CAMPAIGN BEGINS: Ohio Central East Church of God in Christ will host a launching campaign for Bishop David L. Herron Sr. to the office of the General Board Church of God in Christ worldwide. Herron has fulfilled all screening requirements to be one of 12 to lead the Church of God in Christ worldwide. The event will be at 10 a.m. June 22 at the Community Family Outreach Complex, 2075 Highland Ave., Warren.

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY: Friendship Baptist Church, 1954 Brier St. SE, Warren, will host the 11th annual pastoral anniversary for the Rev. Dr. Avan M. Odom at 10:30 a.m. June 23. Guest is Suffragan Bishop-Elect Joseph Walker Jr., senior pastor and co-founder of Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in Warren.

Walker was licensed as a minister of the gospel in 2003 and ordained in October 2007 by Pastor Alton Merrell Sr. He was elevated to the position of Suffragan Bishop-Elect on March 19 by presiding Bishop F. Josephus Johnson. Walker is president of the Trumbull County Ministerial Alliance.

MANPOWER PROGRAM: Bishop Kevin D. Strickland Sr. presents ManPower 2024 at 4:30 pm. June 23 at Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown. With Men’s Health Month and Father’s Day both being in June, the program is aimed at bringing awareness to men’s health while empowering men to strive to be the best fathers, father figures, sons, brothers, uncles and cousins they can be. ManPower is a movement that strives to teach men how to be a better version of themselves. The guest speaker will be Chuck Hague, who will speak on “Men, Mental Health and Ministry.” Dr. Lucious Terrell of Cleveland, Dr. Otis Hankton of Akron, Apostle Justin Burnette and Pastor Frank Christian, both of Youngstown, also will speak.

HYMN SING FOR SOJOURN: The Youngstown Hymn Sing will present “Let There Be Peace on Earth” — a free community event benefiting Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past — at 11 a.m. July 13 at Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown Youngstown.

Among the churches participating are Boardman United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church (Austintown), Hiram Disciples of Christ, St. Columba Cathedral, Westminster Presbyterian Church (Boardman) and Windham Congregational United Church of Christ. Also, students from Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past will give a presentation expressing how their lives have been impacted by the beneficiary organization. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the organization.

Sean Baran (First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh), Frank Behne III (Boardman United Methodist Church), Ralph Holtzhauser (Youngstown Diocese) and Katherine Miller (Westminster Presbyterian Church) will be the featured organists demonstrating the power and majesty of the largest pipe organ between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The audience will be invited to sing on four hymns throughout the concert and local pastors will present brief reflections before each hymn.

Refreshments will be available after the performance. Anyone who wishes to participate in the community chorus can drop in at 9:45 a.m. July 13.

PARISH MERGER: The newly-named St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will celebrate the merging of three churches from 1 to 3:30 p.m. June 22. The churches of Blessed Sacrament in Warren, St. James in Warren and SS. Mary and Joseph in downtown Warren are coming together for a Ladies Tea Garden Party at Blessed Sacrament’s Reagan Hall. Cost is $15 each for adults and $5 for children.

FIRST FRIDAY: The 18th First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series season will host the Rev. George Balasko and Rabbi Joseph Schonberger, co-presenters since 1997, at noon July 11. Balasko and Schonberger will present “Jesus Took the First Selfie” at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Balasko retired as pastor of St. Ann Church, East Liverpool, in January 2012, and continues his work in adult education through his programming with the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center. Schonberger is a child of Holocaust survivors and has begun a new non-profit, Tradition4U, with hopes of helping people recognize their higher purpose and reinforcing faith through learning, fellowship and helping others.

Luncheon will be served at 11:30 am. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $20. Call before July 4 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited

PRAYING IN COLOR: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 2105 Evergreen Road in Villa Maria, Pa. will offer “Praying in Color” with Paulette Kirschensteiner, 7 p.m.July 7 to noon July 11. The retreat will reveal prayer in a new light and will explore ways to pray, including Intercessory prayers, “To-Do-List” prayers and Lectio Divina. No art experience is necessary. All supplies are provided.

Paulette Kirschensteiner leads retreats incorporating art and prayer at the Villa Maria Center. The cost is $340, which includes retreat, lodging and meals from a light supper at 5:15 p.m. on July 7 to lunch on July 11. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886.

Vacation Bible schools

• Churchill United Methodist Church,189 Churchill Hubbard Road, Liberty — 9 a.m. to noon June 24 to 28. The theme is “SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God.” Call 330-759-0118.

• First Baptist Church, 26 E. Church St., Niles — 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. June 23 to 27, for ages 3 to sixth-grade. The theme is “Jungle Journey.” Call 330-652-4370.

• Friendship Baptist Church, 1954 Brier St. SE, Warren — 5 to 7 p.m. June 25 to 27 for ages 5 to 18 and adults. The theme is “Super Training University with Jesus.” Call 330-369-1290.

• Howland United Methodist Church, 730 Howland Wilson Road — 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 24 to 28. The theme is “SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God.” Call 330-856-3463 for more information or to register.

• First Presbyterian Church, Mahoning Avenue, Warren — June 23 to 27, for students in kindergarten through fifth-grade. The theme is “Seekers in Sneakers: Discover Jesus.” Call 330-393-1524 for more information or to register.

• New Life Community Church, Vienna — 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 24 to 27 for ages 3 to sixth grade.

• Niles First Christian Church, 33 N. Arlington Ave, Niles — 5:30 to 8:30 pm. July 30 to Aug. 3 for pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. The theme is “Camp Freight: A Summer Camp Adventure with God.” Call 330-652-5839.

• St. Patrick Church, 357 N. Main St., Hubbard — 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 24 to 28, for ages 4 to sixth-grade. The theme is “SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God.” Call 330-534-1928 to register.