A Church Called Evergreen

The Ohio Conference concluded a two-day pastors’ meeting in Dayton from Monday, March 3, to Tuesday, March 4. The event, held at the conference headquarters, Integrity Hall, brought together pastors from churches across the conference territory for spiritual renewal, training, and evangelistic retooling. The meeting began with a welcome and opening prayer from Oswaldo Magaña, Executive Secretary. In his devotional message, Bob Cundiff, President of the Ohio Conference, affirmed the importance of pastoral ministry and expressed appreciation for pastors' dedication. He acknowledged the challenges of ministry, particularly the sense of isolation some pastors experience. "I know sometimes it feels that way because you are geographically separated from other colleagues. That is why meetings like this are so important—to come together and be reminded of the high, holy, and sacred calling of the work God has given us to do," Cundiff said. "You are here today, you are loved, you are with friends, and we celebrate you. We thank you—we say it all the time because we mean it and feel it so deeply and genuinely." Training on Preventing Abuse and Protecting the Vulnerable Phil Swartley of GuideOne Insurance led a seminar titled "Sexual Misconduct: Abuse and Molestation Guidance." His presentation emphasized the importance of thorough screening for employees and volunteers, training on working with youth and vulnerable individuals, identifying and preventing abuse, reporting procedures, and cooperation with authorities during investigations. He also discussed how organizations can evaluate incidents and update policies or procedures to enhance safety measures and prevent future occurrences. Stewardship Rudy Salazar, the North American Division's stewardship director, presented stewardship principles and concluded with the spiritual dangers of neglecting prayer and Bible study. Evangelism and Pentecost 2025 Initiative A major focus of the meeting was evangelism and the Pentecost 2025 initiative. Conference administrators announced that $675,000 has been allocated this year to support evangelism efforts. Through the initiative, 101 churches and schools across the Ohio Conference will participate in public evangelism, with pastors expecting to baptize more than 1,000 new members. Attendees prayed for the upcoming evangelistic efforts and other ministry needs. Reflecting on the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism, Cundiff emphasized the necessity of spiritual preparation. "The Holy Spirit comes where hearts desire Him, where they invite Him, and where they have properly prepared to receive Him," Cundiff stated. "The Holy Spirit is not going to impose Himself." Magaña added, "Pentecost is about receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel. It is not power that comes from us, but power that comes from on high, granted to us by the Holy Spirit." Innovative Evangelism: The BLAST Model Pastor Kojo Twumasi presented two sessions on creative approaches to evangelism in the 21st century under the theme "MAKE EVANGELISM A BLAST." He introduced BLAST as an acronym for "Building Lives Around Solid Truth." Twumasi emphasized that successful evangelism requires careful preparation and the formation of teams with diverse roles. Recognizing the challenge of attracting people to evangelistic meetings, he shared his approach to digital outreach through Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns. He explained that he begins by defining his target audience within a six-mile radius, ensuring his message reaches the right people. He then creates engaging advertisements with incentives and a clear call to action. To secure attendance, he requires participants to register in advance through an online form, which also facilitates effective follow-up. Additionally, he utilizes registrants' contact information to send reminder text messages, increasing the likelihood of attendance. Twumasi highlighted that the BLAST model has proven effective, leading to strong attendance, numerous baptisms, and a retention strategy to integrate new members into the church community. Human Resources Updates Oswaldo Magaña and Karen Alvarez from the Human Resources Department provided an updated overview of the Ohio Conference Employee Handbook. They outlined various policies, procedures, and guidelines to help employees understand their rights and responsibilities. Pastoral Reflections Reflecting on the meetings, Pastor Ron Anderson, who serves the Chillicothe, Jackson, Portsmouth, and Portsmouth Hispanic churches, shared his enthusiasm. "It was very inspiring—almost overwhelming—because there are so many things I would love to do," Anderson said. "We will see what we can implement in our churches because there are many wonderful things the Holy Spirit has for us." His key takeaway? "To do more of the BLAST approach—something that engages both adults and children while meeting the community's needs." The two-day gathering provided Ohio Conference pastors with practical training, spiritual encouragement, and a renewed vision for evangelism.

Today, students from Adventist schools across Ohio participated in the 2025 Geography Challenge in Toledo, an event organized by the Ohio Conference Education Department. The competition, hosted by Toledo Junior Academy, brought together young learners eager to test their geographical knowledge in a fun and challenging setting. Opening Ceremony & Competition Format In his welcome remarks, Shaun Lazarus, principal of Toledo Junior Academy, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Ohio Conference. He thanked the participants for accepting the invitation and shared his joy in seeing so many young minds gather for the event. Following an opening prayer by Kojo Twumasi, pastor of Toledo First Seventh-day Adventist Church, Rick Bianco, Education Superintendent of the Ohio Conference, explained the ground rules and format of the challenge. The organizers divided the competition into two main groups. Students in grades 1-4 answered questions focused on U.S. geography, while those in grades 5-8 tackled questions about Asia. The challenge featured 10 rounds, with contestants taking turns on stage to answer questions. After responding, each student moved to the back of the line and continued until the judges eliminated a contestant who received three strikes, a rule Bianco called “the old baseball rule.” This process continued until the first, second, and third-place winners were determined. Contestants had 20 seconds to answer each question. Key Roles & Conference Support Each year, the Ohio Conference office staff play essential roles in making the Geography Challenge a success, and this year was no exception. Ohio Conference President Bob Cundiff attended the event to show his support. Oswaldo Magaña, Executive Secretary, and Andrew Sutton, Treasurer, served as judges, carefully overseeing the competition. Zachary Sharpe, Associate Treasurer, took on the role of emcee, keeping the event engaging and well-paced. Meanwhile, Esther Barton, Administrative Assistant for the Education Department, ensured the smooth running of the challenge as the official timekeeper. Bianco, who prepared the questions, was in charge of the slides. Their collective contributions helped create a well-organized and exciting experience for all participants. Participating Schools & Attendees Nine of the 11 Ohio Conference-owned schools participated in the contest, including Eastwood Junior Academy, Mayfair Christian Academy, Mount Vernon Elementary School, Northern Ohio Adventist Academy, Piqua Elementary School, Spring Valley Academy, Toledo Junior Academy, Worthington Adventist Academy, and Zanesville Adventist Academy. Additionally, Columbus Adventist Academy from the Allegheny West Conference joined for their second consecutive year. Parents, teachers, and friends attended to support the contestants, offering cheers and applause for the winners and those who were eliminated. The students demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, encouraging one another throughout the competition. Winners & Awards At the end of the event, the following students earned top honors: Grades 1-4: • First Place: Andrew – Spring Valley Academy • Second Place: Stevie – Mount Vernon Elementary • Third Place: Noah – Eastwood Junior Academy Grades 5-8: • First Place: Ajak – Spring Valley Academy • Second Place: Guy – Spring Valley Academy • Third Place: Wesley – Zanesville Adventist Academy First and second-place winners in each group received trophies and cash prizes of $100 and $50, respectively. Third-place winners were awarded medals and $25 each. Student Reflections After the competition, Ajak, the grades 5-8 champion, shared his thoughts: “I feel good, praise God.” Judges noted that throughout the 10 rounds, he answered all but one question correctly. Andrew, the grades 1-4 winner, also expressed his excitement. When asked about the most challenging question he faced, he said, “The one on the Delaware River, it really messed me up.”