PREACHING — Bishop Jermain V. Moore Sr., pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church and founder and presiding prelate of the One Body Covenant Fellowship, preached on Christian unity during the Saturday liturgy of the 2024 OBCF Holy Convocation. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — A local pastor called for authentic Christian unity during an ecumenical liturgy held Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Bishop Jermaine V. Moore Sr. is Mount Zion church’s pastor, as well as the founder and presiding prelate of the One Body Covenant Fellowship, an inter-denominational and multi-national ecumenical movement based in Steubenville. Moore preached on unity during Saturday’s Official Day Ecumenical Liturgy, the climax of the OBCF’s fourth-annual Holy Convocation.

Preceded by two days of spiritual learning sessions, the convocation invited Christians of all denominations, local religious leaders and Steubenville political officials for its Saturday liturgy. Members of the public and clergy — both from within the OBCF and independent — joined hands, sang and danced during the lively service.

“The devil doesn’t mind us coming together, but what gets on his nerves is that, when we come together, that we’re actually together … in the spirit of unity, in the spirit of oneness,” Moore said in his sermon. “I know you may come from (different denominations), but at the end of the day, we all belong to the body, which has many members, but there’s only one body.”

Moore read from the book of Acts 2:1-5, which describes the Holy Spirit’s descent upon Jesus’ followers, 50 days after the Jewish holiday of Passover. Known as Pentecost, that event marked when the Christian church “was born into a blaze of glory,” Moore said, adding that many Christians today do not realize the supernatural power that the Holy Spirit still offers.

“Pentecost is not a denomination, but it is an experience that every child of the most high God should receive,” Moore said. “We all should experience Pentecost. We are privileged to live in a generation where God again is willing to pour out his spirit upon all of us in a mighty way.”

According to Acts 2:1-5, the Holy Spirit’s descent allows Jesus’ followers to speak in languages they were not familiar with and spread the gospel to foreigners. Moore said this gift of speaking in tongues was meant to combat exclusionary practices among early Christians and promote unity among diverse populations.

“The event of speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost contextually was for the purpose of unity or ecumenism, inclusive to all men and women regardless of their political, social, ethnic, education, financial or even moral status. I believe this purpose is clearly depicted in the book of Acts 1:8, (when) Jesus commanded his followers to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.”

Moore continued: “These first followers were all Jews who did not believe that non-Jews could become Christians without undergoing Mosaic rites, such as circumcision. Now, unless this conviction was discarded, the gospel would have not penetrated the non-Jewish world.”

The purpose of Acts 2:1-5 is to give a “blueprint” on receiving divine power, Moore said, adding that such power is only valuable if it produces positive fruit.

Moore invited individuals in the congregation to turn to their neighbor and pray for one another. He noted, “This is what Pentecost looks like.”

Prior to this year’s convocation, also known as the Congress 2024, Moore had stated on social media that the yearly convocation would no longer be held in Steubenville. He would later announce that his decision to move the event was “open to reconsideration,” after hearing concerns from local residents.

During the liturgy, Moore said about the matter: “We put put the word out that this would be the last convocation in Steubenville. We were planning on moving it, but we’re going to keep it here. When I put that out, so many people from the city called and reached out to me. … So, we’re going to keep it here for a while.”

One of Moore’s close friends and a supporter of his ecumenical efforts is the Rev. John M. Kotsanos, pastor of Calvary Pentecostal Church in Steubenville. During the liturgy, Kotsanos shared that his friendship with Moore has grown across the years, and even though the two have differing denominational persuasions, Kotsanos can still see good coming from Moore.

“I sense that there are barriers being broken down. I really do,” Kotsanos said. “If we can’t get together here, how are we ever going to get together in eternity. We’ll be stuck with each other in eternity, so we ought to learn to love one another, praise God and get together. Somebody said we’re not only getting together but we are together, and I feel that today.”

The congregation also heard from Steubenville Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo, who said he considers it an “honor and privilege” to be present, representing the city. He commended Moore, who he said “came to lead” when he transferred into the Steubenville community as a new pastor.

“When I come here, I always feel good because I feel that I’m in the presence of God’s people,” Mayo said. “The greatest commandment (says), ‘Love God first, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind.’ And when I’m here, I feel like I’m amongst people who understand and live by that.”

Mayo said of the convocation: “This is the time that I get motivated. It gives me the strength to go and find what we need in our community, and I thank you and welcome you from the city of Steubenville. And please continue to be blessed because I think when you come here, you bring a blessing upon our city.”

Also offering words was 13-year-old Aaron Ashby, a junior deacon and member of Mount Zion church’s youth ministry council.

Ashby gave a brief message on hearing and reconciling with one another, based on 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. He encouraged listeners to use the acronym LAF — love, accept and forgive — when dealing with difficult situations in life.

“We are always gonna face stuff that gets in our way,” Ashby said, “but God’s always going to bring us back.”

During the liturgy, the OBCF’s college of bishops conferred a number of appointments: Bishop Rasonia Nichols, OBCF general board member; Bishop Cameron T. Bowman Sr., OBCF Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania; the Rev. Jerry R. Staples, apostolic mandate, bishop designate; Elder LaCretia Pratt, overseer of international affairs; Deaconess Hazel Sweetenberg, ordained missionary; Deaconess Rose Slaughter, ordained missionary and international church mother; April Feaster and Elisha Feaster, licensed ministers, and the Rev. Musa Massif, certificate of affiliation, Grace of God Ministries Pakistan.