Planting and Expanding: CCV Brings on Troy McIntosh to Lead Ohio Christian Education Network

COLUMBUS—Citizens for Community Values, Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, announced today that Troy McIntosh has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN). A lifelong advocate and leader in the Christian education community, Troy McIntosh brings unmatched experience and expertise to OCEN, which now has 120 member Evangelical and Catholic schools.

“In just three years, OCEN has become a respected force in the school choice movement, yet there is a long way to go to ensure every family can access a Christ-centered education,” said Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values. “Troy McIntosh has a unique background to take the organization into the future, having led one of Ohio’s largest and most respected Christian schools, and having worked at the Statehouse. School leaders and parents should feel excited about the future of Christian education under the leadership of Troy,” Baer said.

McIntosh will be spearheading OCEN’s efforts to expand access to EdChoice, and begin the school planting initiative in Ohio churches.

“Christian schools offer perhaps the greatest opportunity we have to engage the hearts and minds of young people for the cause of Christ and for the flourishing of our communities,” said McIntosh. “I am excited to lead OCEN’s efforts to provide every parent in Ohio the opportunity to access quality Christian education for their children.”

McIntosh comes to OCEN after serving 27 years in Christian education as a teacher, principal and, for the last eight years, as head of school at Worthington Christian School in Worthington, Ohio. Prior to his time in education, he worked in the Ohio House of Representatives in the Legislative Services Commission Fellowship program.

During his time at Worthington Christian, he served the broader Christian school community as an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Regional Council Member and Accreditation Commission Member, accreditation team chairperson, and conference presenter. For the last 15 years, he has held various roles with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), including President of the Central District Athletic Board and Vice President of the OHSAA Board of Directors.

Troy is a graduate of Wheaton College (B.A. Economics) and The Ohio State University (M.Ed. Education) and is a Colson Fellow with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He and his wife Julie live in Westerville, Ohio and have three grown daughters.

Troy will officially join the CCV team in June, following the completion of the school year at Worthington Christian. He takes over OCEN as the Network’s previous director and founder Averel Meden has taken a role with Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman as his Director of Strategic Initiatives.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.

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Time to pray together for The Church, our State, and our Nation

It cannot be said that Shepherds of God’s Church in Ohio could not come together in unity. Each month since the pandemic outbreak, pastors throughout Ohio and across denominations have gathered together in manifestation of Psalm 133. And the promised blessings of the Lord have been evident in all ministries that have participated in the fellowship.

This Thursday, January 28, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am is the next opportunity for you to connect with the Ohio Pastors Prayer Movement over Zoom. This will be a time of prayer, exhortation, and sharing, in that order. Click here for the Zoom link.

Where the Shepherds of the Church of Jesus lead, their sheep will follow. We look forward to being strengthened and guided in our time together.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Psalm 133

Blessings!

Ruth Edmonds
Church Relations Director
Church Ambassador Network
Citizens for Community Values

Citizens for Community Values Welcomes David Mahan as Director of Policy

COLUMBUS—Citizens for Community Values is gearing up for the 134th General Assembly by bringing on David Mahan as CCV’s Director of Policy.

A husband, father, and minister, David has been a popular presenter and consultant for years for organizations such as the Federal Administration for Children and Families, Georgia’s Governor’s Office for Children and Families, Maryland Department of Health, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Heartbeat International, the Council of Urban Boards of Education, and the SWITCH Anti-Trafficking Network.

“A man of deep faith, David has an incredible testimony of how his family chose life and marriage, and overcame poverty, addiction and abuse,” said Aaron Baer, President of CCV. “David brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with his extensive background in youth outreach, school curriculum analysis, public speaking, and pro-life, pro-family policy advocacy.”

David has been a fierce advocate for youth and families across the US and abroad, addressing tough audiences, and tackling tough topics such as sexual risk avoidance, abortion, human trafficking prevention, fatherless homes, and gender identity.

