Storyboard: Faith | Witness | Transformation

Episode 28 is titled “Experience of God Through The UMC: Mission Journeys Transform for a Lifetime”. The episode features a roundtable conversation with young adults both before and after participating in an UMVIM mission journey to Puerto Rico. Hear about their life-changing experiences and learn the difference between mission journeys and mission trips.

Episode 24 is titled “Experience of God Through The United Methodist Church: The Power of Relationship”. The episode features conversation with East Ohio Conference clergy who share personal stories of experiencing God through the people of United Methodist congregations, the impact of relationships in those experiences, and the importance of local churches committing to being spaces where people can meet God in unique ways.

Episode 21 is titled “Disciple Making: Exploring What it Means to be a Disciple Maker”. The episode features conversation with members of the East Ohio Conference Connectional Ministries team who share personal stories of discipleship and highlight ways that laity and clergy are living out God’s call and vision for them and their congregations as they make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Episode 22 is titled “Belonging and Inclusion: Exploring What it Means to Create and Empower Belonging and Inclusion”. The episode features conversation with Connectional Ministries team members talking about ways that East Ohio Conference churches can create, and are creating, time, room, and space to welcome all people and build authentic community.

This episode features conversation with East Ohio Conference clergy who share that relationships fostered through the connection of The United Methodist Church are empowering pastors, congregations, and faith communities to connect with individuals and small groups, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and transform lives and communities.

Episode 20 is titled “Experiencing God Through The UMC: Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Building Community, Transforming Lives”. The episode features conversation with Bishop Tracy S. Malone and leaders of the East Ohio Conference about how their vision and leadership, and the ministry of those with whom they work, are fulfilling The United Methodist Church mission of discipleship and transformation and proclaiming witness and hope in the world.

Episode 19 is titled “Belonging and Inclusion: Building a Community Ecumenical Youth Ministry”. The episode features conversation with Rev. Becky Evanoff of Northampton UMC and Pastor Jim Steingass of St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church about the 'Verge youth ministry they are building with a Bhutanese congregation in their shared community.

Episode 17 is titled “Belonging and Inclusion: Lighthouse Churches Offer Hope in East Ohio”. The episode features conversation among clergy and laity of Lighthouse churches -which are congregations dedicated to The United Methodist Church that are welcoming people who are on a pilgrimage seeking a new church home – about the importance of authentic hospitality in creating a place where people feel they belong and are included.

This episode features a conversation with Brian Sheetz, Director of the Methodist Foundation of Ohio in which he shares the mission that drives the Foundation, the importance of stewardship for churches and how the Methodist Foundation of Ohio can be a resource to churches and individuals across the East Ohio connection.

The episode features conversation with Conference leaders about exciting opportunities for new and existing ministries created by switching to The Book of Discipline-supported Simple Accountable Structure that reduces the number of people and meetings needed for church leadership governance.

Episode 13 is titled “Disciple Making: Making Disciples Around the World”. The episode features conversation with two UMC missionaries, one returning from teaching in Costa Rica and one currently serving victims of human trafficking in Cambodia. 

Episode 11 is titled “Influence, Connection and Impact: Annual Conference Offering Challenge”. Annual Conference is June 8-10, and this episode revisits a challenge given by Bishop Tracy S. Malone’s to the churches of the East Ohio Conference to give generously to this year’s Annual Conference Offering.

Episode 10 is titled “Influence, Connection and Impact: Annual Conference Offering”. This episode features Bishop Tracy S. Malone and past and present clergy and lay recipients of the Annual Conference offering highlighting many ways that ministries of the East Ohio Conference are positively impacted because of generous contributions made to the Annual Conference offering.

Hospitality is at the heart of the gospel. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to extend the hospitality of Christ by setting the table and creating space where all persons feel loved, welcomed, embraced and are invited to serve fully in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Episode Seven is titled “Disciple Making: Digital and Hybrid Churches Building Faith Communities Online”. The episode features conversation with East Ohio Conference clergy from three different districts who are reaching worshippers in new ways beyond the walls of their church buildings. 

Episode Five is titled Disciple Making: Laity Called to Ministries of Love, Justice, and Service as Deaconesses and Home Missioners. The episode features a conversation about the covenant community that is rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope, and global in outreach.

Episode Four “Influence, Connection & Impact: The Black Pastors’ Fellowship” features Fellowship President the Rev. Dawan Buie, discipleship pastor at Medina UMC, sharing how the many connections between members positively influence their lives and impact their ministries.

Episode Three “Influence, Connection & Impact: Nurtured by the Church, Invested in Reaching Others” features a conversation with Akron Centenary UMC lay person Cazzell Smith.

In his conversation with EOC Communications Specialist Brett Hetherington Smith shares the many ways The United Methodist Church and the Centenary congregation influenced his life as a youth and explores opportunities the church is taking to impact its community today.

Episode Two “Belonging & Inclusion: Welcome ‘Different’, Don’t Define It” features a conversation with Pastor Christy Suffecool and three teens from Mt. Tabor UMC that shines a light on the daily efforts of church members to welcome all of God’s children, not just those who look, sound, or think like they do.

Episode 1 “Transformational Discipleship: Influence, Connection and Impact” features Bishop Tracy S. Malone leading a conversation with invited EOC clergy and laity guests from from Family of Faith UMC in Akron and Center on Faith First Cooperative Parish in Cambridge.