Storyboard: Faith | Witness | Transformation

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...

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 th...

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...

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...

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 woul...

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. Microgr...

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...

Episode 51 hosts a roundtable discussion with laity and clergy from four UMC conferences across three states who rolled up their sleeves and gave of their time and hearts tohelp with a short-term Emergency Response Team (ERT) trip in Georgia after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. ERTs exist for members to use their gifts and skills to assist after a disaster, providing emotional and spiritual...

The Storyboard: Faith, Witness, Transformation podcast shares about ministries across the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church that are transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally. Produced twice-a-month by EOC Communications, each podcast episode highlights one of the #BeUMC campaigncore values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church: disciple making, belong...

The episode features a conversation with EOC clergy and laity about how the Bridges Out of Poverty model is transforming the lives of people in their congregations and communities impacted by poverty. The Bridges Out of Poverty model discusses the need for individual, communal, and societal investigation to discover changes that need to be made to overcome poverty.  Learn more about the East Ohio...

This episode features members of the East Ohio Conference Anti-Racism Task Group discussing the three pillars that guide their work: re-telling stories, fostering relationships, and repairing and reinvesting. We are called to tell stories to invite respect and introduce listening. We are called to build relationships that nourish support. We are called to repair what is broken and reinvest to elim...

The episode features a conversation with staff members and a volunteer physician of OPEN M, an East Ohio Conference Advance Special that annually serves more than 65,000 residents in South Akron. The ministry partners with churches, businesses, and thousands of volunteers to provide pathways out of poverty by feeding the hungry and offering health and employment services.  Learn more about the Eas...

We can each answer God’s call by welcoming the stranger, and working to improve health, education, and access to food for all people. This episode features a roundtable discussion with two United Methodist Church global mission advocates and the East Ohio Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, exploring the many ways we can serve God by serving with others. Learn more about the East OhioConfer...

Our East Ohio Conference vision for how we will make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world calls for us to be courageous leaders in reaching new, young, and more diverse people. In this episode we explore ways our congregations can welcome, include and be in ministry with individuals who are differently abled. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The food we eat impacts every part of our lives, including our connection with God. In This episode we feature a panel discussion with both UMC and community leaders who are involved in leading Dine and Discover, an outreach program designed to educate about the importance of making wise choices on what we eat so that we can live healthier lives. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This episode features a conversation about the SHINE reading program partnership between Henrietta UMC and Firelands Elementary School. Through this mentoring ministry, church volunteers Support, Help, Inspire, Nurture, and Empower the first-grade students with whom they read once a week. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠

This episode features a conversation with UMC Rev. Derek White, known as “The Geek Preacher”, a long-time pastor to table-top gamers who recently partnered with clergy in the East Ohio Conference to serve as chaplains at the Origins Games Fair in Columbus. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠ Learn more about The Geek Preacher at https://lin...

This episode features a conversation with Rev. David Hull-Frye of Grandview UMC and EOC Missions & Community Engagement Director Rev. Kathy Dickriede discussing the mutual benefits and blessings of local churches partnering with people and organizations in the communities they serve. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠ Fall 2024 Communit...

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Rev. Luke Edwards about the Listening Church resource that guides church leaders on the importance of listening to God, congregants and community members so that EOC churches can become more engaged and effective witnesses in the communities they serve.  Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠ Le...

During a break at NCJ 2024 three EOC delegates – Dr. Liz Piatt, Rev. Jon Priebe and his son Nehemiah Priebe – offer their insight about the conference, their role as delegates, and what experiences they are bringing home to share with laity and clergy in the East Ohio Conference. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠ Learn more about NCJ24 at htt...

Rev. Bruce Hitchcock, Judy Kidder and Rev. Steve Knisely share about the Lift Her Up ministry that is raising money for scholarships so that female students in a Zimbabwe refugee camp who have been accepted to Africa University can enroll at The United Methodist-relatedinstitution of higher learning. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠ To reach...

Episode 37 is titled “Influence, Connection & Impact: Biking Ministries Reaching Communities for Jesus Christ”. Missions & Community Engagement Director Rev. Kathy Dickriede leads a discussion with clergy and laity of South Street Ministries, Bike Hope Love, Brecksville UMC, and Link Up of Harbor and Bridge about how each is teaching about Jesus while fixing and providing bicycles in their...

Multicultural Ministries Director Will Fenton-Jones leads a discussion with Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams Jr. and Rev. Michael Anthony Howard exploring the Church’s role in reaching, ministering with, and transforming communities through pro-racial equity networks, engaging in civil rights work, and combatting the impacts of redlining and segregation. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S., this episode features a discussion about the importance of EOC clergy and laity understanding and caring for their personal mental health, as well as being open to engaging and resourcing others in caring for their mental health. Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/

Episode 34 is titled “Experience of God Through the UMC: Building a Stronger Connection”. The episode features a discussion with clergy from churches in Medina County who are living into the connection of The United Methodist Church through partnering to frame a home for Habitat for Humanity and working together to connect with and support families in their local school districts. View pictures of...