Ohio Association Fall Meeting Minutes
October 28, 2025. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
First Congregational Church, Lodi, Ohio
In attendance were Jim Marshall, John Hood, David Dake, David Kimberly, Donna
Edsall, Gary Eno, Dayle Keefer, Wes Blood, Margie Blood, Jeff O’Guin, Joel Bucklin,
Tom Hendershot, Ken Flanagan, and Jonathan Arnold.
An informal social time began the meeting as we ate donuts and introduced ourselves.
The theme for the day Church Multiplication.
Guest Speaker was Bryan Long, Director of Church Multiplication for the Four C’s. The
Four C’s would like every church in the 4C’s to get involved in church planting. The
“brand” for church multiplication is the Nineveh Network, which gets its name from
Jonah 4:11, which says, “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in
which there are more than 120,000 people who do not know the difference between their
right hand and their left, as well as many animals?” The Nineveh Network provides
recruitment, assessment, equipping, coaching, and connection with other church leaders.
Long described recruiting as “laying the pipeline.” This process involves finding people
called by God to plant churches. We were asked to help identify people who may have a
calling in their lives to start churches. Then there is an assessment process to connect
with people to see if they are indeed called. When future planters are identified, they
must be trained, equipped, and coached. It takes 5-7 years, usually, to have a new church.
The FourC’s now has a group of plants that are growing up. And 2-3 church plants have
now started planting new churches.
Long said that the Church is the essential resource for redeeming the world. New church
plants reach new people. The Nineveh Network looks for towns where churches are
under-resourced or where the churches are misrepresented.
The attitude is not “this place is dead” because God is already there. Our job is to discern
what the Holy Spirit is already doing. Where is the Holy Spirit opening a door? The
process is flexible.
Long showed us a Venn diagram that described the different types of churches, and how
easily churches can get away from the center and into a specialized niche.
At lunch, we had a business meeting. David Dake, our Moderator and Mideast Area Pastor, led the meeting. We are looking for a new moderator, vice-moderator, and secretary. The financial report showed that we have a balance of $1528 currently.
David Kimberly reported that the Barnabas Ministries was successful in its attempt to
raise $10,000. We were asked to continue to pray for Barnabas Ministries as it tries to
develop a role at the FourC’s level.
Tim Dubeau was not at the meeting because he is traveling. He has a very large region to
administer. Dake told us that the FourC’s church in Lima, Ohio, has an opening. Two
churches left the FourC’s over the issue of re-naming. At the conference it was decided
that a new name is needed, but we voted against the name being suggested.
Josiah Dake announced that he has a music ministry. If your church would like to host a
song-writing, singing event, please contact him. His phone number is 330-441-8003, and
his email is josiahdake77@gmail.com.
Wes Blood reported on his mission. He said many international people are anxious about
what is happening in the U.S. and we should try to be friendly and reassuring. He has
noticed an increase in spiritual interest, many people asking for prayers. Wes and Margie
are still doing a furniture ministry but they a new warehouse, and are praying over
whether to rent one or buy one.
Members present spoke about their churches and their current situations.
Gary Eno is now retired. He was named Abbott of his Scottish clan. “My Lord Abbott”
is the appropriate form of address.
The meeting closed with prayer at 2 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Donna Edsall, secretary.