2010 Annual Meeting - Penetrating the Lostness

Tim Carr & Ron HopkinsThe 57th annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio convened in Cambridge, Ohio November 3-4, 2010 under the leadership of President Ron Hopkins.  The Program Committee led by President Ron Hopkins and Chair Tim Carr engaged the Penetrating the Lostness Report voted upon by the messengers to the June 15-16, 2010 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Florida by utilizing the title as the theme for the 57th annual meeting of Ohio Southern Baptists.

This theme guided each of the four sessions by concentrating on a crucial aspect of the Penetrating the Lostness report: Spiritual Renewal, Cooperative Mission Program, Church Planting, and Evangelism.  Pastors and Laity led messengers and guests in each session to celebrate what God is doing through Southern Baptists in Ohio and around the world to Penetrate the Lostness and challenged the messengers to commit to specific decisions to increase our witness and obedience to the Great Commission.  Messengers and guests responded through specific commitment cards and a public invitation for each session.

Susie EmerySusie Emery, WMU leader from Woodsfield First Baptists Church led the session on Spiritual Renewal.  She highlighted the prayer walking and driving across Ohio and then challenged messengers and guests to commit to personal spiritual renewal and other actions requested by the Penetrating the Lostness report.

Tom Pendergrass

Tom Pendergrass, pastor of Urbancrest Baptists Church, led the messengers and guests in the session on Penetrating the Lostness through the Cooperative Mission Program.  Pastor Pendergrass celebrated and commended Ohio Southern Baptist churches for their faithful and sacrificial support of the Southern Baptists Cooperative Mission Program that supports state missions, North American missions, and international missions.  Furthermore, he challenged Ohio Southern Baptist churches who are giving little or nothing to become full partners in our Southern Baptist Cooperative Mission Program.  Additionally, he confessed that he hadn’t led his church to support the Cooperative Mission Program as strongly as they could.  He pledged to lead his church to do so as he challenged all Southern Baptists to support our Cooperative Mission Program.

Danny RollinsRandy Chestnut, first vice-president, Gary Odom, Mission Ohio Church Planting Resource Group Leader, and Danny Rollins, pastor of Rolling Hills Baptist Church, led the next session emphasis on Penetrating the Lostness through church planting.  They celebrated 27 new starts and 3 additions this last year, and challenged every Ohio Southern Baptist church to sponsor a new start next year.  James Edwards, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Billy Barbo, pastor of Circleville First Baptist Church, and Tim Carr, pastor of Northside Baptists Church stepped forward to announce that their churches will sponsor a new work.

Penetrating the Lostness through Evangelism guided the theme for the final session.  Travis Smalley, pastor of Lakota Hills Baptist Church, introduced Thing 1 (Jack Helton) and Thing 2 (Brian Frye) as they employed a humorous skit to emphasize the main thing is to share Jesus with lost people.  They celebrated an 18% increase in baptisms reported on the last Annual Church Profile and an award from the North American Mission Board for Excellence in Evangelism.

Messengers and guests responded enthusiastically to the challenges from each session.  They submitted their decision cards, and many came forward during the public invitation.  Several messengers commented on the moving of the Holy Spirit and how He used the speakers and musicians for each session to speak to messengers and guests.  Dwayne Lee enlisted and directed gifted musicians who ably provided worshipful music for each session.

Jack KwokJack Kwok, Executive Director of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, addressed the need for spiritual renewal in session one: Penetrating the Lostness through Spiritual Renewal.  He celebrated the blessings of God upon Mission Ohio.  Kwok challenged messengers and guests to seek spiritual renewal in order to Penetrate the Lostness and realize the Mission Ohio Vision of 1,000,000 believers in 2,020 congregations by the end of 2020. 

Frank PageThe new president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist executive Committee Frank Page preached from Philippians 1:12-20 in session two: Penetrating the Lostness through the Cooperative Mission Program.  He challenged Ohio Southern Baptists to check our mindset, motives, and methodology.  Page urged messengers and guests to give their first-rate loyalty to the first-rate cause of Christ.  He declared that the Cooperative Mission Program will grow where there is Christ-like selflessness.

