STORY
Miracle of Multiplication: Small Northwood Church Baptizes 54 People
August 16, 2023
Francis Tuffour
Families brought their babies for blessing
It is nearly impossible for a church to double or triple its membership after an evangelistic series. But a tiny Northwood Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northwood, a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, with about 15-20 members in average attendance, welcomed 54 new members through baptism following its gospel outreach a few days ago. The event, themed “Summer Blast: Building Lives Around Solid Truth,” had the church's pastor, Kojo Twumasi as host and speaker.
Besides the nightly messages from the speaker, the church provided free clothes, school supplies, food, transportation, music, vacation Bible classes, snow cones, prizes, inflatable bouncy house games, and other giveaways.
Kojo posted on his Facebook page, praised God, and described his congregation as “a small yet determined” that shared the Good News and met the physical and spiritual needs of the people in his community. “As a result, the Lord blessed us with 54 new souls (all non-Adventist). The Lord blessed us in a seemingly impossible place (Northwest Ohio) amongst a seemingly impossible people group (Anglo-Americans), he added.
Kojo commended the immense contribution of about 40 volunteers from Northwood, Toledo, and Parkwood churches. He also expressed appreciation to Bible counselors, In His Word Ministries, and others who supported the campaign through prayers.
Responding to the post, Bob Cundiff, president of the Ohio Conference, wrote: "What a blessing and joy this series was to these churches and their community. Good strong work Northwood, Toledo, and Parkwood!" During the campaign, Kojo prayed for the sick, and when he invited them for anointing, over 75 people lined up for the service.
Kojo also led a community baby blessing service. The church leaders earlier told the community members to bring their babies to be dedicated, and he blessed seven babies. While the campaign touched the lives of many children and youth, the adults were not left out; adults came along with their young ones. Among the 54 people was a couple; the husband is 95 years old, and his wife is 82, who could not hide their joy about their new lives and kissed each other.
According to Kojo, when they organized the vacation Bible school, they expected 55 kids, but it ballooned to about 100 kids. About seven vacation Bible school students were baptized. All the children who participated were given certificates after completion and awards.
Kojo’s dad, Sampson Twumasi, senior pastor of Columbus Ghanaian church, came to support his son during the baptismal service. Immediately after the campaign, Kojo began new believers’ Bible study and is looking forward to starting the children's Bible study classes shortly.
A 95-year-old husband and his 82-year-old wife kissing after baptism
share this
Related Stories
Led by Elder Mark Mirek and Diana Mirek, teachers at Piqua Adventist Christian School, eight students played a central role in leading Education Day at the Lima Seventh-day Adventist Church, highlighting the value of Adventist Christian education. The students actively participated in the worship service, taking part in Scripture reading, prayer, congregational singing, and instrumental music. Their musical contributions featured a variety of instruments, including the keyboard, banjo, double bass, cajón, and castanets. A highlight of the service was a powerful personal testimony shared by Elder Mark Mirek. He spoke emotionally about his journey from atheism to faith in Jesus Christ, and how that transformation ultimately led him to a calling in Adventist education. His message resonated deeply with the congregation and underscored the life-changing impact of faith-based learning. The presence and participation of the students were a meaningful blessing to the church community. “It was truly inspiring to see these young people so engaged in worship and ministry,” said First Elder Courtney Simons. “Their involvement is a testament to the strong spiritual foundation being built at Piqua Adventist Christian School.” Following the service, members expressed appreciation for the students’ contributions and the school’s commitment to nurturing both academic excellence and Christian character. Events like Education Day continue to strengthen the connection between the church and its school, reminding all in attendance of the importance of investing in the next generation. At Piqua Adventist Christian School, students are provided with an environment that integrates faith and learning, encouraging them to develop spiritually, academically, and socially. Programs like Education Day offer students valuable opportunities to serve, lead, and share their faith within the broader church community.
On Sunday, April 26, the Ohio Conference Youth Ministries Department hosted a training event for the Alive in Jesus Sabbath School curriculum at the First SDA Hispanic Church of Columbus. Approximately 65 teachers representing the Baby, Beginner, Kindergarten, and Primary divisions attended, united in their commitment to strengthening children’s ministries. The training was conducted in both English and Spanish, allowing for broader participation and engagement. Participants took part in practical sessions focused on effective teaching and long-term discipleship. They also received resources to support and strengthen their local Sabbath School programs. The Ohio Conference Youth Ministries Department acknowledged the North American Division instructors for leading and enriching the training experience. The department also recognized the strong participation and the commitment to guiding children into a growing relationship with Jesus. For more information about the curriculum, visit: https://www.aliveinjesus.info
Mansfield Seventh-day Adventist Christian School’s robotics team recently earned top honors at a FIRST Lego League regional competition held at Takoma Academy in Maryland, securing a championship invitation after an outstanding all-around performance. In preparation for the event, the team dedicated extensive time to building and programming an autonomous LEGO robot designed to complete a series of challenges on the competition field. In addition, students researched a real-world problem, developed a creative solution, and presented their findings to judges. Competing under the name “Archaeolo-Cows,” the team demonstrated excellence beyond technical performance. They received the Core Values Award for their strong collaboration, positive attitude, and encouragement of fellow competitors. The team also earned second place overall, reflecting high achievement across all areas of judging. Their success has earned them an invitation to the FIRST Lego League Adventist Robotics Championship, which will take place at Forest Lake Academy in Apopka, Florida. The team is composed of students in grades 4–8, bringing together a range of experience and enthusiasm. Zedd, a four-year veteran of the robotics team, said, “What I enjoyed about the tournament was meeting new people and seeing different styles of teams.” Felisa, one of the younger team members, added, “It was really fun working with our team.” Those interested in supporting the team’s journey to the championship may contribute through the Archaeolo-Cows’ GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-archaeolocows-reach-nationals
STAY UP TO DATE
GET CONFERENCE'S LATEST
Receive monthly updates from the conference, and get a heads up on upcoming events.
Contact Us
