STORY
Ohio Conference Postpones Holy Land Trip
October 11, 2023
Ohio Conference
The Ohio Conference has postponed its planned trip to Israel due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Read the complete statement here:
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On the first Saturday of February 2025, the Dayton and Cincinnati Brazilian Adventist Community launched a free healthy cooking course called Saúde no Prato (Health on the Plate). Rafael da Veiga Sengik, volunteer pastor, conceived the project to welcome people into the church community, foster friendships, and create opportunities for evangelism. Dr. Ana Keepke led the inaugural class and demonstrated three simple and practical recipes. Approximately 20 participants joined the session. The community will host classes on the first Saturday of each month, welcoming everyone to participate.
There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members. As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country. As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we believe that “we are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation” (Fundamental Belief No. 14). “We maintain our allegiance to the biblical principles of equality and dignity of all human beings in the face of historic and continuing attempts to use skin color, place of origin, caste, or perceived lineage as a pretext for oppressive and dominating behavior. These attempts are a denial of our shared humanity and we deplore all such aggression and prejudice as an offense to God” (Seventh-day Adventist Church statement “One Humanity: A Human Relations Statement Addressing Racism, Casteism, Tribalism, and Ethnocentrism”). The Bible declares that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female — all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). We are one humanity. Dehumanization and margination by law or the implementation of the laws or policies are diametrically opposed to the Bible. Therefore, it is inhumane and robs people of their God-given dignity in Christ to have policies that make them afraid to go to church and school because of the threat of being deported. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America encourages its churches and schools to be warm and welcoming places for all people. All are created by God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. In light of the fact that we have a shared humanity, in light of the fact we all are created equal, in light of the fact we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and in light of the fact that Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40, NIV), our appeal is for us, as Adventists, to show our immigrant families that we love them by lifting up our voices and standing by their side in these times of uncertainty. Our appeal to our policymakers and government leaders is found in The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual (p. 92): “All are in search of wholeness. All are gifted, needed, and treasured. All are created in the image of God with an inherent dignity regardless of any limitation they may have.” Therefore, let our laws and the implementation of our laws treat all of God’s children, who are created in His image, with the dignity and decency they deserve. G. Alexander Bryant, President Kyoshin Ahn, Executive Secretary Judy R. Glass, Treasurer/CFO *** Guidelines for pastors and school leaders, through the document "Guidance on Immigration Enforcement Activity on Church and School Property," from the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Office of General Counsel, can be found by clicking here .
Today, Stereo Adventista Internacional, the online Hispanic Christian radio station led by the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists' Multilingual Ministries Department, celebrated its 7th Anniversary in Columbus, Ohio. Pastor Fredy Funez, Director of the radio ministry's Southern area, welcomed in-person guests and online viewers to the event and asked for God's blessings upon everyone present. Pastor Bob Cundiff, president of the Ohio Conference, delivered the sermon, using water as a metaphor to highlight spiritual discernment. "Not all water is safe to drink," he noted. "The stuff that you watch, listen to, and stream on your device—it's not always safe to consume. It's not always good for you or your family." Referring to John 4:14, Cundiff emphasized Jesus' promise: "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." He likened Stereo Adventista's ministry to a spring of living water that offers eternal life. He added, "When I drink from it, it gives me eternal life. And when I am a part of helping this ministry succeed, I am giving eternal life—not just to my church, my family, the Hispanic ministry of Ohio, and the entire world." A Growing Ministry with Global Impact With its motto, "A Voice of Hope," Stereo Adventista Internacional operates four radio stations in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo, reaching 108 countries; the ministry averages 103,000 connections and has garnered thousands of followers on digital platforms. As part of the celebration, ten individuals participated in baptism. Pastor Edwina Monterroza praised God for their decisions, stating, "Praise be to the name of God—a pure and clear manifestation that the Holy Spirit is still working among His people." Pre-recorded messages from listeners highlighted the ministry's global reach. Rut Ester Sandoval shared, "I am happy. I congratulate you, and I ask God to continue blessing us with His power and grace so that Stereo Adventista Internacional continues on the air, carrying the message of hope and salvation to the world." Nilken Ortiz, a loyal listener from Colombia, added, "Today, with gratitude and admiration, I celebrate with you the seventh Anniversary of this incredible radio station. From the fertile land of Colombia, I send you my most heartfelt congratulations. May the tune of Stereo Adventista continue to illuminate our days and soothe our nights. Congratulations!" Supporting the Ministry In a video message, Bob Cundiff shared a personal note: "You may not know that I listen to Stereo Adventista every Saturday morning when I prepare for church and many times while driving to my preaching appointments. So I want to thank you for listening, supporting, calling, and giving financially to Stereo Adventista. The work we do here is important—it's mission work, it's evangelism. And here's a powerful thought: because of the work we do, new people will go to heaven because they heard the message of Jesus for the first time on Stereo Adventista." Andrew Sutton, Treasurer of the Ohio Conference, commended the radio ministry's supporters. He explained how their donations fund essential operations, including purchasing equipment and software and hosting events. "We know that many people are coming to the Lord through the ministry of Stereo Adventista," Sutton stated. On behalf of the Ohio Conference administration, he presented a $15,000 check to support the ministry. Pastor Edwina Monterroza also expressed gratitude by presenting gifts to conference officers, volunteers, and other supporters who have contributed to Stereo Adventista's success. Looking Ahead with Faith and Hope Before offering the benediction, Pastor Oswaldo Magaña, Executive Secretary of the Ohio Conference, gave thanks to God for His past and present blessings. He expressed optimism about the ministry's future, particularly its role in the upcoming Pentecost 2025 initiative. "The radio will play an extraordinary role in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, resulting in many souls being won for the kingdom of heaven," he stated.
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