Storyboard: Faith | Witness | Transformation

In episode 70 Executive Director of Discipleship Ministries Rev. Beth Ortiz and Executive Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Ed Fashbaugh sit down for a frank discussion on the topic of failure within ministry.

“We so often as a church think we fail because we aren’t what we used to be, or as a clergyperson we fail because people aren’t all excited or passionate about what we’re bringingas the new program. But we are unaware o...

In Episode 69 Pastor Megan Buehler of Vienna and Coalburg UMCs shares that wrestling with God’s call began years ago when she attended The United Methodist Church of Berea.

“The only time I really felt at peace was when I walked in those red doors on Seminary Street in Berea and just was like ‘there’s got to be something with this, but I’m not going to get into it too much because it feels like it might be really big if I wrestle wi...

Episode 68 is a special recording from the All-Ohio School of Ministry featuring Bishop Hee-Soo Jung reflecting on his first year serving as bishop in Ohio.

Bishop Jung offers that these three gifts from God are guiding him in visioning and shepherding the laity and clergy of the Ohio Episcopal Area comprised of the East and West Ohio Conferences: unity in practice, shared leadership, and one missional movement of abundance.

“God is ...

In Episode 67 Pastor Marc Tibbs of Akron Centenary United Methodist Church shares that since he was young, he’s struggled with hearing God call him into a life of ministry.

Tibbs shares, “Whenever I found myself close enough to a pastor I would always ask, ‘how do you know youhave been called?’ When you ask people you get a myriad number of answers, and none of those answers I could identify with, but I just kept asking.”

As an adul...

Episode 66 features a conversation with members of a United Methodist Church and a Baptist Church who for more than a decade have worked together, acknowledgingand celebrating their differences to jointly assist those in need on mission trips.

In the episode we hear from Paul Pendleton of The UMC of Macedonia and Catherine Tarver of Providence Baptist Church in Cleveland both before and after this summer’s mission journey building w...

In Episode 65 we feature a roundtable discussion with Rev. Dr. Tim Morrison, Mount Union chaplain and UMC BereaPastor Dr. Stephen Knisely and Campus Minister Judy Hammer to discuss how churches and universities are connecting college students to Jesus.

Morrison offered, “On a weekly basis we have somewhere between 350 and 400 individual students that areinteracting with spiritual life in some way or another. It’s almost a quarter of...

In Episode 64 Alex shares about his long battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, how it has shaped his walk with Christ, his service in the church and his call to help others who have chronic pain.

“When you deal with a physical condition or an ailment you tend to do things different from most people. You have to greet each part of the day with, ‘how can I make this work?’” he shared.

As part of his call to serve others Milne has written a...

In Episode 63 we explore ways Trinity Action Projects (TAP) grants provide seed money for new and existing ministries and foster bold initiatives that engage and serve East Ohio communities.

Rev. Beth Ortiz, executive director of Discipleship Ministries for both East and West Ohio said, “sometimes when we think need, we think first of physical need which is certainly veryimportant. Social needs, emotional needs, and spiritual needs ...

In Episode 62 the pastor of The United Methodist Church of Berea shares the transformative story of growing up in the church, questioning his faith as he got older, and wrestling with hearing and answering God’s call.

“I grew up in the Methodist Church and while I believed in God, I would say that in some ways I took it serious in some ways I did not,” Knisely said.

Through various occupations and stops along his journey he has found...

Episode 61 highlights new and renewed initiatives in our Ohio Episcopal Area of The UMC to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ.

“I am such a big believer of discipleship, particularly through small groups and that building of relationships and connection with each other and with God,” said Rev.

Beth Ortiz, executive director of Discipleship in Ohio. “I am such a believer in what our small churches can do and what our long-ter...

Episode 60 features a conversation with Meghan DeGregory, director of Thrive 10:10, a non-profit relief, recovery and restoration program of Girard First UMC.

“Mental health is you attending to whatever you’re dealing with, both on your own with your internal coping skills but also with a professional, if necessary,” DeGregory said. “Butwe also need to talk about mental health in the church and sometimes I don’t think we talk about ...

Episode 59 features a roundtable discussion about faith-building opportunities through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Discover … Missions.

“Discover … Mission is set up as an intentional cultural immersion for young people to serve with and learn from young adults in the host country,” offered the Rev. Dr. Tammy Kuntz, North Central Jurisdiction UMVIM coordinator.

“When you talk about relationship building it may be t...

Episode 54 “Experiencing Summer Camp”features a conversation with leaders of the three East Ohio Conference campsites: Aldersgate, Asbury and Wanake.

“At Camp kids get the opportunity to be in creation and experience the beauty of creation which is another testimony and another way that they can get to know God the Creator,” said Rev. Gary Jones, Camps & Retreat Ministries director

“We have a whole summer staff full of people re...

In Episode 58 Pastor Tennille Power, the pastor of Elyria First United Methodist Church shares from the heart about the process she went through answering Gods’ call into ministry.

“I consider myself an ecumenical ball. I have United Methodist roots, and I have roots in the United Church of Christ, and I have roots in Catholicism,” Power said.

She has answered calls from God throughout her life that have led to different occupations ...

In Episode 57 Mariellyn Grace, Rev. Ryan Grace, and Barb Dawson join in conversation about Creation Care, Creation Justice and what the church’s role in caring for the world can look like.

“I believe creation justice is caring for God’s creation. All of God’s creation. A lot of people I talk with equate creation justice to caring for the earth. But it’s much bigger than that,” Dawson shared.

“It’s not just about caring for the world ...

In Episode 56 Rev. Amy Vittorio and Terri Everhart from the 5 Points Parish in the West Plains District share about a loom ministry that creates sleeping mats out of plastic bags to be used by those who are unhoused – a project anyone can do.

“It’s brought people together and given us a renewed sense of mission,” Vittorio shared.

“It has built an energy with us and with others because they see the positivity of here is something we...

In Episode 55 “My Call Story” Mayfield United Methodist Church Children’s Ministry Director Jess Martz shares from the heart about the process she went through answering Gods’ call into ministry.

She spends her days working with children and alongside her adult volunteers to help bring the message of the Kingdom of God to the ears and hearts of young children and their families.

“I wish I would have prayed for discernment the first...

Episode 53 “Microgrants for Ministries” features EOC Strategic Ministries director the Rev. Beth Ortiz sharing about the process of applying for microgrants that can assist in funding creative ministries with the community.

Churches looking to launch a new ministry to reach people outside the church community can apply for an EOC Board of Congregational Development microgrant up to $2,000.

Microgrants are an encouragement for congreg...

Episode 52 features a conversation with clergy from the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church discussing the importance of learning from our history while creating a legacy for future generations.

“There is a biblical narrative as well as a social narrative that is in the Black experience that is important for all churches to see and to uplift and to spotlight not just in Black History Month but througho...