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The Ohio Christian University Board of Trustees and the General Board of Trustees of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union are pleased to announce that Interim President, Dr. Ronald E. Smith, has been selected as President Elect of Ohio Christian University. Dr. Smith will be transitioning from being President of the Francis Asbury Society to the new role of President of Ohio Christian University in the next few months. His full duties as President of OCU will commence on January 1st, 2023. More details will follow.
We are excited that Dr. Smith will be joining our team as the next Ohio Christian University President. We believe God has directed and ordained this appointment. Thank you for your continual prayers as we work through this transition.
Please welcome Dr. Ron Smith and his wife, Dorena, to our OCU and CCCU family.
On Wednesday, September 28th, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida's western coast. Hundreds are feared dead, and an estimated 2.5 million people are without power.
The Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU) will respond to this tragedy through the CCCU Disaster Relief Fund. Donations may be made online via the "Donate" button below or via U.S. Mail. If giving by mail, please send your gifts to the CCCU Global Ministry Center, 1553 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, OH 43113. Checks should be made payable to "CCCU." Please list "Disaster Relief" in the memo line. All contributions are tax deductible.
These relief funds will be distributed through our churches in Florida and sister organizations responding to this disaster in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We appreciate your support as we seek to assist those who have been affected by this tremendous natural disaster.
The South Central District met Friday, July 15th, 2022, for its 63rd annual District Council at Nipgen Camp in Nipgen, Ohio. Ministers, delegates, and district officials gathered to elect officers for the coming Council terms. Many significant votes were taken. Results are listed below.
Read more: 2022 District Council Update: South Central District
The West Central District meets today, Saturday, July 9th, 2022, for its 42nd annual District Council at Capital City CCCU in Columbus, Ohio. Ministers, delegates, and district officials will elect officers for the coming Council terms. Many significant votes will be taken. Results will be listed below throughout the day.
Read more: 2022 District Council Update: West Central District
The Churches of Christ in Christian Union met, Monday, June 27th, and Tuesday, June 28th, 2022, for the 37th General Council at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. Ministers, delegates, and denominational officials elected officers and considered resolutions for the coming Council terms. Many significant votes were taken throughout these days. Election results are below.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
The Churches of Christ in Christian Union rejoice in Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves in the United States. On this day in 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger arrived Galveston, Texas, and read General Order Number 3: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” For the first time, enslaved people in Texas received word of their freedom. That day, the shocked but thankful slaves celebrated their freedom, and June 19th became known as “Juneteenth."
General Superintendent Dr. Mike Holbrook shares, "Today, we come together young and old to celebrate freedom and remember that ultimate freedom is found in Christ. It is a day where we all take one step closer together as we vow to continue to listen, learn and grow. As our Lord taught us to pray, 'Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'”
On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating January 22 as the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day. This weekend will mark the 38th observance of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. On this special Sunday, churches throughout the United States celebrate God's gift of life, commemorate the lives lost to abortion, and commit to protecting human life at every stage.
Advent is a season of expectant waiting as we prepare to celebrate both the birth of Jesus and His return. Are you ready? What about the 3.14 billion unreached people who are waiting to hear the Gospel for the first time?
Read more: The Advent Offering for Missions: The World Awaits!
The General Missionary Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Gene Mattox to Papua New Guinea and a couple who will serve in the Middle East*. "These new missionaries are a tremendous addition to our team of Global Workers serving around the world. Their testimonies and calling will inspire and challenge you," said General Missionary Superintendent Rev. Michael Tipton.
Read more: New Missionaries to Middle East & Papua New Guinea
The General Missionary Department is pleased to announce the appointment of three new missionaries with The Churches of Christ in Christian Union! Each of these missionaries successfully completed the application and Candidate Review process. They will soon begin their Homeland Ministry Assignment, where they will develop their prayer and financial support teams. Two of these missionaries will serve in a sensitive world area*, and one will serve in Papua New Guinea.
There is no family or church in America that is untouched by addiction, and we are all well aware of the destructive nature of the opioid epidemic. Often we have an emotional response that ranges from disgust to frustration or even apathy, and we end up asking the following question: “What can I do?” Honestly, that’s not a bad question. In fact, it is a very important question IF we ask it with the right attitude and with the heart of Jesus – the heart of ministry, in mind. So if you have ever asked this question, or if it’s stirring your heart now, you must attend the one day conference that the CCCU General Department is sponsoring on March 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m at Crossroads CCCU in Circleville, Ohio – The Opioid Epidemic and the Church: Our Response.
Dear CCCU friends,
One of my deepest concerns for CCCU is the decline of our missions program and our declining number of missionaries. In 2003 we had 50 missionaries. Today we have 29. With pending retirements, that number will fall even lower very soon. Over the last ten years we have only had ONE new missionary application.
Read more: General Superintendent's Update: General Missionary Department
Advent is a season of expectant waiting as we prepare to celebrate both the birth of Jesus and His return. Are you ready? What about the 3.14 billion unreached people who have not heard the Gospel? The Advent Offering helps take the joy of Advent to the unreached. Would you prayerfully consider helping us reach the 3.14 billion unreached people in the world today through a gift to the Advent Offering?
