The Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches met for its annual conference October 16–18. Chuck Pausley, OARBC state representative, is thankful for the “excellent time of teaching, worship, and fellowship.”
Andy Giessman speaks at the OARBC conference.
Andy Giessman, executive director of Addison’s Walk Institute for Christian Studies, and Jeremy Kimble, associate professor of theology at Cedarville University, taught the theme “Developing Leaders through Mentoring Ministry.”
In addition to their powerful preaching and teaching were intentional opportunities for further enrichment and fellowship.
On the first evening, invited guests attended a Welcome and Well Done dinner, recognizing new pastors and staff of OARBC churches and honoring those who have retired in the past year.
The next day, Cedarville University sponsored a luncheon on its campus. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, and other university staff shared about future expansions and opportunities for current and incoming students, emphasizing the university’s continued commitment to its historic Biblical position.
Women attend a seminar during the OARBC conference.
That evening, Baptist Mid-Missions sponsored an ice cream social, and on the last morning of the conference, three OARBC partnering camps—Camp Patmos, Scioto Hills, and Skyview Ranch—sponsored breakfast followed by a time of praising God for what He has been doing in each ministry. Evidenced was the important role Christian camps contribute to “Developing Leaders through Mentoring Ministry” in partnership with churches and families.
Seminars for men and women were also part of the schedule.
Additional teaching and enrichment came when everyone received a copy of J. A. Littler’s article “Saving Lives: God’s Truths amid Abortion’s Lies,” to be published in the Winter 2024 Baptist Bulletin. In that article, Littler, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Streetsboro, Ohio, writes about a state constitutional amendment that Ohioans will vote on November 7.
Voters will decide “whether to ensconce the ‘freedom’ of abortion in the state constitution alongside the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc., as if abortion is a basic human right that a just society should promote and protect,” Littler writes. “Ohio is not the first state to experience such a diabolical cultural and political transformation, and it won’t be the last.”
Ohio pastors meet at the governor’s mansion in Columbus Oct. 24.
In response to that proposed amendment, pastors decided to meet with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at the governor’s mansion in Columbus. Chris Lightfoot, executive director of the Church Ambassador Network, arranged for the pastors to meet there October 24. The visit was “quite an opportunity,” the OARBC says and thanks Chris for making it happen.
One pastor in the group was Mark Ashley of Northfield (Ohio) Baptist Church. “Governor DeWine and his wife have stated that this amendment goes too far. I agree with them,” Mark says. “The implications of the amendment are radical.”
The pastors’ meeting with the governor ended with prayer. Mark asks people to join him and these pastors in praying that the amendment will be defeated.
