Critical mass in Buckeye Bible Belt play massive role in 2020 (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW)

NORTH CENTRAL OHIO –Looking back at 2020, it is hard not to think of the role local evangelicals played in the region during the ‘crucible’ of a very chaotic year. While the heat has been turned up, a more resilient Church is being galvanized together by faith.

The unforgettable chain of events started at AK Steel where a furnace worker was tragically injured in the melt shop in January. Area clergy coordinated a spur of the moment prayer vigil in the cold with both labor and management standing together. The very thought of such an occasion occurring at the steel mill was mind-boggling considering residual bitterness from a lockout years prior.

As many urban areas reached a boiling point in the summer of 2020, cooler heads prevailed in Mansfield where social justice efforts failed to divide the community. In August, City Council voted against identity politics by rejecting a resolution involving systemic racism. Black clergy were the main opponents of the resolution, pointing out their names were fraudulently included as cosigners, and citing their support of local law enforcement. Coincidentally, after the 2020 elections, the Ohio Democrat Party Chairman would later resign, calling for new leadership and listing Mansfield as a city where liberal ‘outreach’ failed.

One public health crisis area pastors did believe existed was the societal addiction to pornography. Seventy-four leading clergy submitted a draft resolution to the county health department in mid-August. The clergy called for tighter enforcement of obscenity laws to deter potential human traffickers from establishing operations in the region.

One week later, twenty-five churches in nearby Ashland held a corporate sacred assembly in sweltering heat. Praying for spiritual breakthrough and the welfare of women and children in the region, the Mayor of Ashland grabbed national headlines after dedicating the city to Jesus Christ.

Little did anyone know a divine dragnet would sweep the region days later. Multiple high-profile sting operations led by U.S. Marshals rescued children from human trafficking and arrested persons soliciting minors. The fear of GOD had come to north central Ohio.

The Ashland Mayor’s bold declaration would be the pinnacle of a year where elected officials publicly welcomed religious involvement. Earlier in January both the Board of County Commissioners and Mansfield Mayor encouraged citizens to recognize Richland County as “God’s land,” and Mansfield as “God’s field.” Their two proclamations encouraged participation in a series of community-wide non-denominational prayer gatherings. As time would tell, prayer would become a reoccurring theme.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, one hundred-twenty area clergy held a press conference proclaiming a season of corporate prayer and fasting. While estimated COVID-19 deaths and cases were greatly reduced, the conditions of mental health and the economy persuaded one hundred clergy to later send a written request to Governor Mike DeWine encouraging him to end the lockdown in early May. After a series of events, the Governor would sign a bill into law reducing his own pandemic powers.

In September, over one hundred clergy sent an open letter to President Trump thanking him for twenty noteworthy policies implemented by his Administration, including his support for the sanctity of life, for religious freedom, and his support of Israel.

Several weeks later, thirty-three leading clergy sent a correspondence to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repudiating the World Council of Churches’ support of BDS policies. The clergy also announced their commitment to personally invest in Israel bonds. Within weeks of the clergy letter, Mr. Pompeo made a historic visit to Israel echoing the same positions on Israel sovereignty and taking actions against the BDS Movement. It was almost as if the Secretary of State followed the clergy message to the letter.

While the clergy showed support for Mr. Pompeo’s policies in the Middle East, they did not hold the middle ground regarding Eastern Religion. In an open letter to thirty-nine school districts in the region, one hundred and five clergy identified local instances where classes were practicing yoga. Insisting the practice was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, parents drew a collective sigh of relief as several districts promptly removed Eastern Religion from their curriculums.

Speaking of the First Amendment, in November one hundred area clergy from north central Ohio provided compelling testimony at the Columbus Statehouse successfully persuading the Legislature that a sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI) bill would turn the First Amendment upside down.

View the slideshow below of top news stories from 2020:

With 2020 now behind us, it can be said that a critical mass of evangelicals in Ohio producing massive results became a hot topic.

View the video below on clergy engagement produced this past year by Frontlines Ohio Media:

See related articles:

Several schools agree to bow out of yoga after clergy dissent (VIDEO)

Ashland becomes spiritual hot spot following sacred assembly (VIDEO)

Is the fear of GOD driving wheels of justice in Northern Ohio? (AUDIO)

The Bottom Line:

“If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves, and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

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