Phil RobertsPhil Roberts, president of Mid-Western Baptist Theological Seminary, preached from Matthew 16:13-20 in session three: Penetrating the Lostness through Church Planting.  He quoted his father Ray Roberts as saying that a church is backslidden that doesn’t start a church every year and give 10% to the Cooperative Program.  Roberts emphasized that a church of the Lord Jesus Christ must have converted members and a confessing membership.

Steve SpurginDuring the final session, Steve Spurgin (pastor of Miamisburg First Baptist Church) preached the annual sermon from Romans 1:16.  He urged Ohio Southern Baptists “Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel” because of its Divine Source, Dynamic Strength, and Distinguishing Superiority. 

Ron HopkinsPresident Ron Hopkins closed the session with the President’s Address.  Preaching from Matthew 28:29-20 and Matthew 9:37, he used his personal testimony to champion Ohio Missions.  He pleaded for the messengers and guests to move from the Great Omission to the Great Commission in every area of life.

All Southern Baptist entities presented reports that emphasized the Great Commission and Penetrating the Lostness.  Messengers approved all resolutions (all resolutions are posted on the SCBO website www.scbo.org) including those affirming Penetrating the Lostness. 

The amendment to the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio Constitution and By-Laws received the approval of the messengers without any opposition.  This amendment permits a constitutional change by a two-thirds majority of ballots cast by registered messengers present when the vote is taken.

Don JumpMessengers approved the 2010-11 Mission Ohio budget.  While the new budget represents an 8% decrease, it maintains the 59.75/40.25% ratio.  For every dollar given through the Cooperative Mission Program by local churches, 59.75 cents supports mission work in Ohio and 40.25 cents supports mission work around the world.

Bob BeikePart of the mission work in Ohio is the IMPACT Association.  IMPACT is an acronym for Intensive Mission Projects to Affect Community Transformation.  The IMPACT association this year has been the Muskingum Valley Association.  Bob Beike the Associational Missionary commented about conducting the annual meeting in the Muskingum Valley Association for the first time, “It provided an opportunity for MVBA to participate at unprecedented levels.  It also provided a sense of inclusion and connection with the state convention as a whole.”  He added further that IMPACT contributed to 3 new church starts, training of 140 laity to live like missionaries, churches engaging their communities more effectively, and spiritual renewal in several churches.  According to Beike, IMPACT will add momentum to the advancement of God’s kingdom in the Muskingum Valley Association.

Dave Snyder & Randy ChestnutMission Ohio IMPACT concentrates on the West Central Association next year.  Dave Snyder is the Associational Missionary.  To learn of mission opportunities in the West Central Association, email him at wcba@bright.net or call him at (937) 596 6755.

James Edwards & Steve HopkinsDarty Stowe promoted mission work for Mission Ohio throughout the early years.  Each year, Georgetown College presents the Darty and Dot Stowe award to a leader who mirrors the passion of the Stowes to Penetrate the Lostness.  Steve Hopkins presented the 2010 Darty and Dot Stowe Award to James Edwards.  Edwards has served as pastor of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in the Cleveland area since 1994.

Woong ParkThe Executive Director and Team Leader Jack Kwok along with the Church Planting Resource Group presented Woong Park to the convention in recognition of his sixteen years of service to Mission Ohio.  Park plans to retire at the end of this calendar year.  Known for his deep prayer life, Park has led Mission Ohio in language church starts and ministries.  The messengers and guests expressed their appreciation with a standing ovation.

Messengers elected Ron Hopkins, pastor of Briggs Road Baptist Church in Columbus, for the second term as President of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.  They elected Mike Wilson, pastor of Lincoln Heights Baptist Church in Mansfield, as first vice-president and Mark Stinson, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Cambridge, as second vice-president.

Other actions of the messengers included choosing Mark Wilson, pastor of North Fairfield Baptist Church in Hamilton, to preach the 2011 annual sermon and David Dye, pastor of The Bridge in Little Hocking, as his alternate.  Messengers chose to hold the 2011 annual meeting at Lima Baptist Temple in the West Central Association November 2-3, 2011.  Annette Dessecker gave the Mission Council report, and Travis Smalley gave a report from the Ohio Great Commission Committee.  Messengers elected new members for the Mission Council.

Mission Ohio continues to focus on Penetrating the Lostness.  Let’s press toward that mark.