“I am Blessed and Honored to be joining the team in a more significant way,” David said. “I have always viewed CCV as the Watchmen who stand guard for us at the gates of our City and State.”

David’s bold and engaging approach to communicating has influenced tens of thousands of people over the past 20 years, and, in 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for exemplary service to the community.

In 2019, he was invited to testify before Congress about how he and his family successfully overcame poverty, addiction and abuse in just one generation with the help of God’s Power, God’s People, and God’s Principles. 

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.

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As the 134th General Assembly of the Ohio Legislature officially opened on Monday, January 4, we wanted to update you on what is happening at the Ohio Capitol and invite you to join the sovereign move of God with the Church Ambassador Network’s plans to minister to the legislature and resource pastors.

Pastors’ Day at the Statehouse

While the Ohio Statehouse is still open to the public, we are hosting five Pastors’ Day at the Statehouse for a time of fellowship, worship, and prayer; as well as a brief tour of the statehouse, and, as the opportunity presents, observing a committee hearing and sharing the gospel. Mark your calendars for the inaugural event:

 Thursday, February 25 from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

In the Statehouse Atrium 

More details will be provided in upcoming CAN Briefings.

Faith Fridays Are Back

Beginning Friday, February 4 at 10:00 am, the Church Ambassador Network will resume hosting Faith Friday conference calls, now once a month.

You may remember when COVID broke out last spring, the Church Ambassador Network quickly coordinated a weekly Faith Friday conference call with the governor’s office for pastors and ministry leaders to get updates and ask questions concerning the executive orders that were affecting religious liberty. We ended those weekly calls when the stay-at-home order was lifted.

The monthly Faith Friday conference calls for pastors and ministry leaders will be interviews with state and national guests, government authorities, clergy and subject-matter experts on challenging cultural issues from a biblical worldview, and will include time for Q&A.

Registration will be required and will open on January 26.

For now, save the date.

Ohio Pastors’ Prayer Movement

Since last August, pastors and ministry leaders in Ohio across denomination have met monthly to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood (Psalm 133:1), be in unified in the faith (John 17), and make ready the statewide Church of Jesus Christ to respond in the next crisis.

 Join us on Thursday, January 28 at 10:00 am

over Zoom for our next gathering. Here’s the link.

CAN Coordinator Position Now Open

CCV has open positions to fill immediately. We are looking for candidates who can not only perform the job duties of the position, but who also have a call to the unique ministry mission. Please pray with us that God sends the candidates that He wants in these positions.

Here’s the link where interested candidates can find the job descriptions.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:11

Blessings!

Ruth Edmonds
Church Relations Director
Church Ambassador Network
Citizens for Community Values

Victory! 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Overturns Lucas County Order Closing Schools

Statement from CCV President Aaron Baer

COLUMBUS – Moments ago, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order blocking the Lucas County Health Board from enforcing their order closing all in-person education for children in grades 7-12.

The following statement is from Citizens for Community Values President Aaron Baer:

“The First Amendment does not take a holiday break. It was clear from the outset that the Lucas County Health Board’s order closing schools violated the Constitution. It is indefensible and irrational to block children from accessing in-person instruction, while allowing casinos, gyms, liquor stores, and other public places to remain open.

“Lucas County families have suffered plenty through this pandemic, and to unreasonably deny their children in-person education is unconscionable. Today’s order is a victory for families, for religious freedom, and for all those willing to courageously stand up against unnecessary and overreaching government orders.”

“Our message is simple, let kids learn, and let Christian schools continue to disciple the next generation in grace and truth.”

Read the Courts order here.

On the last Sunday of 2020, my pastor made a statement that rippled in my spirit like a stone thrown in the water. He said, “My walk with God should change my circumstances.” On its face, this may not seem that profound, but sit on it for a moment. IF OUR God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19), then the circumstances of the Ecclesia—the big ‘C’ Church, the organization/organism of God and by God and for God—for sure must be a reflection of what walking with God looks like in spite of and despite a pandemic.

