February 26, 2007

Am= erican Baptist Churches of Ohio

Important Communication – Pl= ease Read

February 26, 2007

To: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; ABC/Ohio Pastors and Church Leaders

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; ABC/Ohio Officers and Region Board Members

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Vision Quest Team Members

From: = ; = Rev. Dr. Benjamin Floyd, President, American Baptist Churches of Ohio

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Rev. Mark Click, Vision Quest Team Chairperson

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Rev. Dr. Lawrence O. Swain, Executive Minister

Subject: &n= bsp; Kirkwood Camp and Conference Center

&nb= sp; Outdoor Ministries and Mission Future=

Throughout its history the American Baptist Churches of = Ohio, formally the Ohio Baptist Convention has supported a camp and outdoor minis= try where children, youth, and adults have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior and have deepened their spiritual journey. Many of ABC/Ohio’s present c= hurch leaders began their Christian life at a camp setting. This ministry has been possible be= cause of the generosity of countless people who have given their time, talent, and treasure. The region has fulf= illed the camping ministry at a number of camp facilities both rented and owned by the region. In the early year= s the OBC rented camp facilities from Denison University and Tar Hollow. Judson Hills and Kirkwood have been the most recent—owned by ABC/Ohio.

The current reality that ABC/Ohio, along with most ABC Regions and other denominations face is that owning camp facilities, while remaining faithful to a camp ministry is no longer possible. The combinat= ion of decreasing attendance by region churches and increased costs of property ma= intenance and development resulted in using all available undesignated reserve funds = to make up the difference. This = was done willingly because maintaining a ministry that changes lives is valued = more than money. But when all the available reserves were spent something new had to happen so that the minis= try could continue.

In April 2004, following = a series of listening meetings around the Region, the ABC/Ohio Board voted to sell Judson Hills and Kirkwood to relieve the Region of property ownership, and = to “discover ways we can continue camping ministry in more effective and efficient ways.” This was= a difficult decision, but one that viewed the future as an “opportunity for God = to lead us into a manner of ministry appropriate for a new decade in a new cen= tury.” (Vision Quest Document) T= he resources gained from selling the camps would be used to implement a new vision, which includes camping. A camp endowment fund has been established and the interest will be used for scholarships and other outdoor ministry needs.

Since September 2004 the Vision Quest Team has worke= d to discern God’s will and fulfill the ABC/Ohio Board decision to end the debt crisis from owning camp facilities and free resources to implement new outdoor ministries that will fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations.”

In September of 2005 Juds= on Hills was sold for $1.2 million. Fr= om these funds the Region established two endowment funds to provide resources= to continue camping and fulfill the vision that seeks to build healthy mission= al churches.

During 2006 the Vision Qu= est Team sought God’s leading on how to be good stewards of the Kirkwood Camp = and Conference Center. The Vision= Quest Team negotiated offers from two interested parties that wanted to either pu= rchase and/or manage Kirkwood while relieving ABC/Ohio from the liability of debt. Unfortunately an agreem= ent could not be achieved with either group.&n= bsp; Therefore, the Baptist Foundation Inc. Board has voted to proceed wi= th the ABC/Ohio Board decision to sell Kirkwood and invest the resources from = the sale in the same manner that the proceeds from the Judson Hills sale have b= een invested. As of this writing = it is estimated that Kirkwood will be auctioned for sale on Saturday, May 05, 2007.

The question that many ar= e asking is what is ABC/Ohio going to do for outdoor ministries and camping if it doesn’t own a camp? What about Bible and Missions Conference? Let us answer= that question for you by saying that ABC/Ohio will continue to provide a quality outdoor ministry program and a new mission conference that ABC/Ohio churches will want to support. <= /p>

On February 9-10 the ABC/= Ohio Board met at Camp McPherson to envision a new future for outdoor ministries= and mission that will be consistent with ABC/Ohio’s commitment to evangel= ism and discipleship. The Board prayed and shared their dreams for future outdo= or ministries in a post-property ownership era. It was a Spirit-lead experience th= at resulted in some exciting possibilities that I want to share with you. The Board has committed themselves= to:

1.&n= bsp; Establish a new Outdoor Ministries and Mission Team that will represent ABC/Ohio churches.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Their task will be to develop, pro= mote, and implement outdoor ministries and mission opportunities for ABC/Ohio churches. Churches are being = asked to nominate persons to serve on this ministry team that will begin their wo= rk soon.

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2.&n= bsp; Promote Summer Graded Outdoor Ministries (camps) through existing ABC related camps like Koinonia, and rented facilities like McPherson and Heartland Conference Retreat Center that will make these ministry opportunities available to all churches. As of this writing ABC/Ohio has secured dates at the Heartland Conference Retreat Center for t= he following camps in the summer of 2007:

= q&nb= sp; June 17-22&n= bsp; Senior High Camp

= q&nb= sp; July 15-20&n= bsp; Junior High Camp

= q&nb= sp; August 12-17= Junior Camp

= q&nb= sp; August 12-15= New Adventure Camp

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Addition= ally, ABC/Ohio will encourage churches to attend summer camps at Koinonia.

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3.&n= bsp; Develop Specialty Outdoor Ministry and Mission opportunities for children, youth, and adults around special themes like music, sports, and mission involvement. These opportunities will be held at facilities and locations around Ohio to promote wider participation by ABC/= Ohio churches.

Finally we will develop a= new Missions Conference Team t= hat will plan and implement an annual mission conference for Labor Day weekend. As with the 2007 gra= ded camps, ABC/Ohio will host a NEW Missions Conference at the Heartland Conference Retreat Center over Labor D= ay weekend. Please review the en= closed brochure or visit the Heartland website at www.heartlandretreat.com for pictures and facility details.

The Board left McPherson energized, knowing that God is leading ABC/Ohio into the future with incred= ible opportunities to transform lives and build healthy churches that will fulfi= ll the Great Commission. The commitment to outdoor ministries is as strong as ever.

Please pray for the Regio= n Board and the Vision Quest Team as they move forward in ministry. The Vision Quest Team is now worki= ng on fulfilling the Vision Quest decision to “place the Region Office building on the market at an appropriate time.” While no specific decisions have been made, the Team is studying the office funct= ions and need for space to determine how to be good stewards of this resource.

ABC/Ohio is committed to equipping its member congregations to be healthy missional churches that re= ach the world for Christ. Let us = move forward together.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Benjamin Floyd &n= bsp; Rev. Mark Click &nb= sp; = Rev. Dr. Lawrence O. Swain

President, ABC/Ohio&nb= sp; = Vision Quest Team &nb= sp; Exec= utive Minister