196th Annual Gathering October 11 & 12

The 196th  Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, October 11-12, 2022. We will again meet at the Crowne Plaza – Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229. 

“Creating Community in a Polarized World” is the theme for this year’s Annual Gathering based on Acts 2:42.

This year’s “Gathering” will be two days in length, beginning at 10 am on Tuesday and concluding at 2 pm on Wednesday. There will be three meal functions, the cost of which will be included in the Registration Fee. The three meal functions will be a Tuesday luncheon – Celebrating  ABC/Ohio Region Ministries, a Tuesday dinner – Celebrating  International Ministries, and a Wednesday All-Convention luncheon. Also included in the cost of registration is a continental breakfast on Wednesday morning. Please note, there will be no one-day registration. Election of officers and reports will take place on Tuesday morning. Rev. Mark Click and Rev. Jane Gibbons, our Executive Ministers, will be the luncheon speakers on Wednesday.  

Click here to download the Registration Form for mail in registration - duplicate as needed.

A Hotel information sheet may be downloaded HERE.

Register and pay ONLINE here! 

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR ROOM RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Our Keynote Speaker is the Rev. Sharon Koh, Executive Director of American Baptist International Ministries since 2016 will be our Keynote Speaker.  Rev. Koh is an ordained American Baptist minister who holds two master’s degrees from Fuller Seminary.  She is the daughter of missionary parents who were working in Singapore at the time of her birth.  She grew up as a “missionary kid” living in the Philippines, South Korea, California and Ohio.  We look forward to welcoming Rev. Koh as she returns to Ohio.

This year’s worship leadership will be provided by Pastor Benjamin Payne and the Praise Team of First Baptist Church of Seville. 

We encourage each ABC/Ohio church to send delegates to the Annual Gathering. In accordance with the ABC/Ohio Constitution…’The voting delegates at meetings of the Region shall consist of (a) All officially recognized professional church leaders registered at the Region’s main office; (b) delegates from cooperating churches on the basis of two delegates in addition to the recognized professional church leaders from each church plus one delegate for each one hundred residents or fraction thereof above the first one hundred reported, and (3) all members of the Board.’ (Article III, Section 3)

If you have questions or need additional information regarding this year’s ABC/Ohio Annual Gathering, please contact Leslie Hoskinson at your convenience. She may be reached at 740.587.0804.

ABC Ohio Introduces Regional Ministers

It is a joy to share our four Regional Ministers for ABC-Ohio. Each will begin their service on October 1, 2022. October through December 2022 will serve as a time of orientation and staff development for our new team. Rev. Jane Gibbons will retire and conclude her ministry, after serving 23 years with ABC Ohio on December 31, 2022.

The Region Board has asked that Rev. Mark Click focus his ministry on the role of the Executive Minister for ABC Ohio. He will no longer be serving in a dual capacity as Executive Minister for Administration & Denominational Relations and Regional Minister for southern Ohio.

Welcome our ABC Ohio Regional Ministers:

Rev. Dr. James Willis – Northwest Regional Minister. Dr. Willis serves as the Senior Pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Toledo and has served in the Toledo Area Baptist Association and for several years on the Region Board as Vice-President, President and Past-President.

Rev. Kevin Thomas – Northeast Regional Minister. Rev. Thomas serves as the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Canton and has served in the Akron Baptist Association and Ohio Baptist Education Society.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Hairston – Southwest Regional Minister. Dr. Hairston serves as the Senior Pastor of the Living Word Bible Fellowship of Columbus and has served in the Columbus Baptist Association and as Dean of the Ohio Leadership Academy. 

Rev. Mark Eaton – Southeast Regional Minister. Rev. Eaton serves as the Senior Pastor of the Porterfield Baptist Church of Little Hocking and serves as the Associate Regional Minister (ARM) for the Marietta Baptist Association.

The Region was blessed to have sixteen excellent ministers apply for the position(s) of Regional Minister. Each candidate was uniquely gifted and qualified to serve, ranging in education and experience. After much thought, consultation and prayer our candidates were selected to serve as Regional Ministers. 

Please pray for Rev. Gibbons as she prepares for the next chapter of life and ministry, the new Regional Ministers, the continued ministry of the Associate Regional Ministers (ARMs), and Rev. Click as everyone transitions in our ministries – Equipping the People of God to Impact the World for Christ.

