10/12/2026
# What a Wonderful Day at the UOVBA 66th Annual Messengers Meeting!
**THE GOSPEL CALL | 2 Corinthians 5:20**
What an incredible day of worship, fellowship, prayer, and celebrating all that God is doing throughout the Upper Ohio Valley Baptist Association!
On **Saturday, October 10, 2026**, we gathered at Pleasant Hill in Steubenville, Ohio, for our **66th Annual Messengers Meeting**, with over **80 people in attendance!** It was such an encouragement to see our Association family come together with a shared heart for the Gospel and the mission Christ has given us!
All business submitted passed, and with a special note on our finances, we have the largest ministry funding and CP combined giving output in our association history, reaching over $41,000. Praise the Lord!
# # # Celebrating Faithful Leadership
First, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to **Pastor James Ng and Brother Ray Carney**, who have faithfully served our Association over the past two years as Moderator and Vice Moderator. I am deeply grateful for their leadership, their willingness to serve, and, personally, for their friendship. Thank you both for your dedication to the churches of our Association!
We also had the privilege of electing two new officers:
- **Moderator:** Pastor Murray Stafford, Victory Baptist Chapel
- **Vice Moderator:** Pastor Larry Garrison, Open Door Baptist Church
We are excited for their leadership and look forward to serving alongside them as we continue strengthening our churches and advancing the Gospel together!
We are also grateful for the committee members who have agreed to continue serving for another term. A special thank-you goes to **Debbie Sheedy**, who has graciously agreed to serve a three-year term on our Finance Committee. Your willingness to serve is a blessing!
# # # Welcoming a Church into Watch Care!
One of the exciting moments of our meeting was the opportunity to receive **Hilltop Covenant Community Church of Shadyside, Ohio, into Watch Care** within the Upper Ohio Valley Baptist Association!
We were blessed to hear from Pastor Joel as he shared about the church and its heart to partner with us in fulfilling the Great Commission. We are excited about what God is doing through this congregation and the opportunity to walk alongside them in ministry!
# # # A Powerful Time of Worship and Prayer
What a blessing it was to lift our voices together in worship and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!
One of the most meaningful moments of the entire meeting came during our **three special times of corporate prayer**, centered around our theme, *The Gospel Call*.
Together, we prayed around three powerful truths:
1. **Christ Has Sent Us** — Recognizing that we have been called and commissioned by our Savior.
2. **The Gospel Is Our Message** — Remembering that the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ must remain at the center of everything we do.
3. **The World Is Our Mission Field** — Asking God to help us move beyond simply hearing the call to actively living it out.
I am grateful to Brother James and Pastor JD Baugh for helping lead two of these special prayer sessions. Seeing God's people praying together, both corporately and in small groups, was truly encouraging!
# # # Challenged to Live as Ambassadors for Christ
We concluded our worship gathering with a powerful and challenging message from **Pastor JD Baugh of Emmanuel Baptist Church in St. Clairsville, Ohio**.
Drawing from the truth that we are **ambassadors for Christ**, Brother JD reminded us that representing Jesus is not merely something we claim; it must be reflected in how we live each and every day.
He challenged us to live intentionally, share the Gospel faithfully, make disciples, and recognize our calling as ministers of reconciliation.
Because Christ has reconciled us to God, we have been entrusted with the message of reconciliation!
He also reminded us never to take our salvation or our relationship with Jesus Christ for granted. Whether we are pastors, ministry leaders, church members, or simply followers of Christ, our faith should be active, visible, and lived out daily.
**The Gospel Call is not simply a theme for an annual meeting. It is a calling for every believer, every church, and every day of our lives!**
# # # Over $1,300 Raised for Flood Recovery!
Another wonderful testimony of our Association's generosity came through our special offering!
Together, we raised **over $1,300 to support New Life Southern Baptist Church in Weston, West Virginia**, as they continue recovering and rebuilding following the devastating flooding.
Association family, THANK YOU!
Thank you for giving generously and demonstrating the love of Christ in such a tangible way. What a blessing it is when churches come alongside one another in times of difficulty!
# # # Celebrating What God Is Doing Throughout Our Churches
Throughout the meeting, we heard encouraging reports from our ministry teams and celebrated the many ways God has been working through our churches and ministries.
Every report served as a reminder that **God is at work throughout the Upper Ohio Valley!**
From missions and evangelism to discipleship, prayer, church strengthening, and leadership development, our churches are making a difference as they faithfully serve the Lord.
# # # Thank You, Association Family!
As your Director of Missions/Association Mission Strategist, I want to personally say how grateful I am for each of you.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for giving faithfully.
Thank you for serving willingly.
Thank you for going on mission.
And thank you for your continued partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
As we look ahead, may we never lose sight of why we exist. Our calling remains to:
**SERVE. SUPPLY. STRENGTHEN.**
*Serving, Supplying, and Strengthening our churches in the cooperative fulfillment of the Great Commission.*
May we continue moving forward together, not simply as an Association of churches, but as a family of believers united by the Gospel, committed to making disciples, and determined to reach our communities and the world for Jesus Christ!
**The Gospel Call continues. May we faithfully answer it!**
*"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." — 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)*
**To God be the glory for the great things He has done!**
**If you would like a copy of the Book of Reports, it can be downloaded from the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkKCgcDDLJAKPVliT1QxmzU03VzET6rq/view?usp=sharing
