. Anna, and Brother Bone. In Ohio, millions of people don’t know Jesus as their Lordand Savior. Some know a lot about Jesuswhile others knowvery little if anything. Much or little knowledge about Jesusdoesn’t solve the sin problem.Only a personal encounter with Him through repentance and faith in the Gospel yields the only solution to the sin prob-

lem. Jesus alone has paid thepenalty for sin. His resurrec-tion proves that the Father has accepted the sin-penalty pay-mentbyJesusonourbehalf. Our Father loves all eleven million plus people in Ohio just like He loves the whole world. Jesusdiedtopaythepenaltyofsin for all who live in our state as well as the whole world. Thus, salvation is available forallwhorepentandbelievetheGospel of Jesus Christ. Mis-sion Ohio is our cooperative ef-fort to tell everyone in our state theGoodNewsofJesusChrist.The Mission Ohio 2020 Vision istoreach1,000,000believersin 2020 congregations by theend of 2020. We must havemore local churches to reach all the people groups in Ohio. I remember Dr. Criswellsaying once that great preach-ers don’t make great churches; great churches make great preachers. Without question,churchesbecomegreatbecauseofmembers likeMrs.Melton.Mission Ohio needs thousands ofmissionarychurchmemberslike Mrs. Melton who will becontinuously asking boys andgirls plus men and women, “Would you come to SundaySchool (or Bible Study) withmetolearnmoreaboutJesus?”Let’s press toward that Mark.

P r e s s towa r d t h e M a r k

Jack Kwok, Ph.D.Executive Director-TreasurerState Convention of Baptists in Ohio

For information about the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio and more Baptist Press

news, go to our website www.scbo.org.

If you are not a Christian, have never surrendered your will to the Lord Jesus,letmesharebrieflyhowyoucanmakethislifechangingdecision.GOD WANTS YOU SAVED.

First,youmustbelievethatGodlovesyouandwantsyoutohavepeace inyourheartandaneverlasting life(John3:16).

Second,youmustrecognizethatyouareasinner,thatyouhave done things which have displeased God and that you haveseparatedyourselffromHim(Romans3:23;6:23).

Third,youmustbelievethatJesuscametothisearth,wasactuallyGodintheflesh,livedaperfectlife,andyetwentto a cruel cross, dying for your sins, paying once and for all thepenaltyofsin(IPeter2:24).However,it’snotenoughjust to know these three things. Many of us knew them for yearsbeforeweevergaveJesusourlives.

Fourth,youmustpersonallyaskJesustocomeintoyourlifeandforgiveyouofyoursins(Revelation3:20).

You can pray this prayer now and if you mean it with all of your heart,JesuswillcomeinjustlikeHesaid.Hecannotlie.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I’m really sorry for my sins, Lord. I ask you now, Lord Jesus, to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, take control of my life, and make me the kind of person You want me to be. I now receive You into my heart. Thank You for coming in. I will follow You all the days of my life. In Your name I pray, Amen.

How to become a

Christianhow to submit Church News

Send all church news and information to Linnett Snodgrass at lsnodgrass@scbo.org