Our theme for the offering this year is Peace on Earth. The goal this year is to raise $75,000.
These funds will be used to recruit new missionaries, serve our current missionaries working around the world, equip churches for Great Commission impact, develop resources like our new Kids on Mission curriculum, and relieve the suffering of those affected by natural disasters.
Your generous gift by December 31st will help proclaim the joy of Advent to those who have never heard! You can give online at using the link below, mail a check to the General Missionary Department at 1553 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, OH 43113, or give through your local church.
You may not feel called to another country to share the hope of Advent, but we can all lighten the load of those who have responded to the call God has given them. Let’s work at making this offering the best yet!
2020 Offering Promotional Materials
Click below to download the 2020 Advent Offering Poster in PDF format.
Click below to download the 2020 Advent Offering Bulletin Insert.
Click below to download the 2020 Advent Offering PowerPoint Slide.
2020 Peace on Earth Prayer Journery Materials
Click below to download the Peace on Earth Week 1 Prayer Guide (Days 1-7 of Advent - November 29 - December 5).
Click below to download the Peace on Earth Week 2 Prayer Guide (Days 8-14 of Advent).
Click below to download the Peace on Earth Week 3 Prayer Guide (Days 15-21 of Advent).
Click below to download the Peace on Earth Week 4 Prayer Guide (Days 22-26 of Advent).
The General Church Extension Department is excited to announce the Spring 2016 Church Extension Offering. Beginning on March 20th, churches across the denomination will begin receiving this offering to launch new churches, support the training of church planters, assist church plants with start up costs, and enable new churches to launch effectively.
Considering the urgency of the times, the imminent return of Jesus Christ, and the uncertainty of world events swirling around us, the church must take seriously the command of our Lord to preach the gospel and to advance His kingdom at any cost. When I consider the sacrifice that Jesus made for us offering salvation for all that believe through His sacrificial death on the cross, could He ask anything from us comparable to His sacrifice? As challenging as planting new churches can be considering the commitment, dedication, and hard work necessary for success, can any opportunity to spread the Good News be tossed aside? When we approach our involvement in the ministry of planting churches as optional, we settle for passive rather than an active participation in the overall commandment of The Great Commission. Currently we are setting goals in cooperation with Ohio Christian University to establish new churches and 1000 leaders by the 2025. Some already consider this an impossible task and without the sacrifice of those God is leading into this ministry and without financial support, it probably is. Let us never forget however, planting churches and taking the message of the cross to the lost at any cost has always been the first priority of God. It cost God everything including the death of His only Son.
But, nothing is impossible with God! The Word of God has not changed. The need for churches alive with the presence of the Holy Spirit through anointed preaching and worship never diminishes. Therefore we need to ask ourselves, is there any logical reason not to be involved in launching new churches? Is there any viable excuse for not participating physically or financially in planting a new church? If our response is no to each of these questions, then what excuse can we possibly have when we see Jesus face to face?
No matter the cost, no matter the time and commitment it will take from all of us, let's plant churches for the glory of God taking the message of the cross as we go.
Click here to download the 2016 Church Extension Spring Offering Poster! For more information about how to promote, participate, and contribute to Church Extension, please contract the Church Extension Department at 740-474-8856, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
On Sunday, May 15th, 2016, churches from across the CCCU will gather for the first Pentecost Sunday Prayer Summit. General Superintendent Dr. Thomas Hermiz is calling all of our churches and members to be involved in these two hours of blessing and intercessory prayer. We will be praying for a great variety of needs including the desperate need for revival in our nations and denomination. We will also be praying for the sick.
The service will include three remarkable answers to prayer including Rev. Mark Murphy's healing from cancer at last year's Mount of Praise Camp Meeting. Mark will also sing one of his Christ-exalting songs before my message. A highlight will be Dr. Melvin Maxwell's closing prayer of blessing.
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
CCCU churches in various regions will serve as host sites and simulcast the event. For those unable to attend in person at a simulcast site, the service will be streamed live online. The live stream address is www.sundaystreams.com/go/CrossroadsCCCU.
Please download and distribute the Pentecost Sunday Prayer Summit poster. The poster lists CCCU churches in various regions where you can join with other CCCU churches. If you have any questions, please contact the CCCU Global Ministry Center at 740-474-8856 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
"Our goal is to work on establishing a closer relationship between CCCU congregations and Ohio Christian University," says Rev. David Dean when asked about the purpose of OCU's Regional Weekend events. The first of these Regional Weekends is coming up in just a few weeks and promises to be a win-win for local churches and OCU. On Friday November 20th the New Covenant CCCU in Waverly will kick the Regional Weekend off at 6PM with a "thank you" banquet for local churches in recognition of their support over the years. Dean explained, "All we need people to do is RSVP for the event by letting their pastor know they plan to attend or contacting my office; we just want everyone to know how thankful we are for their support at OCU."
