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:

Rev. Milton Trice III Joins the Heavenly Angels

Milton Trice III, beloved pastor of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, Cincinnati, passed away on November 20, 2020 after a recent illness. Milton served as Associate Pastor at WHBC for several years before accepting the call as Senior Pastor in February of this year.

A native of Madisonville, a Cincinnati suburb, Milton graduated in 1972 from Withrow High School, after which he worked a variety of jobs, including many years as an over-the-road truck driver. He became active in the Cincinnati non-profit community too, volunteering with organizations like the first Million Man March on Washington, DC, the Walnut Hills Anti-drug Coalition, and other groups, some of which met at the church.

Initially hired as the church custodian, Milton’s natural leadership qualities, love for the Lord, and hunger for God’s Word, made him an active member of Walnut Hills Baptist. This eventually led to his call as Associate Pastor by the congregation. He loved to reach out to the church neighborhood through food, cooking and coordinating many free meals from the church basement, including popular fish fries. He also enjoyed delivering bologna-and-cheese sandwiches, which had been prepared by the church, to the homeless population in the area.

Milton received a degree in Christian Ministry from Cincinnati Christian University in 2015. He was also a graduate of the ABC-Ohio Leadership Academy, and at the time of his death was employed as a Peer Specialist by Talbert House, a Cincinnati non-profit that offers integrated care for addictions, community care, community corrections, housing and mental health.

Milton was well-recognized in the Cincinnati area as a “street chaplain” as well, who worked to curtail neighborhood violence. In addition, he was a guest speaker at many community-wide meetings and seminars focused on the problems encountered by those who live in an urban and inner-city setting.

He was proceeded in death by his daughter, and he is survived by his granddaughter as well as many friends and family members.

United Theological Seminary Honors Rev. Dr. Keith Troy

United Theological Seminary is honoring the 2020 Alumni/ae Awards recipients virtually this year. One of the winners is Rev. Dr. Keith Troy, a graduate of the Doctor of Ministry program. Dr. Troy has been recognized with the Effective Ministry Award for his service as pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, since October 1983. Watch to learn more about Rev. Troy and his inspiring story HERE on Facebook Watch.

2021 Biennial Mission Summit Planning Underway!

Planning is well underway for the American Baptist Churches USA 2021 Biennial Mission Summit to be held June 25-27, 2021, at the San Juan Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a new video, Interim General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods introduces and gives an update on planning for the event. We encourage you to watch the full video to learn more about the 2021 Biennial Mission Summit.

What Comes Next? Meeting the Challenges of Ministry in this Pandemic

April 27, 2020

Dear Friends,

We have been so blessed and encouraged by the creative and meaningful ways that pastors and congregations have responded to the challenges of ministry through this time of pandemic and quarantine. About 85 percent of ABC Ohio congregations have shared weekly electronic worship services that have included good preaching, prayer, and music. A number of churches have developed prayer and communication groups online, by phone or by email to be sure that their church families are cared for personally and spiritually. Pastors and others have made thousands of telephone calls to check on, reassure, pray with, and stay connected to their congregations. Since Easter, many of our congregations have begun to ask the question, “What comes next?”

Our Governor has announced in the past week that he would like to see the state begin to open up SLOWLY. We believe SLOWLY is an important word as the church prepares for what comes next. As much as we want to be together, the rush to make a hasty return to our previous ways could be disastrous for our congregations. Ken Braddy, Jr., a Sunday School specialist, has developed a series of questions church leaders should answer before they begin to set a date for the church to gather again in person. We recommend that your church consider some similar questions…

2020 Buckeye Mission and Ministry Offering

Since 2009, the "Buckeye Mission and Ministry Offering" (BMMO) has become a significant avenue for churches in the Region to support the ministries of American Baptist Churches of Ohio (ABC Ohio). BMMO helps make it possible for ABC Ohio to serve your church.

DOWNLOAD A BMMO BULLETIN INSERT HERE

Every dollar given to the BMMO goes to support the various ministries that benefit your church (see the list of ministries below). The most significant region ministry is that of the two Executive Ministers, Rev. Jane Gibbons and Rev. Mark Click, who serve faithfully to help in whatever way needed to equip you and your church for ministry.

Our Region's theme is "Sharing God's Hope for All Generations: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministries" from Joel 2:28. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

BMMO gifts help develop, coach, and assist servant leaders. It provides new ministry resources for local churches and helps provide quality ministry gatherings to challenge and grow healthy churches.

Please consider giving to the BMMO in 2020. This is one way your church can partner with ABC Ohio to fulfill God’s mission in your community and beyond. Your faithful giving is appreciated and is needed to serve its member churches. Again, remember that every dollar given goes to ABC Ohio ministries that "help build healthy churches that impact the world for Christ."