GOD STILL SAVES

GOD STILL SAVES!!!!!

Congratulations are in order. No, not to me or the other members of your state resource team, rather, congratulations are in order for you, the leaders and members of our Ohio Southern Baptist churches. What for you ask? The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio recently received the Excellence in Evangelism Award, given annually by the North American Mission Board in recognition of those states which led the nation in the percentage of baptism increase in 2009. Praise the Lord that our convention was recognized for having an 18% increase in baptisms in 2009.

In 2009, Ohio Southern Baptist churches reported 4,511 baptisms, up from 3,817 in 2008. This was mainly due to an increased evangelistic effort in our churches and the ongoing evangelism partnerships between churches, associations, and our state convention. In addition, in 2009 our state staff made a more concerted effort in asking Ohio churches to report church statistics through the Annual Church Profile. Praise the Lord that our churches responded and an increase was reported!!

Let me say in conclusion that it was nice to be recognized and a privilege to accept the award on your behalf. However, there is still much more evangelistic work to be done in our state and in our churches. Currently there are more than 7.5 million people in Ohio that profess to have no religious affiliation of any kind. I’m sure you would agree with me that indeed the harvest is plentiful. Now what we need is more workers. Would you pray and ask God for your church to consider hosting or participating in an evangelistic event or training? Would you prayerfully think about partnering with another church, your association, or our state convention to reach people for Christ? If so, contact the Evangelism Resource Group today so we can pray for it, plan it, participate in it, and ask God’s power to be revealed through it.

To God Be The Glory for each soul that came to a saving knowledge of Him in 2009, and I pray when all the evangelistic efforts and events are tallied for 2010, Ohio will once again show an increase in baptisms because of the faithful workers who work God’s harvest field for His glory!

There Is Victory in Jesus……………....Jack Helton, Evangelism Resource Group Leader

2009 BAPTISM LEADERS BY ASSOCIATION

1. Buckeye-Central-Erie Baptist Association: Northside Baptist Church - 23
2. Baptist Association of Greater Cincinnati: Fellowship Baptist Church - 73
3. Cleveland Hope Association: Cuyahoga Valley Church - 184
4. Greater Dayton Association of Baptists: Moraine City Baptist Church - 78
5. Metro Columbus Baptist Association: Jersey Baptist Church - 131
6. Miami Valley Baptist Association: Calvary and Springboro Baptist Churches - 43
7. Muskingum Valley Baptist Association – Spring Hills Baptist Church - 56
8. Northcoast Baptist Association: Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church - 32
9. Northwest Ohio Baptist Association: New Heights Fellowship - 21
10. Ohio Valley Baptist Association: New Bethel Baptist Church - 16
11. Scioto Valley Baptist Association: Chillicothe Baptist Church - 29
12. Southern Hills Baptist Association: Urbancrest Baptist Church - 84
13. Southwestern Baptist Association: First Baptist Church, Camden - 42
14. Steel Valley Baptist Church: First Baptist Church, Garrettsville - 14
15. Summit Baptist Association: Broadman Baptist Church - 28
16. West Central Baptist Association: Hillcrest Baptist Church – 32

For evangelistic resources, information, funding, or training, please contact jackhelton@scbo.org, bfrye@scbo.org, tbinns@scbo.org, dfloro@scbo.org, suesligh@scbo.org, or skelley@scbo.org.