I thank God that my circumstances changed in 2020, and I know that it’s because I continue to walk with God. This summer, after 13 years, my circumstance moved from being unmarried to being married. This fall, my health circumstance went from being positive for COVID to being healed, delivered and restored.

When pastors and churches are supported, engaged, educated and equipped by the Church Ambassador Network with updates, information and resources on executive orders, pending legislative bills or election voting, the big ‘C’ Church is enabled to change the circumstances of your community and culture.

Here are just a couple ways pastors and the Church are changing and can change circumstances…

HB 272 prohibits places of worship from being closed in Ohio

On September 16, the governor signed the bill limiting his power to close houses of worship. An excerpt of the bill reads, “No public official shall issue an order to close all places of worship in the state or in a geographic area of the state.” This law guarantees your church—and all other houses of worship in Ohio—will be able to keep your doors open to help and serve our communities for generations. Leading up to this momentous event, pastors had been in conversations with the governor’s office on our weekly Faith Friday calls and on calls with lawmakers holding firm the request that churches be exempt from closure and designated an essential service. On the day the Senate President signed HB 272, triggering it going to the governor’s office, engaged pastors and the CCV team were on hand.

SIGNED: CCV-Backed Bill to Prohibit Government from Closing Churches

To read more about unconstitutional orders of church closings being rescinded, Click Here.

Church, we must step up and take back our children

Nationally known and respected researcher George Barna has been sounding the alarm about the decline of biblical worldview. In November 2019, we hosted a public forum in Cincinnati with Mr. Barna. Here’s a snapshot of what he said:

Image text: A Biblical Worldview is Shockingly Uncommon Among Important Segments of the US: 7% of all adults 18+, 4% of Millennials, 23% of all born again Christians

From that moment, God put a call on the heart of CCV to challenge the Church to something greater in their mission to disciple the generations. We started taking first steps in faith to learn all we could about Christian school planting.

A new study released earlier this year from the American Enterprise Institute showing exactly what we all know is true: American children, by and large, have stopped believing in God due to the secularization of public education. Read Here a report on the study.

From CCV’s perspective, there’s nothing more important that we can do than to get churches to start schools. It will be tough, but we trust that God can do more through our faithfulness than anything else. We are sharing our big bold vision and trusting that others would come alongside us. If you are moved in your spirit about this issue, contact me. A dear pastor’s wife once told me that “God makes provision for His vision.”

Walking with God is the ONLY way to change our circumstances, and at CCV, we will continue to do that in an even greater way in 2021. We invite you to join us in this journey.

Know someone who would be a fit to join our CCV team?

CCV has open positions to fill immediately. We are looking for candidates who can not only perform the job duties of the position, but who also have a call to the unique ministry mission. Please pray with us that God sends the candidates that He wants in these positions.

Here’s the link where interested candidates can find the job descriptions.

Happy New Year!

Ruth Edmonds
Church Relations Director
Church Ambassador Network
Citizens for Community Values

Standing for Religious Freedom: Attorney General Yost Files Brief in Support of Christian Schools

TOLEDO—Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a brief with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of three Christian Schools and Citizens for Community Values’ (CCV) lawsuit to overturn a Lucas County Health Board order shuttering all in-person education for students in grades 7-12.

“Arbitrary restrictions limiting in-person instruction for months on end have inflicted immeasurable harm on children,” Attorney General Yost’s Solicitor General Ben Flowers wrote. “An injunction allowing the plaintiffs to provide in-person instruction will thus advance the State’s compelling interest in ensuring that Ohio’s children remain free to pursue a high-quality education.”

Monclova Christian Academy, Emmanuel Christian, St John’s Jesuit, and CCV filed the lawsuit in federal court after the Lucas County Health Board blocked schools from holding in-person education for students grade 7-12 from December 4 to January 11. After a lower court denied the schools’ request for a preliminary injunction, the schools filed an appeal on Christmas.

The Court has asked the County Health Board to respond to the appeal by end of business on Tuesday, December 29.

