Central, Glenville Pastors Win Big at Ministerial Convention

Jose Cortes, Jr., Associate Ministerial Director of the North American Division, talks to the winners of the Shark Tank event at the NAD CALLED Ministerial Convention. More than $35,000 were given away during the evenings competition. ©2015 North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Photo by Dan Weber/NAD Communication

During the recent CALLED Ministerial Convention in Austin, Texas, sponsored by the North American Division, there was a Shark Tank-type competition at the close of each day. More than 130 persons submitted their best innovative ideas for evangelism and church growth, but only 15 individuals were selected nightly for a chance to win one of five cash awards ranging from $2,000 to $20,000. John T. Boston, pastor of the Central church in Columbus, Ohio, and MyRon Edmonds, pastor of the Glenville church in Cleveland, were among the chosen finalists.

Pastor Boston and one of his elders, Joseph Simmons, shared the Central church’s ongoing efforts to disciple children by providing hot breakfast every Sabbath morning in their Kid Central ministry. The two went on to also highlight an unprecedented effort inside two state prisons, where 4,000 inmates will hear the Advent message through a live evangelistic meeting. The event will be streamed to every prison in the state of Ohio with a captive audience of more than 30,000. The Central church is preparing for the harvest by discipling and mentoring the inmates on the inside and their families on the outside simultaneously with two separate teams.

This concept won the Central congregation $20,000 on CALLED’s opening night. Additionally, while the prizes were being awarded, one of the finalists was so moved by this initiative that he gave his $3,000 award to Pastor Boston for a total win of $23,000. Pastor Boston reports he will use the funds to defray the expenses for this high-impact initiative that will reach thousands with the truth of God’s love.

John Boston accepts a check from Tara VinCross, one of the "Shark Tank" judges. Photo by Carla Boston

The final evening, Pastor Edmonds presented details on his working vision called the Go Church. This is a process of evangelism that combines elements of traditional tent meetings and contemporary Christian street festivals. The Glenville church is nearly fully engaged in their community by taking the church out of their physical building and into the city. The concept includes full throttle discipleship with Go University and high-level young adult participation. This approach was so well received that, at the end of the night, the Glenville congregation was also awarded a top prize of $20,000.

William T. Cox, conference president, and William Joseph, Ministerial director, were both present to support these members of their pastoral team. When asked what this means to his field, Cox responded, “We have some of the most innovative pastors in the North American Division. Pastor Boston and Pastor Edmonds are two examples of our great ministry team, and we celebrate what God is doing in their ministries. These two have made the entire Allegheny West Conference family very proud and I love them both very much.”

Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president, was also present for the final night and evidently grateful that the union was the only one in the NAD to claim two of top awards.

Feature photo: William Joseph, AWC ministerial director, Pastor MyRon Edmonds, Pastor John T. Boston II and William Cox, AWC President gather  after being awarded $43,000.00 in total for evangelistic initiatives in the two pastors' local churches.