Announcement of Ministerial Misconduct: Termination of the Ordination Credential of Hendrick (Henry) Beun

From: Paula Snyder Belousek, Conference Minister Date: November 12, 2026 Ohio Mennonite Conference announces the permanent termination of the ordination credential of Hendrick (Henry) Beun, who was arrested on May 29, 2026, for one count of enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device. Following this termination, Mr. Beun’s name has been placed in Mennonite Church…

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Ohio Mennonite Conference Names a New Conference Minister

The Leadership Council is excited to announce our new Conference Minister, Paula Snyder Belousek. The conference identified three qualifications that had high importance for our new Conference Minister: strong communication skills, committed to Anabaptism, and a bridge-builder between people of diverse perspectives. Paula excels in each of these areas and brings administrative gifts as well. Paula brings extensive experience to…

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Welcome Lynn!

Lynn Miller recently returned to Ohio Mennonite Conference as the bookkeeper. Previously, he held positions as the moderator and as a member of the Stewardship Committee. He lives in NW Ohio and attends Tedrow Mennonite Church with his spouse Tami and son, Peyton. Lynn recently retired from a career in the software industry and enjoys sports, computer programming, personal finance,…

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Welcome Kelsey!

I’m Kelsey Hilty Troyer and I’m excited to be joining Ohio Mennonite Conference as the new Administrative Coordinator. Prior to OMC, I served as the administrative assistant at Oak Grove Mennonite (Smithville) for the last seven years and I’ve been the administrative assistant at Crown Hill Mennonite (Rittman) since 2018. I graduated from Central Christian School in 2012, where I…

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Welcome Sháqūez!

New Program and Communication Coordinator to begin on July 1 My name is Sháqūez Dickens. I am originally from Wooster, Ohio, where I previously worked in various roles at The College of Wooster. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with my Bachelor’s in Business and will soon graduate with my Master’s in Organizational Leadership. My husband, Bob, and I live…

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Is God calling you? (Or someone you know?)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 Thank you for the ways you support Ohio Mennonite Conference! The Gifts Discernment Committee is tasked with filling all Conference committee positions. Sometimes their…

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A Lot of Activity in Ohio Conference

As you can see in this issue of Ohio Evangel, there are a number of developments and activities happening right now in Ohio Mennonite Conference! The various articles cover some personal transitions, congregational transitions and Conference transitions. If you are experiencing a transition, whether large or small, may these articles encourage you to embrace the new that is coming. One…

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A Sense of God’s Heart in the Matter

This issue features articles about discernment, a word that Christians sometimes get tired of because it gets used often. I think we use it because we want to take care, and exercise insight, when making weighty decisions like calling people to congregational leadership positions or adopting a budget or planting a new church. On the downside, talking about discernment can…

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May financial report

Stan Helmuth, Ohio Conference financial coordinator, has finalized the May financial statements; May is the second month of the fiscal year. While congregational giving was higher in May than in April, expenses are still exceeding receipts. Staff continues to keep expenses below budget, but giving also continues to be below budget. As of May 31, the conference has a $12,478…

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Leadership Council gathers for retreat

The new Ohio Conference Leadership Council met  April 24-25 at Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Tiffin, OH. The purpose of our retreat was to get to know one another better and to intentionally set time aside to review the 2024-26 Strategic Plan that was approved at our recent Annual Conference Assembly. As the Leadership Council gathered it…

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Centered around Jesus

By Dan Miller Interim Conference Minister As I’ve been learning about Ohio Conference, hoping to hear the Spirit, and engaging in our work together, Philippians 2:5-11 is a passage that’s stuck out to me. Many scholars think this was a hymn used in early church worship that exalted how he went about his mission. Here are verses 5-8: Let this…

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