197th Annual Gathering October 10 & 11

The 197^th Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio will be held on October 10-11, 2023 at the Crowne-Plaza Hotel – Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43229.

“IGNITE 2023: Sparking New Life through the Power of Jesus Christ,” based on 2 Corinthians 12:9 is the theme of our Gathering.

The “Gathering” takes place over two days beginning at 10 am on Tuesday and concluding at 2 pm on Wednesday. There are 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.  

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

Click here to download the Annual Gathering schedule.

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!

We’re excited about this year’s gathering! Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque will be the speaker for our worship service. IM Global Servants Dr. Bill & Ann Clemmer will be our speakers at the Mission Banquet. Rev. Dr. David Kimberly and Mrs. Brittany Wilson will be our Bible study leaders. Rev. Benjamin Payne and the Seville Baptist Church Praise Team will lead our worship. Rev. Dr. Seth Fallon will be speaking on Leadership Development for the Local Church at the Regional Ministries Luncheon. Ohio Leadership Academy graduates will be recognized during the worship service. Election of Region Board Officers and ministry reports will happen during the Tuesday morning Business Meeting. 

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.

United Mission Support of American Baptist Churches

This video is an overview of how United Mission works to support our churches, regions, ABCUSA and our partners.

View the Multi-Region Webinar with Tod Bolsinger

We are inviting pastors and church leaders to view the Multi-Region Webinar with author Tod Bolsinger from  Thursday, November 18, 2021. Tod unpacks his book “Canoeing the Mountains” to give vision to how we can be adaptive leaders in times of change. This was a FREE webinar sponsored by ABC Ohio and ABC partner regions. The recording of the webinar can be found by CLICKING THIS LINK.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations through uncharted territory. He offers a combination of illuminating insights and practical tools to help you reimagine what effective leadership looks like in our rapidly changing world.

Explorers Lewis and Clark had to adapt. While they had prepared to find a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, instead they found themselves in the Rocky Mountains. You too may feel that you are leading in a cultural context you were not expecting. You may even feel that your training holds you back more often than it carries you along. Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations through uncharted territory. He offers a combination of illuminating insights and practical tools to help you reimagine what effective leadership looks like in our rapidly changing world. If you’re going to scale the mountains of ministry, you need to leave behind canoes and find new navigational tools.

ABC Ohio Regional Ministers

It is a joy to share our four Regional Ministers for ABC-Ohio. Each began their service on October 1, 2022. October through December 2022 served as a time of orientation and staff development for our new team. Rev. Jane Gibbons has retired and concluded 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.

Nominees Sought for ABC Ohio Region Board Treasurer

Nominees are currently being sought for the American Baptist Churches of Ohio Region Board Treasurer.

Job Description (volunteer):

• The Treasurer is an active participant of the Executive Committee which includes the President, Vice President, Secretary, Past President and Executive Minister.
• Oversees all revenues, expenses and communicates this information to the Board on a quarterly basis.
• In cooperation with the ABC Ohio Staff as well as the Budget and Finance Committee, the Treasurer works to create the Budget Draft and present it to the Board for approval.
• In cooperation with the Senior Accountant, the Treasurer develops and presents the Annual Budget and an over view of the financial health of ABC Ohio at the Annual Gathering.
• Ensures development and Board review of sound fiscal policies and procedures.
• Acts as an official signer on the ABC Ohio bank account and works with Executive Minister and Senior Accountant on large monetary distributions.
• Oversees any financial agreements in consultation with the Finance Committee.
• Participates in revenue generation activities including cultivation and stewardship.
• Serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee.
• In cooperation with the Board Officers and Senior Accountant, accepts responsibility for filing annual tax forms as required by the State or the IRS.
• Provides a full financial report to the Board annually.
• Ensure the protection of funds from any potential misuse by any other members of the committee.
• Participate in the Annual Auditing Process
• Works with the Executive Minister to Plan and ensure adherence to the pre-determined financial budget for the year.

Please forward possible nominees to Rev. Mark Click.

We Are American Baptist Churches of Ohio - Our Heritage & Mission

“We Are American Baptist Churches of Ohio – Our Heritage & Mission,” was produced to provide a reminder of our rich heritage, mission, and covenant. The question for our congregations, leaders and pastors is: “What does it mean for you and your congregation to be a member of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio?”