WELCOME TO OHIO CONFERENCE

On October 15, 2024, the Ohio Conference Executive Committee voted to appoint Andrew Sutton as the new Treasurer. The position became vacant after Roy Simpson, the former Treasurer, accepted a call to serve as the Under Treasurer of the Mid-America Union Conference earlier in October. Andrew Sutton is no stranger to the Ohio Conference. As a business intern, he first joined the Conference on April 1, 1999. Three months later, the Conference promoted him to Associate Treasurer, a role Sutton held from July 1999 until 2006. On September 1, 2006, The Conference appointed Sutton as Treasurer, serving faithfully until 2010, when he stepped down to spend more time with his young children. During this period, Sutton continued to work within the Treasury Department, focusing on Non-Operating Accounting as an Associate Treasurer. A native of Newark, Ohio, Sutton has deep roots in the Adventist community. He attended Mount Vernon Academy and spent many summers at Camp Mohaven. He has been married for 41 years to his wife, Margaret, and they have three children—Valerie, Lindsay, and Christopher—and three grandchildren. Outside of his work in the Treasury Department, Sutton enjoys outdoor activities such as boating, skiing, hiking, and golf. Recently, he became a certified open-water scuba diver, exploring the ocean's wonders. Sutton's dedication to the mission is unwavering. He has always enjoyed serving God in the Treasury Department, particularly in helping staff and local church treasurers understand the Conference's financial operations. Reflecting on his appointment, Sutton shared, "God has called us to finish the work, bringing as many as we can to the feet of Jesus. My prayer is that we do our part here in Ohio to support this calling so that soon we may go home to be with the Lord forever." His commitment to this mission is a source of inspiration and reassurance for the Ohio Conference. As Sutton steps into this new role, the Ohio Conference looks forward to his continued leadership and dedication to the mission of the Conference.

Clifton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, recently organized a week-long evangelistic initiative titled "Summer BLAST." The event was a community-driven effort focused on addressing local needs, engaging children with fun activities, and spreading the gospel. By the end of the week, the event led to the baptism of 104 individuals. Throughout the week, the church actively engaged with the community, providing essential resources to needy families. Each day, they distributed groceries to families facing food insecurity, backpacks filled with supplies for school children, diapers and laundry pods for households with young children, and toys to bring joy to the kids. The children's activities were a highlight of Summer BLAST. These fun, family-friendly features included bouncy houses, a shaved ice truck, and Bible lessons designed to engage children in an age-appropriate and meaningful way. These activities not only entertained but also shared the love of Christ with the families who participated. The event's success was made possible by the dedication of numerous church members, who tirelessly worked to haul supplies, pack bags, register attendees, and prepare baptismal candidates. Their commitment was crucial in ensuring the week's activities ran smoothly. Each evening, Pastor Kojo Twumasi delivered powerful messages of hope, redemption, and salvation through Jesus Christ. His sermons were well received, and many from the community opened their hearts to the gospel message. The event culminated in the baptism of 104 individuals, a testimony to the gospel's transforming power and the church's unity in its mission to reach the lost. The Clifton SDA Church, under the leadership of Pastor Jeba Moses had spent significant time in prayer, planning, and training in preparation for this outreach. Following the campaign, the church has focused on weekly Bible studies, mentorship teams, and one-on-one visits with the new believers to help solidify their faith. The "Summer BLAST" outreach was a remarkable success, illustrating the impact of a dedicated, mission-driven community on both spiritual and practical levels.

Today, the Dayton and Cincinnati Adventist Brazilian Community gathered for their first Sabbath worship at the Ohio Conference Integrity Hall. The service, which marked a significant milestone for the group, was led by volunteer pastor Rafael da Veiga Sengik. During his sermon, Sengik shared his experience as an immigrant, highlighting the unique challenges many face in similar situations. Despite these challenges, he encouraged the group, reminding them that each member had a distinct journey to the United States, yet all could serve and bring light to their local community. In a brief interview after the service, Pastor Sengik shared the group’s vision for outreach to the Portuguese-speaking community in the Dayton-Cincinnati area. He expressed the desire to develop evangelistic programs aimed at Brazilian families and announced plans to launch Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs for youth. “Our plan is to develop evangelism programs for Brazilian families in our community. We also want to start Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs to engage our young people,” Sengik said. The maiden service drew a group of 22 participants, including 16 adults and 6 children. The group’s mother church is Kettering Adventist Church, which has supported the formation and growth of the new congregation. Ohio Conference President Bob Cundiff affirmed the group’s presence, stating that the Integrity Hall would serve as their worship space until they transition to a permanent location. “The conference hall is meant to help new groups and church plants that don’t have a place to worship. When the Brazilian group moves to a permanent building, we plan to offer the space to other new groups in the area,” Cundiff said.

