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 wheelchair ramps in Jackson, Ohio.

“This has been a fantastic relationship. Not only getting to know each other but understanding cultures a little bit differently than we normally do,” Pendleton said. 

“It’s really been a very good experience because we got to know each other,” shared Tarver.

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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 the student body.”

Hammer shared that “college students are waiting and wanting authentic conversation with their peers aroundfaith. They want to have engaged conversations, and hopefully along that journey there’s the right moment of invitation to come to the church. But a lot of it’s happening outside the church walls.”Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 book about his own journey with RA which encourages a need to connect with God as part of the journey.

“He’s going to lift us up, carry us through, put someone or multiple people in our path at different times when we need them the most to help us. But I also believe that God meets us part of the way. We need to do our best, do what we can.”

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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 are also so important.” 

“I love to see the broad and the creative and the insightful needs that the churches have of people who are coming to the church or are outside the church, and people who are being ministered to just because we are able to help,” said Rev. Angela Lewis, superintendent of the Northern Waters District.

Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 that above all God has imbued him with a deep love for others.

“In my call to ministry God keeps working in me and helping me grow as a person and a pastor, becoming more and more compassionate, and more in touch with others. I love connecting with people and I love loving people, and I love serving Christ,” Knisely shared.Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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-term churches can do if they are willing andable to go where God leads.”

“What excites me is creating some new diverse faith communities across the whole state for unchurched people to maybe change their perception of Jesus by changing theirperception of the church,” said Brad Aycock, executive director of Fresh Starts and New Beginnings in Ohio.

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Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 it enough in the church.”

She encourages clergy and laity to empower themselves through education by taking a class.

“Sometimes we have to be a little bit greedy about taking care of ourselves first so that we can then pour out for others – because you can’t pour from an empty cup,” DeGregory stated.

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Learn more about NAMI at https://www.nami.org/

Learn more about Mental Health America at https://mhanational.org/

Call or text 988 if you are dealing with a mental health crisis

Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 through music, it may be through a faith-based service. Relationship building is hard to put a frame around, it means different things for different people, and different experiences make that picture look a little bit different,” said Jody Pratt, Michigan Conference VIM coordinator.

A Discover … Mission trip leaves for Peru December 30.

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Learn more about Discover... Mission at umvim.org/discovermission

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 ready to lead kids spiritually from different countries from our country from different places in life,” said Meredith Mateer, Camp Aldersgate director. “The opportunity that kids have to see themselves reflected in someone that’s in a spiritual leadership position is really special.”

Learn about and register for EOC Summer Camp.Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠

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 and experiences and eventually to seminary.

“I believe all of us have a call. We all have a calling to do something for the work for the Kingdom of God. I think sometimes the challenge with clergy and those discerning is that we believe our call is just set. No, your call is big and global, but your assignment is for a season,” Power stated

Learn more about the East Ohio Conference at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eocumc.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