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MANSFIELD — In a region known for clergy collaborations, faith leaders across North Central Ohio held a press conference January 15th at BibleWalk Museum. Several clergy read a joint statement to area leaders and local media addressing the problem of Bible illiteracy and political correctness.
Pastor Randy Raynes of Mansfield Fellowship Baptist declared “as leading clergymen of one hundred and fifty congregations across North Central Ohio, we formally reaffirm the Bible as being living, active and GOD-breathed; and demonstrating thru history to be the anvil that has worn many hammers out.”
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
The statement pointed out “Bible illiteracy is plaguing our politically-correct society, the Bible is being censored by governments and cultural institutions, and that the authority of both the Old and New Testament Scriptures of the Bible are being subverted by some religious circles.”
Prior to the clergy declaration, Reverend Raynes described a study conducted by the Richland Community Prayer Network (RCPN) in 2018 of fifty-eight local Bible-based churches and their respective outreach ministries.
“RCPN found that not only did these churches provide valuable support ministries to their local community between the years of 2014-2017, these goodwill ambassadors (churches) also supported missions to an astounding ninety-three different nations around the globe. It is important to note this generosity occurred when the area was listed as the seventh most economically-challenged metropolitan region in the nation.”
The study discovered significant local volunteerism with church members visiting the elderly, the hospitalized and the incarcerated, and with litter pickups and maintenance of parks improving of quality of life. The labor of love by these Bible-based churches also included the donation of their facilities for neighborhood watches, election polls, community health screenings, and blood drives. Concerts, dramas and sports leagues also provided cultural enhancement.
Reverend Randy Raynes, Mansfield Fellowship Baptist
“This RCPN outreach study really illustrates that good works is the byproduct of following the Bible. This is why we are encouraging Ohioans to study the Bible.”
Other clergy spokesmen included Reverend Jerry Laudermilk of Ontario Abundant Life Tabernacle, Reverend Mark Cobb of Mansfield Providence Baptist, and Reverend Steve Brenneman of Mount Gilead Awakening Christian Center and former Morrow County Sheriff.
According to Reverend Brenneman, “the Bible has played an integral part in American history and that national leaders have historically promoted the study of the Bible.” The Sheriff turned Pastor cited a study by political scientists listing the Bible as the original source and primary influence of the ideas of the U.S. Constitution, accounting for 34 % of the direct quotations by the Founding Fathers.
Ontario Pastor Laudermilk described how the accuracy of the Bible has been verified by archaeological evidence and validated thru fulfilled prophecy. He mentioned the historical discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and related how eight fulfilled prophecies by Christ illustrate the supernatural qualities of the Bible.
(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
Reverend Mark Cobb discussed how science is just now confirming truths in nature that the Bible has already disclosed thousands of years prior. “A recent 2018 study surveying the genetic ‘bar codes’ of five million animals confirms the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, of animals being created the same week as humans, and the existence of a world-wide flood,” Cobb asserted. “ It sounds a lot like the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis.”
Pastor Raynes believes the Bible provokes those people who study the Scriptures to “love their neighbor as themselves, to feed the poor, to protect the weak, and to clothe the naked. “This RCPN outreach study really illustrates that good works is the byproduct of following the Bible. This is why we are encouraging Ohioans to study the Bible.”
Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker, Shelby Mayor Steve Schag, and Mansfield Councilman Cliff Mears were in attendance along with members of the press corp.
The clergy proclamation concluded by saying, “We encourage all Ohioans to examine the Bible and to rediscover its priceless and timeless message. In conclusion, we maintain that the following words still resonate in our day: The grass may wither and the flowers may fall, but the Word of our GOD endures forever.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Isaiah Forty, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our GOD endures forever.”
View the clergy press conference in its entirety below. (Duration 30 min.)