Last Sabbath, during a joint English and Spanish camp meeting, the Ohio Conference dedicated its new multi-purpose pavilion at Camp Mohaven. The event was one of the key highlights of the 2024 camp meeting, celebrating the new facility and the baptism of 34 individuals. The Conference constructed the building under the theme "Building for Eternity," designed to support youth's physical and spiritual development and serve as an evangelistic training center for the Ohio Conference. The Ohio Conference had the groundbreaking ceremony of the building during the 2023 camp meeting and crowned it with its dedication during this year's gathering. Pastor Bob Cundiff, president of the Ohio Conference, reflected on last year's camp meeting, where he had promised the pavilion would be ready by 2024 when the camp meeting was in tents. "And here we are today, praise God," Pastor Cundiff remarked. "We thank each of you who pressed together around this vision to help make this dream a reality. Today is a truly historic day for our Conference. It is historic because of our new home, but also because it is our first multi-ethnic camp meeting. We wanted the entire family to be together for this momentous occasion." Vivo Worship and the Tucker Trio, a Costa Rican group, complemented the dedication ceremony with beautiful music and stirring performances throughout the event. The Tucker Trio, in particular, continued their performance in the Sabbath afternoon concert, contributing to the spiritual atmosphere of the day and uplifting the spirits of all present. Dr. Marcellus T. Robinson, president of the Columbia Union Conference, praised the Ohio Conference for its commitment to building for God's kingdom. "You are serious about kingdom-building for God here in Ohio Conference," he stated. "You have a beautiful theme, "Building for Eternity," which reflects the visionary leadership of your president, Dr. Cundiff." In his sermon, Pastor Cundiff compared the pavilion's dedication to Solomon's dedication to the temple in 1 Kings 5 and 6, calling on attendees to support the building project. Following the sermon, Pastor Cundiff invited 200 people to the ribbon-cutting. Pastors Cundiff and Wiston Zuniga led the dedicatory prayer, praising and asking for God's blessing on the building and its future use. To commemorate the day, the attendees gathered for a large group photo in front of the new building, captured with the help of a drone and photographers using a mechanical lift for elevated shots; the day marked the dedication of a new facility and the coming together of a diverse conference family unified in celebration and mission.

Last Sabbath, the Ohio Conference officially ordained Pastor Anthony Infante into the Gospel ministry during a solemn service at Toledo First Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ohio. Profound messages, prayers, and the presence of esteemed leaders from the Ohio Conference marked the ordination ceremony. Pastor Bob Cundiff, President of the Ohio Conference, delivered the ordination sermon, drawing inspiration from 1 Corinthians 4:1. He reminded Pastor Infante of his immense responsibility as a servant of the "Master of the Universe." Pastor Cundiff emphasized the importance of teamwork in ministry, highlighting that Pastor Infante is not alone in his journey. "You have friends, colleagues, and an administration that deeply loves and cares for you and your family," Pastor Cundiff assured. He also acknowledged the loneliness that pastors often experience, encouraging Pastor Infante to rely on the support system around him. Key officers of the Ohio Conference, including Executive Secretary Pastor Oswaldo Magaña and Treasurer Roy Simpson, attended the ceremony and witnessed this significant milestone in Pastor Infante's ministry. Following the sermon, Pastor Cundiff invited all the ministers present to join him on stage. In a powerful moment of unity and spiritual solidarity, they surrounded Pastor Infante and his wife, laying hands on him as Pastor Cundiff led the ordination prayer. Pastor Anthony Infante's ordination marks the beginning of a new chapter in his ministry, blessed by the guidance, prayers, and support of the Ohio Conference family.

Join Elder Bob as he takes you on a tour of our nearly completed pavilion, the centerpiece of our 2024 Camp Meeting. This new space is more than just a building—it's a testament to our community's faith and dedication. Attend Camp Meeting 2024! Mark your calendars and get ready to gather in this beautiful new pavilion. Experience inspiring worship, fellowship, and spiritual renewal in the heart of nature. We can't wait to see you there!