American Baptist Churches of Ohio

2020 Annual Gathering Live Stream

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The 2020 Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio was held Tuesday, October 6 from 1:00-4:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North. Just as many of our schools and colleges used a hybrid model (both in person and online) to begin the schoolyear, we planned the Annual Gathering so that people throughout our ABC Ohio family could choose to gather either in person or electronically.

The program includes an address by Dr. C. Jeff Woods, Acting General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA and a time of worship led by Pastor Benjamin Payne of the First Baptist Church of Seville. Rev. Dr. Ken Atchison, President of ABC Ohio will present his Presidential Address. We will also hear virtual greetings from some in the broader American Baptist family. As is required by our constitution, there is a brief business meeting.

WATCH THE ENTIRE LIVE STREAM HERE:

2020-2021 Ohio Baptist Education Society Scholarship Recipients

Ohio Baptist Education Society is provides financial assistance to prepare American Baptist professional church leaders for tomorrow.

These students from our ABC/Ohio churches are benefitting financially with grants from the Ohio Baptist Education Society as they continue their professional education.

Pastor William Lee Snyder, Jr Closes His Eyes on Earth

On Thursday, December 31, 2020, William Lee Snyder, Jr., of Green Camp, closed his eyes on this earth and opened them in Heaven following a 2 ½ week illness with COVID.

“Bill Junior”, as his mother called him, entered this world on June 22, 1948, in Marion. He was blessed with two siblings, Janis Lynn and Donnie Ray. At a young age, Bill set his mind on making goals with the support and encouragement of his mother. Among his achievements were being president of the student council at Marion Harding high school class of 1967. He sang in the dance band “Stardusters” and played “Curly” in the musical “Oklahoma”. He was also a member of Harding’s acapella choir. Many of his classmates remember his smile, laughter and kindness.

Rev. Dr. DeQuincy Hentz Goes to Be With The Lord

Rev. Dr. DeQuincy Manvel Hentz died on Friday, December 25, 2020. Born on June 28, 1974 in Greenwood County, he was the son of the Reverend Furman Mitchell Miller, Jr. and Ms. Mary Alice Hentz. At a young age, he joined Second Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC, and later became a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia, while attending college.

Rev. Dr. DeQuincy Hentz graduated from Greenwood High School in May of 1992. He continued his education as a Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and History (1996), Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University (1999), and a Doctoral Degree in Family Studies from Eastern University (2018).

The Rev. George Emmett Pirtle Jr Welcomed Into the Presence of the Lord

The Rev. George Emmett Pirtle Jr., was welcomed into the presence of his Lord at 6:20 p.m. November 12, 2020, at his residence in Lima. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on August 15, 1929, the son of George E. Pirtle, Sr., and Ethel Keys Pirtle, who preceded him in death.

Friends may call from 11:00 am until time of services at 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at CHILES-LAMAN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES SHAWNEE CHAPEL with the Rev. Donald Smith of Waynesfield and the Rev. Andrew Shields of First Baptist, Lima officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima.

On August 16, 1952, he married to Billie T. Layman of Pineville, WV. She preceded him in death in 2009. They had 1 daughter, Dr. Sarah Leah Pirtle, a pediatrician, who preceded him in death. She and her father enjoyed trips to Disney World, Ireland, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. His favorite souvenir was a genuine Donegal Irish grey tweed wool hat.

At the age of 11 during a spring revival George made the decision to follow Christ and was baptized with his parents’ blessing. He taught in rural vacation Bible schools at the request of the Director of Missions for the Baptist association. Several of the boys he worked with gave their hearts to Christ and George realized that God was calling him to make a commitment to Gospel ministry, which he did in June, 1946.

Pastor David Fowls Passes into Heaven's Arms

Pastor David Blaine Fowls, 69, passed away Dec. 9, 2020 at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville.

He was born July 13, 1951 in Mt. Vernon to the late Kenneth Blaine and Shirley A. (Lupher) Fowls. He has been the Pastor at Perry Chapel Baptist Church since November of 1979 to the present. He received his education from the University of Montana and took courses through Moody Bible Institute and Southern Baptist Seminary Extension. He was a professional songwriter in Nashville in the early 1970's and a rural mail carrier in Mt. Vernon for 16 years (1982-1998).

Dave was an avid big game hunter and has several trophy mounts to show for it. His main interests were history (especially the Civil War), baseball and Jesus.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy (Dunn) Fowls of Warsaw, whom he married July 21, 1979; two daughters, Erin (Adam) Stone of Dresden and Jenna Fowls of Warsaw.

Please keep the Fowls family in your prayers.