The Regional Weekend events, which will take place throughout the remainder of 2015 & 2016, are also an opportunity to share with local congregations about the Toler Leadership Institute. "What a better way to kick the Toler Leadership Institute off than to offer some free training (and CEU's) to pastors and local churches," explained Dean. This free training will also be at New Covenant CCCU in Waverly and will begin at 8:30AM on Saturday November 21. The training will feature two main sessions and a number of break-out workshops focusing on things like evangelism and teaching for life impact.
Sunday November 22 the Regional Weekend will conclude with some activities in regional churches in the morning and an Evangelism Rally at New Covenant CCCU slated for 6PM featuring Stan Toler and The Guardians. Regional CCCU congregations are encouraged to reach out to Dean's Office of Church Relations at OCU to schedule an OCU representative to visit their church and share about OCU in morning worship on November 22, and to promote the Sunday evening Youth Extravaganza and Evangelism Rally at New Covenant. The Youth Extravaganza will feature the OCU drama team and will run concurrently with the Evangelism Rally.
Please schedule your speaker today by calling 740-474-8896 ext. 694.
"Exceeding abundantly above" (Eph. 3:20KJV) is the promise of God's ability to respond to our prayers. Your 2015 PRAYER & FAST Caucus Leadership Team has been asking as big as we can imagine! However, God's thoughts, plans and ways are so much greater than we are able to grasp. We believe that He is creating a fresh prayer movement among His people. Over 80 people are registered for the Caucus on September 26, 2015, at Lighthouse Ministries, in Columbus, Ohio. Registration begins at 8:30, and the event begins at 9:00 a.m. Churches at a great distance are preparing to watch and participate with a live stream. We believe even more people will come!
If you have not yet registered, please do so. No one will be turned away. To register, please call the West Central District Office at 740.420.5507.
For those participating via livestream, the livestream is available at http://ohiochristian.edu/live/prayercaucus.
Prayer & Fast Caucus Participant Materials
Prayer & Fast Caucus 2015 - Program
If you were a part of the Walk Through The Old Testament training last year at OCU you know it was an exciting day. It was the most successful training we had done in many years. You will be pleased to know that we are offering the Walk Through the New Testament on Saturday, September 12th. We will be returning to the campus of Ohio Christian University from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for this training.
Two separate events will run at the same time. We will have an adult track for everyone twelve years of age on up and a Kids in the Book training for kids Kindergarten through 5th grades. (A sack lunch is provided for each child registered.)
This will be the most enjoyable, beneficial, Bible training event we will ever offer, and we don't want anyone to miss it.
I want to encourage you to preregister now so we can make sure we have an adequate supply of support materials on hand for both adults and children. You can again go to the C.E. website www.cedept.com and register online.
This event is being provided free of charge to every group of five or more. For groups of less than five the cost is $5.00 per person. This event is going to be awesome and we don't want anyone to miss it so we are covering the expense as completely as we can to make it possible for you to bring your entire church if you choose to.
For more information, visit the Christian Education Department's website at www.cedept.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Christian Education Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Becky Johnson at 740-226-8030 or 937-695-0025.
Ms. Jackie Amlin, former CCCU Missionary and pastor's wife, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Monday, June 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Urbana Church of Christ in Christian Union (1121 N. Main St., Urbana, Ohio). The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Urbana Church of Christ in Christian Union. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
General Superintendent Dr. Thomas Hermiz is proud to announce Mount of Praise Camp Meeting 2015. The camp will be June 23-28, 2015, on the campus of Ohio Christian University. "Your congregation will be blessed by the outstanding music and messages. I want to urge you to make our denominational Mount of Praise Camp Meeting a priority in your busy schedule."
Dr. James Diehl and Rev. David Gallimore will make a dynamic preaching team. Rev. Mark Murphy is a gifted and powerful gospel singer and will lead us in worship.
The 33rd Annual ECL Banquet will kick off our Mount of Praise festivities on Friday evening, June 19th, at 6:30 p.m. Becky and Jesse Keep will be the guest speakers. See the brochure for details. This will be held in the OCU Leadership Center.
A kick-off Global Impact Rally will set the Mount of Praise services in motion! Camp Meeting services will begin with the Global Impact Rally on Tuesday, June 23rd, and conclude with the 6:00 p.m. service on Sunday, June 28th. Dr. James Diehl will be the speaker for the Tuesday, June 23rd, evening service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Our ordination service will be on Sunday, June 28th during the 2:00 p.m. service. OCU will be featured on Thursday, June 25th. Camp evangelist Dr. James Diehl will be speaking.
Students entering 7th - 12th grade are invited to join our dynamic and growing teen ministry. Teens of Praise is the youth ministry of the Mount of Praise Camp Meeting, attracting over 100 students per year. Teens of Praise begins on June 23rd. The pre-registration price is $90.00 for students who register by June 1, 2015. After June 1, the regular rate is $120.00.
We hope that you will join us for in person for a great week of camp meeting. For those who cannot attend, all services will be live streamed. Go to www.OhioChristian.edu/live to watch if you are unable to attend.
For more information, visit the Mount of Praise website or call the CCCU Global Ministry Center at 740-474-8856. Click here to download the 2015 Mount of Praise Brochure.
