STORY
104 People Baptized After a Week of Evangelistic Outreach in Cincinnati
October 7, 2024
Ohio Conference
Clifton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, recently organized a week-long evangelistic initiative titled "Summer BLAST." The event was a community-driven effort focused on addressing local needs, engaging children with fun activities, and spreading the gospel. By the end of the week, the event led to the baptism of 104 individuals.
Throughout the week, the church actively engaged with the community, providing essential resources to needy families. Each day, they distributed groceries to families facing food insecurity, backpacks filled with supplies for school children, diapers and laundry pods for households with young children, and toys to bring joy to the kids.
The children's activities were a highlight of Summer BLAST. These fun, family-friendly features included bouncy houses, a shaved ice truck, and Bible lessons designed to engage children in an age-appropriate and meaningful way. These activities not only entertained but also shared the love of Christ with the families who participated.
The event's success was made possible by the dedication of numerous church members, who tirelessly worked to haul supplies, pack bags, register attendees, and prepare baptismal candidates. Their commitment was crucial in ensuring the week's activities ran smoothly.
Each evening, Pastor Kojo Twumasi delivered powerful messages of hope, redemption, and salvation through Jesus Christ. His sermons were well received, and many from the community opened their hearts to the gospel message.
The event culminated in the baptism of 104 individuals, a testimony to the gospel's transforming power and the church's unity in its mission to reach the lost. The Clifton SDA Church, under the leadership of Pastor Jeba Moses had spent significant time in prayer, planning, and training in preparation for this outreach. Following the campaign, the church has focused on weekly Bible studies, mentorship teams, and one-on-one visits with the new believers to help solidify their faith.
The "Summer BLAST" outreach was a remarkable success, illustrating the impact of a dedicated, mission-driven community on both spiritual and practical levels.
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The Ohio Conference is pleased to announce that Esther Gordon, who has faithfully served as Treasury Administrative Assistant, has transitioned into the role of Human Resources Generalist. With a strong background in administration and a deep commitment to supporting the mission of the Conference, Esther looks forward to continuing her service in a new capacity. Born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, Esther grew up in a family deeply committed to service. As a pastor’s kid and the youngest of five children, she witnessed firsthand her parents’ lifelong dedication to church ministry. Today, Esther continues that legacy alongside her husband, Pastor Delthony Gordon, and together they are blessed with two children. Esther joined the Ohio Conference on September 1, 2021, serving as Administrative Assistant in the Treasury Department. In this role, she carried a wide range of responsibilities, including receipting, remittances, accounts payable, and service as a treasurer for the Ohio Conference Church. She also managed check processing, departmental correspondence, and assisted with calls and inquiries, ensuring that the Treasury office operated efficiently and with care. When reflecting on her work, Esther shared that her greatest passion lies in connecting with people and offering help wherever it is needed. She sees these moments of service as opportunities to make a meaningful impact and to live out her calling in a practical way. Outside of her professional role, Esther enjoys singing, reading, traveling, and spending time playing games with her family. In her new role as Human Resources Generalist, Esther will oversee key responsibilities, including employee onboarding and offboarding, open enrollment and benefits administration, maintaining service records, and processing vacation requests. She will also manage employee communications and assist in developing and implementing HR policies to support the Ohio Conference team. When reflecting on her most rewarding experience at the Ohio Conference, Esther shared a touching memory: “There was an Ohio constituent who would often reach out to me for help. She would send little notes tucked inside her tithe envelope. One of those notes read, ‘Thank you, Esther. Looking forward to meeting you in Heaven someday.’ That simple message brought me such joy! I taped the note to my calculator as a daily reminder of why I do what I do—and I still have it to this day.” Esther finds encouragement in Isaiah 41:10, which reminds her of God’s constant presence and strength: “Fear thou not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” When it comes to her work, however, the verse that guides her most is Deuteronomy 28:8: “Blessings on all that you set your hand to do!” She includes this verse at the end of her emails as a way to share encouragement with others. As she steps into this new chapter, Esther shared a simple yet meaningful message: “I count it a privilege to serve the members of the Ohio Conference.”
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Although his academic background began in business and accounting, he ultimately followed God’s call to ministry, completing theological training at Babcock University in Nigeria and later earning a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University in Michigan in 2021. His ministry experience includes service with the South Central Ghana Conference, associate pastor for both the Columbus Ghanaian and Eastwood Adventist churches, chaplain at Eastwood Junior Academy, Executive Secretary of the Midwest Zone of the North American Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventists (NAGSDA), and host of the Twi Sabbath School discussion program on Hope TV-Ghana. Together with his wife, Patience, and their three daughters, he has dedicated himself to serving God’s people with passion and faith. The Homily Delivering the ordination homily, Pastor John Boston II, a renowned humanitarian and faith leader, emphasized that faithful ministry cannot be measured by material abundance. Drawing from Acts 8:26, he stressed that God often calls His servants to “desert places,” where quiet, one-on-one encounters can yield eternal results. “You will find success in the difficult places,” Pastor Boston declared. “If you don’t ruffle some feathers, it is very likely you’re not following the Holy Spirit.” He reminded Pastor Adjei that ministry is not defined by a paycheck but by the ability to inspire and mobilize volunteers for God’s mission. “A call to ministry is not an easy path,” he added, “but you must face it knowing that you are where God has called you to be.” T he Ordination Prayer The service reached its most sacred moment when Pastor Paul Adu Sampah, Stewardship Ministries director for the West-Central Africa Division and father-in-law of Pastor Adjei, offered the ordination prayer. Surrounded by more than 20 ordained ministers, hands were laid upon him in a powerful act of consecration, symbolizing the church’s recognition of his divine calling. In a profoundly symbolic gesture, Pastor Sampah—who plans to retire later this year—gifted his ministerial robe to Pastor Adjei, his son-in-law, passing on the mantle of ministry. The Ordination Charge Pastor Oswaldo Magaña, Executive Secretary of the Ohio Conference, delivered the ordination charge, speaking directly to Pastor Adjei about the sacred responsibilities of pastoral ministry. “In the name of God’s Church, I charge you to minister as a servant,” Pastor Magaña said. “Make the Master your lifelong study. Know what you teach, but first of all, know the One you teach for. For this to happen, you need to spend time with Jesus.” He further encouraged him to live a Christ-centered life of simplicity and faithfulness, reminding him of Jesus’ words: “The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep… Be a shepherd and a pastor, not a hireling.” Welcome to the Ministry Representing the Columbia Union Conference, Pastor Emmanuel Asiedu, Union treasurer, officially welcomed Pastor Adjei into the worldwide family of ordained Seventh-day Adventist ministers. In his remarks, he urged him to embrace his calling with humility and service. “You are called to serve, not to be served,” Pastor Asiedu said. He encouraged him to be God’s hand extended—preaching hope, comforting the afflicted, uplifting the marginalized, and standing firm in his calling at all times. A Response of Gratitude In his response, Pastor Adjei expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for bringing the day to fulfillment, acknowledging the challenges he had overcome along his journey into ministry. He thanked the leadership of the Ohio Conference, his wife, mentors, family, and the many church leaders and members who had supported him along the way. As part of the day’s celebration, Pastor Adjei and his wife, Patience, renewed their wedding vows in honor of their 10th anniversary. Pastor Twumasi officiated the renewal ceremony and offered a prayer of blessing over their marriage and family. A Memorable Baptism The celebration concluded with a baptism of special significance. Fulfilling a personal request, Pastor Adjei baptized Precious Owusu, who had asked to be the first person he would baptize following his ordination. Her wish was honored, and she joyfully entered the waters of baptism under his ministry.
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