Thank you for your prayers, support and partnership in ministry, as we work together to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, make disciples and impact our world for Christ.

Rev. Jane Gibbons Retirement Celebration November 5, 2022

Rev. Jane Gibbons, Executive Minister for Program & Ministry Development of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio has announced her retirement effective January 1, 2023.

Rev. Gibbons has faithfully served our region as a Regional and Executive Minister for 23 years. To recognize her ministry and accomplishments during this time, American Baptist Churches of Ohio is hosting a Celebration Luncheon event on Saturday, November 05, 2022 from 12 PM to 3 PM at Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield, Ohio 44906.

We would like to extend a cordial invitation to you and your spouse to attend this celebration. The cost of the celebration will be $30.00 per person.  Reservations must be received by Friday, October 7, 2022. Space is limited so plan on registering early. Unfortunately, we may not be able to receive reservations after this date. If you are planning on attending the event you must register. You may email or call your reservation into Leslie Hoskinson or 740.587.0804.

During the celebration there will be a time of reflection and congratulatory remarks. If you are unable to attend we encourage you to provide us with a congratulatory letter which will be placed with other letters in a Celebration Scrapbook. Please send your letter by Saturday, October 1, 2022 in order for us to prepare the Scrapbook. Please send letters to: Leslie Hoskinson, American Baptist Churches of Ohio, 136 N. Galway Drive, Granville, Ohio   43023.

If you are planning on attending and would like information on area hotels please contact Leslie Hoskinson at 740.587.0804. Download a map to Kingwood Center HERE.

We look forward to having you join us as we come together and celebrate Rev. Jane Gibbons’ ministry with the American Baptist Churches of Ohio.

2022-2023 Ohio Leadership Academy Important Dates and Deadlines

Rev. Alvin R. Lee Passes Peacefully

Rev. Alvin R. Lee, age 92, of Germantown passed away peacefully on August 26, 2022. He was born in Frugality, PA, to the late Shelton and Ida (Read) Lee. Alvin earned his Bachelor's degree from Eastern Baptist College, and his MDiv from Eastern Baptist Seminary. 

Alvin served as the pastor of churches in Delaware and New Jersey before transitioning to an area minister for the American Baptist denomination in New Jersey and Ohio. Alvin was preceded in death in 2008 by his wife of 58 years, Rachel (Gillespie) Lee, his brother Vernon Lee and sister Ina Comeau. 

Alvin is survived by one daughter, Catherine (Willard A., III) Whitaker of Germantown, TN; one son, Daniel (Rebecca) Lee of Germantown, OH; four grandchildren, Jennifer Whitaker, Matthew (Amanda) Whitaker, Nathan Lee (Bridget Ratcliffe) and Jacob Lee; one great grandson, Wesley Whitaker; one brother, Donald Lee, and numerous extended family members and dear friends. Please keep the Lee family in your prayers.

Rev. William J. Campbell Called to His Eternal Home

Rev. William J (Bill) Campbell , 82, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 30, 2022. He was born in the city of Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. After graduating high school, Bill worked for the General Post Office in Kingston as a Postal Clerk. However, he knew that God had called him to preach the Gospel. He began serving in youth groups, choirs, visitations, street meetings and preaching in local churches.

In 1963, Bill moved to Toronto, Canada to pursue his theological training at Toronto Baptist Seminary. He received his Bachelor of Theology in 1967 and later his Bachelor of Arts from Richmond College in Toronto in 1970.

Bill continued working in ministry and missions. He served as pastor in Binghamton, New York and then in 1982  he pastored Bethany Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio for 16 years. He became a United States citizen in 1995. 

He was a Past President of the Elyria Ministerial Alliance, which is dedicated to encouraging, strengthening and developing ministries within Elyria and Lorain County. He also supported various ministries as an associate pastor or volunteer.

Bill continued his pastoral duties as the Associate Pastor of Full Gospel Faith Fellowship, Lorain, Ohio, from 2009 until his final days.

He had many roles in his life: Husband, Father, Grandfather, Community Leader, Mentor, Pastor, Confidant, Champion, Prayer Warrior, Intercessor, Visionary and Friend. But the one he would want you to remember the most: Child of God. He will be missed. Please keep the Campbell family in your prayers.