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.

Pastor Jeff “Hutch” Hubschman Goes to be with his Lord and Savior

Pastor Jeff “Hutch” Hubschman, age 63, of Mount Gilead, went on to be with his Lord and Savior on May 4, 2023. Jeff pastored Bryn Zion Baptist Church in Mount Gilead. He passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family, following a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. 

In 2011 Jeff was asked to fill in for a few weeks at Bryn Zion Baptist and it wasn’t long after that he became the church’s full-time minister. There was something about Jeff that made you want to listen when he spoke. He believed in people and educating them to be and do their best. In addition to speaking from the pulpit, Jeff utilized his gift as a speaker for Gideons International, where he was a former President of the Morrow County camp. He was a speaker for Heartbeat of Morrow County, and later began serving on their board. He also served on the board of West Central Community Correctional Facility in Marysville, as a representative of Morrow County.

Read more: Pastor Jeff “Hutch” Hubschman Goes to be with his Lord and Savior

Akron Association Welcomes a Familiar Face as Associate Regional Minister

The Rev. Kevin E. Slyh has been called to serve as the new ARM for the Akron Association in Northeast Ohio beginning March 1, 2023.

Rev. Slyh began his pastoral ministry with ABC-Ohio in 1979 after graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary. He served as full-time pastor with three congregations; First Baptist Tiffin from 1979-1983, Park Avenue Baptist Church in Mansfield from 1983-1988, and First Baptist Church in Canton from 1988-2011. Following these full-time ministries, Kevin has served as either a part-time pastor or interim pastor at Community Baptist Church in Tallmadge, Springfield Baptist Church in Akron. Calvary Baptist Church in Elyria and First Baptist Church in Perry.

Rev. Slyh comes to us having served the region in various other ministries as well. He is a past-president of the ABC-Ohio Region Board and has held various other positions and served on committees at the region and association level.  He fondly remembers many years ago when he was a Camp director at Judson Hills Baptist Camp in Loudonville, Ohio. 

When asked what he looks forward to accomplishing in this new role, Kevin said, “I look forward to serving and being an encouragement to our association pastors and their families, as well as assisting Rev. Kevin Thomas, Northeast Ohio regional minister.”

Kevin resides in Hartville, Ohio with his wife Susan (47 years). They have always considered ministry something they embraced to do together. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys high school and college sports. He’s also never short on good clean jokes. ABC-Ohio welcomes Rev. Kevin E. Slyh.