Ohio Conference

Story by Edwin Manuel Garcia

Unbeknown to him, Fred Shoemaker’s first inclination toward Adventism included a conversation he initiated with his mother at the age of 6 or 7 when they attended the Church of Christ in Linden, Ohio, on Sundays. “You know, Mom,” he said, “this isn’t the seventh day; it’s the first day.” She didn’t disagree.

Years later when Shoemaker was studying for a doctorate in history, a fellow history graduate student, Jim Rohrer, challenged him to broaden his reading list beyond political history to also include religious history. That’s how he came across footnotes that mentioned the Millerites and the Advent movement.

Historia de Heidi Shoemaker

El Comité Ejecutivo de la Conferencia de Ohio nombró recientemente a Roy M. Simpson como tesorero de la conferencia.

Desde el principio Simpson sabía que quería servir a la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día, aunque no como pastor como su padre, sino específicamente en finanzas. Para obtener la experiencia que sabía que se necesitaría, se ofreció como voluntario a los 16 años como cajero en el Departamento de Tesorería de su conferencia local, la Asociación Atlántica de Honduras. Allí trabajó en estrecha colaboración con el contador y el tesorero, que estaban dispuestos a enseñarle y a trabajar con él, permitiéndole aprender cómo funcionaba una conferencia.

Story by Vicki Swetnam

Ohio Conference's Spring Valley Academy (SVA) recently held their annual gala auction on campus. More than 300 people attended the event and helped raise approximately $225,000 for the Worthy Student Fund and the upcoming classroom expansion project. This project will provide additional space for SVA’s enrollment growth trend of the past few years.

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

October 19, 2019, marked the beginning of a very special day in the life of Elyria church members’ efforts in the Cleveland area. It was the first Sabbath worship service for the Lorain church plant meeting, where 31 people enjoyed Sabbath fellowship.

The Lorain church plant, a part of the vision for Disciple Ohio, is a result of the dedicated members of the Elyria church, pastored by Marius Marton and assisted by Disciple Ohio pastor Randy Barber.

Story by Darren Wilkins

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of our beloved grades 3 and 4 teacher and alumna Mrs. Kimberly Geach Orr (’06) on November 19, due to flu complications. Orr taught at Spring Valley Academy (SVA) for the past seven-and-a-half years, and the school has already felt the void left by her unexpected departure.

The memory of her radiant smile, easy laugh and dedicated teaching will live on for a long time in all of us. Orr leaves behind her husband, Cameron, and 2-year-old daughter, Scarlett. She will be sadly missed by her family, students and friends, but we rejoice because we have that “Blessed Hope” to meet her again one day!