August 2010 Press Toward the Mark

Press toward the Mark

          Mission Ohio is the cooperative effort of Southern Baptists to proclaim the gospel to the Buckeye state.  The 2020 Vision of Mission Ohio is to reach at least 1,000,000 of the 11-plus million residents of Ohio in 2,020 congregations by the end of 2020.

Since the 2020 emphasis began, Ohio Southern Baptists have added 197 new congregations that are reaching people for Christ and ministering in His name across our state.  We celebrate this with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord of the harvest.  Yet, we must experience a multiplication of church starts to reach the 2020 vision.

The North American Mission Board has been a wonderful and significant partner in evangelism and church planting to Mission Ohio.  NAMB leaders have provided fantastic support and assistance.  The 210 NAMB missionaries in Ohio reflect the importance of the NAMB-Mission Ohio partnership.

This partnership may change as the implementation of the Great Commission Task Force Recommendations occurs.  In fact, it has changed already.  The first effort of appointing a joint missionary has experienced difficulties with NAMB unlike any previously.

Ohio’s Great Commission Committee has met twice to formulate a recommended response to the Great Commission Task Force Recommendations approved by the messengers to the 2010 Southern Baptist Convention.  They are recommending the following to the July 2010 Mission Council meeting:

1.     Keep existing Ohio Great Commission Taskforce in place until NAMB reaches a decision as to how it is going to implement GCRTF initiative

2.     Conduct a renewal event in SCBO, Association, and local church levels to plan and communicate goal: “Set aside January as Month of Prayer for Unreached People Groups”

3.     Commend, Celebrate, and Challenge and Commend SCBO local churches on Cooperative Mission Program Giving 

4.     Recommend the churches of the SCBO continue to encourage, support, and release their Associational Missionary to spend 70% - 80% of hourly time working with local Southern Baptist churches and the SCBO Resource Team on the clear values of Church Planting.  This includes, but is not limited to identifying and training sponsoring churches, as well as identifying places, people groups, and population segments within their geographic boundaries that need evangelized and congregationalized

5.  Communicate to NAMB the value of Ohio’s Mission Plan, Personnel,and Programs: urge NAMB to enhance them rather than replace them

Hopefully, the NAMB-Mission Ohio partnership will remain strong and even grow. 

            Whatever the outcome, millions of lost people live in Ohio.  The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio is the mission agency tasked with assisting churches and associations to obey the Great Commission in Ohio.  We who live in the Buckeye state must cooperate more closely to reach our state for Christ.  Let us press toward that mark.