“Attorney General Dave Yost has taken a stand against senseless government orders, and for religious freedom for all. He’s standing with the science that says it’s safe for children to be in school, and with the Constitution that ensures government cannot haplessly burden our free exercise of religion. Christians and all people of faith should thank AG Yost for standing at such a crucial moment,” said Aaron Baer, president of CCV.

Read the schools’ emergency appeal here.

Read Attorney General Yost’s amicus brief here.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.

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CCV Files Emergency Appeal in Lawsuit Over Toledo-Lucas County Health Board Closing Schools

COLUMBUS—On Friday of last week, Citizens for Community Values, Monclova Christian Academy, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, and Emmanuel Christian School filed an emergency motion with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals against the Toledo-Lucas County Health District (TLCHD) order closing schools with grades 7–12.

On December 14, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick of the U.S. District Court in Toledo denied our motion for a temporary restraining order against the TLCHD.

In response, this emergency motion asks the Court to expedite the proceedings as the order to close in-person education for students in grades 7–12 originally went into effect on December 4, 2020, and continues until at least January 11, 2021, after students come back for the semester.

From the motion:

“Appellants [CCV, Monclova Christian Academy, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, and Emmanuel Christian School] filed this appeal because the District Court’s Order denying Appellants’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction violates Appellants’ First Amendment Rights embedded in the Free Exercise clause, infringes upon Appellants’ civil rights and religious freedoms, and continues to cause irreparable harm to Appellants and Appellants’ students and families.”

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.

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Governor DeWine Signs CCV-Backed Bill to Protect Free Speech on Campus

Statement from CCV President Aaron Baer

COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine has signed the CCV-Backed SB 40, the Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act. The following statement is from CCV President Aaron Baer:

“Ohio’s universities should be a place where students are free to express themselves in open and honest debate. Unfortunately, over the years, a number of Ohio’s public colleges and universities have stifled free speech, especially the speech of conservative and pro-life students.”

“That’s why I am so grateful that the General Assembly passed and Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 40, CCV-backed legislation to protect the speech of all students on campus. Sponsored by Senators Andrew Brenner and Rob McColley, SB 40 sets clear standards for Ohio’s public colleges and universities on how to protect free speech and the promise of open and honest dialogue on campus.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the bi-partisan support for this bill, along with Governor DeWine’s signature. Along with Senators Brenner and McColley, Representative Niraj Antani and Candice Keller played essential roles in ensuring these First Amendment protections have been placed in Ohio law.

“The FORUM Act is also law today because of the expertise and efforts of organizations that partnered with CCV to make this possible, including Alliance Defending Freedom, The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, The American Legislative Exchange Council, and Americans for Prosperity.”

“And a special “Thank You” to Young Americans for Liberty, for organizing countless college students from across Ohio to make sure Ohio’s elected leaders know how important protecting free speech on campus is for the future of our great state.”

Read CCV’s Fact Sheet on the FORUM Act.

CCV Files Appeal in Lawsuit Over Toledo-Lucas County Health Board Closing Schools

COLUMBUS—On December 14, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick of the U.S. District Court in Toledo denied a motion for a temporary restraining order against the Toledo-Lucas County Health Board. The TLCHB order closes in-person education for students in grades 7–12 through January 11, and took effect on December 4.

Earlier this afternoon, Citizens for Community Values, Monclova Christian Academy, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, and Emmanuel Christian School filed a notice of appeal, signifying their intent to take the case to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

The following statement is from CCV President, Aaron Baer.

“We never wanted to file this lawsuit. In fact, before filing, we reached out to the Board in every way we could to encourage them not to pursue such a harmful, misguided, and wrongful course of action.

“The Lucas County Health Board was wrong to step on the religious freedom of the schools and students, and to deny them safe in-person education and athletics. We call on the Board to rescind their harmful order, and let children once again safely participate in their schools and sports.

“Unless and until they rescind their order, we will continue to fight the legal battle to protect religious freedom, and the right of Lucas County children to safely access in-person education.”

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.