ELYRIA, Ohio—(by Tom Alexander) “A Thousand Voices of Praise” have sung together as 30 churches in North Central Ohio met for the annual meeting of the Hebron Association of Regular Baptist Churches on Sunday evening, April 27. The meeting marked 80 years of history for the Hebron fellowship (1928-2008).
The service was planned by the Hebron Executive Committee, with Pastor Larry Nocella (Camden Baptist, Wellington) serving as Moderator. This was the first time the fellowship met on a Sunday, and the attendance easily tripled or quadrupled recent annual meetings. The goal of “A Thousand Voices of Praise” was met as 1,045 people attended from 21 churches in the region from Port Clinton to Northfield (Cleveland), and from Lake Erie to Ashland County.
Three members of First Baptist, Elyria, presented a brief dramatic reading entitled “A matter of Praise” to open the service. A 140-voice combined choir sang two moving songs of praise under the direction of Jeremy Thomas (Faith Baptist, Amherst). “Hallelujah to The Lamb” was accompanied by piano and trumpet (Pastor Brad Quick, First Baptist, Elyria), while a newer arrangement of “Amazing Grace” was sung to a prerecorded track. More than 1,000 voices were lifted in praise as Dan Parker (First Baptist, Elyria) led the congregational singing. Additional special music was provided by a Brass Quartet of area pastors, as well as Camden Baptist Church’s 8-member vocal ensemble (Talents For Christ competitors).
Steve Strong (Grace Baptist, Westlake) introduced an animated video production visualizing the impact of the Hebron Fellowship around the world. He had gathered statistics from the Hebron Churches, with 25 responding. The locations of the 30 Hebron churches appeared on the map in sequence, and then additional marks indicated the 114 communities where the 2300 families of the Hebron churches live. That area map dissolved into a map of the United States, where white crosses indicated the 29 states where Hebron churches have taken missions trips over the past 5 years. Blue crosses were then added indicating the 25 states where 88 missionaries supported by Hebron churches serve. Finally, that map dissolved into a world map where 55 countries with missionaries supported by Hebron churches were marked. The video served as a graphic indication of the impact of our fellowship around the globe.
Pastor Tom Alexander (First Baptist, Wellington) shared a 10-minute presentation of “Our Hebron Heritage” in which he explained the forces of liberalism that led to a small group of churches withdrawing from the Northern Baptist Convention in 1928. The name for the fellowship came from a message delivered by Robert T. Ketcham, then pastor of First Baptist Church of Elyria, at that first meeting. Dr. Ketcham’s message had 13 points based on biblical events that happened at or around Hebron in the Old Testament. It was a message that was given from the heart of a separatist during a time of great theological controversy.
Dr. David Warren (State Representative, OARBC) preached a moving sermon from Micah 6:8, indicating God’s three requirements for His people: To do justly, To love mercy, and To walk humbly with God. The meeting concluded with the presentation of two annual $750 scholarships to Hebron graduating seniors who are planning to go to Bible colleges in the fall to prepare for ministry. Nic Brennecke (First Baptist, Wellington) will be attending Bob Jones University, while Luke Williams (Camden Baptist, Wellington) will be studying at Baptist Bible College. The new officers for the 2008-2009 year were also announced.
The Hebron Fellowship has enjoyed a fantastic year of monthly Pastor’s meetings focused on the theme “Intentional Ministry.” John Greening, Tom Wright, Michael Peck, and Dan Parker challenged the pastors with various aspects of doing ministry intentionally. The pastors are looking forward to another great year of fellowship and challenge starting in the fall. And judging by the excitement of those who attended, next year’s planned annual meeting on May 3 should be even bigger than this year’s!
