Story by Francis Tuffour
Pastors from across the Ohio Conference recently gathered at Integrity Hall in Dayton for a two-day meeting focused on spiritual renewal and evangelistic preparation.
Bob Cundiff, conference president, opened with a devotional, affirming the sacred calling of pastoral ministry. “You are loved, you are with friends and we celebrate you,” he said.
Training sessions followed, including a seminar on abuse prevention led by Phil Swartley of GuideOne Insurance, emphasizing safety, as well as screening and reporting procedures.
A major focus was the Pentecost 2025 initiative, with $675,000 allocated to support public evangelism across 101 sites, aiming to baptize more than 1,000 people this year. Kojo Twumasi, senior district pastor of the Toledo First and Northwood churches, introduced the BLAST model—Building Lives Around Solid Truth—using targeted digital outreach to boost attendance and engagement. Rudy Salazar, associate director of Stewardship Ministries at the North American Division (NAD), shared stewardship principles, while NAD’s Human Resources team presented policy updates.
Reflecting on the event, Ron Anderson, pastor of the Chillicothe, Jackson and Portsmouth churches, notes, “It was inspiring—there’s so much the Holy Spirit wants to do through us.”