STORY
Bill Largo Joins Ohio Conference as Planned Giving and Trust Services Director
June 7, 2024
Ohio Conference
The Ohio Conference is pleased to announce that William J. Largo will immediately assume the Planned Giving, Properties, and Trust Services director role. Bill will succeed Harold Straub, who will retire at the end of next month after 17 years of dedicated service.
Bill Largo brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served in various leadership roles within the Adventist community. Born in Hollywood, Florida, and raised in Syracuse, New York, Bill initially pursued a career in hospitality management and sales, achieving significant success. After receiving the call to ministry, he earned a BA in Theology and a minor in Biblical Languages. Bill graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews Theological Seminary. He later led congregations of 11,000 members as a senior pastor in New York and Florida.
Bill’s career also includes significant roles in the healthcare ministry. He served as Senior Chaplain and Director of Mission and Ministry for AdventHealth, where he integrated spiritual care into healthcare services. Most recently, he served as Network Director of Mission and Ministry for Kettering Health in Ohio, overseeing spiritual services across multiple medical centers.
Bill is married to his soulmate Christine, a CRNA, and is proud of his children, Hannah (17) and Joshua (15). Besides his professional responsibilities, Bill enjoys CrossFit, cycling, backpacking, playing guitar, and spending time with his family. He is also currently writing his doctoral dissertation in leadership.
Please join us in welcoming Bill Largo and expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Harold Straub for his years of faithful service.
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Lima, OH — June 17, 2025 — A wave of spiritual renewal swept through Lima this past week as the Lima Seventh-day Adventist Church concluded its dynamic evangelistic series, Summer BLAST—an acronym for Building Lives Around Solid Truth. The program, held from June 8 to June 15, drew hundreds from the local community and resulted in 44 baptisms, as well as 10 additional individuals joining the church through profession of faith. Summer BLAST is based on an innovative evangelism model taught to the Lima church by Pastor Kojo Twumasi, Senior Pastor of the Toledo First and Northwood Seventh-day Adventist churches in Ohio. This model uniquely integrates service with spiritual outreach by meeting the community's basic needs while sharing the gospel message. Each evening began with an encouraging and motivational message, followed by generous giveaways of essential items, including groceries, diapers, laundry supplies, and toys. Of all the distribution nights, the laundry products day was a standout, attracting over 250 attendees—remarkable for a church that typically welcomes 50 to 60 people on a good day. "We're not just preaching sermons; we're building trust, building relationships, and showing that Jesus cares about every aspect of people's lives," said Pastor Kojo Twumasi, campaign speaker. "The gospel is most powerful when it is lived and experienced, not just heard." Pastor Carl Brooks, who currently serves the Lima church, shared his deep gratitude and awe at the response: "team, though small in size, was a formidable force to reckon with; they gave their best effort. By God's power, we were able to meet the demands and challenges with a heart of care mingled with grace. We also want to thank the Ohio conference for their prayers and financial support towards the effort. Likewise, for the visit of our president whose presence did excite and energized the series". Guests responded with enthusiasm and sincerity to nightly altar calls, with many saying "to Jesus and choosing to take the next step in their spiritual journey. The church is now preparing for continued discipleship and follow-up with the new believers, affirming its commitment to ongoing community engagement and faith-building. The Summer BLAST series has not only revitalized the Lima church but also set a powerful example of what can happen when faith and compassion walk hand in hand.
The Lima Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ohio launched a week-long evangelism campaign titled Summer BLAST, drawing hundreds of attendees and providing both spiritual and practical support to the local community. Under the leadership of Pastor Carl Brooks, who serves as the campaign host, the church has distributed groceries, hot meals, toiletries, laundry supplies, diapers, and other essential items to individuals and families in need. As a result of the outreach and nightly meetings, 31 individuals have made decisions for Christ so far. Pastor Kojo Twumasi serves as the campaign speaker, delivering nightly messages focused on hope, transformation, and the love of God. The church continues to experience strong attendance as the event enters its final four days. Local leadership has taken notice of the church’s efforts. Jeannine Jordan, Fourth Ward Councilor for the City of Lima, attended one of the meetings, underscoring the campaign’s positive community impact. The Ohio Conference encourages continued prayer for Pastor Brooks and his team as they conclude the Summer BLAST campaign and seek to follow up with those who have responded to the gospel.
The Ohio Conference has opened its new studio, designed to serve as the creative engine for its digital outreach. This space is a hub for producing high-quality multimedia content to support the Conference's ministry and mission. Located at the Conference headquarters in Dayton, the studio features three themed sets, each equipped with dedicated fixed lighting. In addition to background lighting that illuminates each set, the studio includes backlights—hair lights—to light presenters from behind. To minimize the need for repositioning lighting for every shoot, the studio maintains a balance of fixed and mobile lighting. Mobile key and fill lights allow for flexibility across different set designs. The studio includes a panel interview set for discussions and interview-style productions. Along another wall sits a contemporary podcast set, outfitted with nearly 16 feet of faux brick paneling and customized neon signage featuring the podcast title Ohio Heartbeat. Additionally, a presenter set features wooden slats and a vertical drywall section adorned with the Ohio Conference logo. To ensure efficient and professional production, the studio team equipped it with three professional-grade cameras and all essential peripherals, including monitors, tripods, batteries, and other gear. A production switcher enables both live recordings and live streaming. When needed, each camera feed can be recorded individually as a file. A full editing suite supports post-production and content development. Discussing the podcast's title, Bob Cundiff, President of the Ohio Conference, shared: "The new podcast is called Ohio Heartbeat. It will be a weekly podcast featuring news, updates, interviews, and reports from the territory. You know, the state of Ohio is shaped like a heart. So we're entitling this podcast Ohio Heartbeat, highlighting the heartbeat of our mission, our outreach, our evangelism, and everything happening across the great territory of Ohio." Reflecting on the studio's potential impact, Cundiff added, "From this little piece of real estate, we can literally reach the entire world. There will be people in heaven because of the work we are going to do right here in the Ohio Conference Media Center." In the recording of the studio's inaugural podcast episode, Oswaldo Magaña, Executive Secretary of the Ohio Conference, expressed his enthusiasm: "It fills my heart with emotion to know that we now have this tool to communicate not only with our people in the Ohio Conference but also with the entire world." Bob Cundiff also appreciated Kettering Health's partial financial support in establishing the studio. The Ohio Conference Studio, operating under the Digital Media and Communication Department, seeks passionate individuals—young and old, creatives, hosts, video editors, and storytellers—who want to serve, learn, and grow. Whether you're experienced or just starting out, there is a place for you.
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