A People Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Omega Baptist Church stands at 1821 Emerson Avenue on Dayton's west side, where a multi-generational congregation gathers around a single mission: "A people empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve Families, Communities, and the World!" Under Senior Pastor Joshua Ward, the church's stated calling is to teach the power of God's amazing grace while creating a welcoming and loving environment for every person who walks through the doors.
A Pastor Who Came Home to Dayton
Rev. Joshua Daniel Ward has served Omega in different roles since June 2010, beginning as Youth Pastor and Assistant to the Pastors before becoming Senior Pastor. A 2006 graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta with a B.A. in Business Marketing and Spanish, he earned a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2010 and an M.Div. from United Theological Seminary in 2014. The call to ministry came during law school, and Ward returned to Dayton to pursue it. Before becoming Omega's pastor, he worked as Senior Civil Rights Investigator for the City of Dayton Human Relations Council from 2012 to 2018. He serves as Board Chair of Dayton Leadership Academies, a local K-8 public charter school, and as a regional board member of American Baptist Churches of Ohio. He and his wife Barbara have three young children, Isaiah, Sophia, and Theodore.
Wednesday Nights in the Sanctuary
Corporate Bible Study is the heartbeat of the midweek schedule, meeting every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Members who cannot attend in person can stream the study online. A recent Believe Bible Series has brought all ages into the same Wednesday rhythm, walking through the story of the Bible together. Rev. Dr. Camille Still leads the church's Christian Education ministry.
Sunday School for Every Age
On Sunday mornings the church offers a wide slate of classes meeting between roughly 8:30 and 10:45 AM in the multipurpose room and adjoining classrooms. Adult options include Biblical Explorers (Room 224-225), Courage to Change (Room 100), and The Living Word (Room 219). Men's Sunday School gathers in the first-floor library at 9:15 AM, and Women in Action (WIA) meets in Room 216 at 9:45 AM. Most classes offer a virtual attendance option for those learning from home.
Children and Teens at Omega
Young people have a clear place in the church's life. On Wednesday evenings, a Children's Bible Study runs at the same time as the adult study for children ages 5-14 in the multipurpose room. On Sundays, Youth for Christ serves ages 8-12 in Room 226 from 9:45 to 10:45 AM, and Teen Talk gathers ages 13-18 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, with the location announced weekly. Monday Night Studies round out the week for those looking for an additional study option.
Planning Your Visit
First-time guests can fill out a short "New Here?" form online to let the staff know they are coming. A Safe and Secure team is stationed outside every Sunday morning to help with parking and directions. The church's address is 1821 Emerson Ave, Dayton, OH 45406, and the office can be reached at 937-278-1006. Worship services and Bible Study are available on demand through the church's YouTube channel, and giving is available online.