We had a great evening for the banquet with 35 attending!
Jonathon & Terry Arnold, Wes & Marjie Blood, Kyle & Kaitlynn Boone, Steve Clifford, Jonathan & Lollie
Cheatham, David & Nancy Dake, Tim & Shirley Dubeau, Brian Egelston, Gary & Janeen Eno, Tom &
Gretchen Fisher, Jarred Grant, Pat Haumesser, John & Carol Hood, Libby Hundley, Dave & Joanne
Kimberly, Joe & Diane Leithold, Tom & Rae Maurer, Jeff O’Guin, Joel & Tammy Peebles, Bonnie Rice,
Karen Rice, Neil Snedeker
Also, we recognized the presence of our blessed Trinity joining us as we gathered in peace and
unity! Hebrews 10:19-25 declares that God calls us to increase our faith, hope, and love in these
challenging times, which we did this evening.
First time guests were acknowledged and welcomed along with other opening announcements.
The invocation was offered by our treasurer, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Cheatham, pastor of Vermilion
Evangelical & Reformed Church.
Special thanks was given to our host church, First Congregational Church of Lodi, and Pastor
David Dake, his wife Nancy, and Neil Snedeker who prepared our delicious banquet of: Roast Pork and
Meat Loaf, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes and gravy, Tossed salad with dressing, Bread/Rolls,
Assorted Pies, and Beverage.
Rev. Joel Bucklin, pastor of New Knoxville Church in Ohio volunteered to be our new web
manager. Dr. Dave Kimberly served in that capacity for several years. Please visit our Ohio website
which is listed on the back of the bulletin. It has minutes, articles, announcements. You may post
articles and carry-on dialogue with others on the website. You can also Zoom from it, which Dave
Kimberly launched for our last officers meeting.
I need your input concerning gathering again this year for a picnic. If so, when and
where? Please email any thoughts you have with regard to the picnic.
Rev. Tim Dubeau, Our Mid-East Regional Pastor is with us with his wife Shirley. It was
last Feb. 1, that Tim had a quintuplet heart by-pass. He was back on the job by the end of
April. So glad he is doing well.
Connie Carmany emailed that she and Steve greatly desired to attend the banquet, but Steve
doesn’t have the strength to make the trip to Lodi and back in the evening. They send their prayers and
blessings. Also, our secretary, Rev. Dr. Donna Edsell had no one to drive her and therefore was unable
to attend. She doesn’t drive long distances at night. She sends her blessings.
Rev. Jeff O’Guin, pastor/planter of LifeSpring Church shared with us how God is doing
encouraging work among the congregation as they reach out to the Beaver Creek community. He and
parishioner, Diane Leithold, also led us in worship with resounding praise to God.
Rev. Wes Blood told us about his WellSpring Ministry with Toledo University Foreign
Students. There are over 2,000 foreign students from many countries who need furniture for their
apartments which they help provide. Along with other supportive churches, they invite them into their
homes, befriend, give counsel, and offer Bible studies. Some have received the Lord while attending
school here. Wes shared about one foreign student who didn’t understand our customs and got in
trouble with the police. Another student they were praying for disappeared a week before our banquet. I
asked Wes to lead us in prayer for several of the students he had talked about. Five minutes after Wes’
prayer with us for the students, he received a text on his phone that the lost student he had prayed for
had just been found at Bowling Green. In that moment we were aware of the Presence of the Lord.
Rev. Gary Eno, Chaplain at the Noble Correction Institution, shared with us some of the things
God is doing in his congregation of about 2,400 incarcerated men at the prison—however, not all of
them attend the services. Nevertheless, many men are transformed while in prison, who then minister
and lead studies with other inmates. Gary returned to full time ministry the first of the year. Last
August he fell and cut his leg resulting in a severe infection that ended up necessitating that his leg be amputated below the knee. He is able to get along quite well on his new prosthesis.
Rev. Dr. Dave Kimberly updated us on the Barnabas Ministry we support. Dave has concluded
his interim pastoral ministry with Newman Baptist Church in Massillon. He has attended many
seminars, researched and written articles. With Rev. Paul McPheeters he is the CCCC Co-Director of
Nineveh Network Coaches that is creating and developing a training and support system for Nineveh
Network coaches. Many pastors are finding help through the cohort gatherings, and Dave is on fire
with enthusiasm. Jeff O’Guin testified to the help that he has received by attending Dave’s excellent
coaching and cohort ministry. Pastors needing help with coaching and thinking through personal and
congregational issues are encouraged to contact Dave regarding his cohort ministry.
Rev. Dave Dake, our Ohio Area Pastor spoke of the inspiring value of attending the CCCC
77th Annual Gathering to be held in Orlando, Florida, August 4-7. He updated us on the local minister
gatherings and informed us of the recent Huntsburg Congregational Church disaffiliating from the
CCCC and Ohio Association. Their pastor RJ Zupancich however plans to remain with us. He was not
able to attend because he was sick with the flu.
Rev. Tim Dubeau our Mideast Regional Pastor with his wife, Shirley, were with us, and told us
about the theme of the Annual Gathering, Breakthrough Faith, and the plenary speaker, Dr. James
Choung. This is an important gathering as there will be an up-or-down vote to change the name of the
CCCC to Centerpoint Biblical Congregational Conference. Also, our Conference Minister, Ron
Hamilton, has chosen to resign during the conference meeting this summer, and a new Conference
Minister will be voted on. We hope many of you will be able to attend.
Our Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Kyle Boone from the Hambden Congregational Church, Chardon,
OH, spoke on his doctrinal thesis: Trends in Youth Ministry-Impacting small churches and pastors.
Kyle made a humorous and informative presentation which we will pursue further during our Spring
Meeting April 23, 9:30am-1pm, at First Congregational Church, Lodi. This change needed to be
made because Kyle is unavailable for the original planned date.
All-in-all, everyone had a great and inspiring evening together!
John Hood, Moderator