News
Monday, Oct 7, 2019
All active clergy serving in ministry in The West Ohio Conference including those in Extension Ministries are encouraged to attend the Clergy Day Apart set for October 23 at Etna United Methodist Church. Will Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School will be the featured speaker. A retired bishop in The United Methodist Church, Willimon served as the dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian ministry at Duke Univers... (read more)
Monday, Oct 7, 2019
Greetings Beloved in Christ Jesus.
Our lives are punctuated so to speak by our experiences and relationships. We are influenced by the people we meet and interact with. This includes family, friends, teachers, mentors and even the casual acquaintance or stranger. Sometimes we cannot fully account for the impact that some folks have made on us until we are at some distance or they have gone from this earthly pilgrimage.
This past week the Reverend Dr. Cain Hope... (read more)
Monday, Sep 30, 2019
Each year the West Ohio United Methodist Rural Advocates award the William B. Murray Vital Church Award to a rural church worshiping less than 100, that displays passionate worship, radical hospitality, risk-taking service and mission, extravagant generosity, and faith-forming relationships. The 2019 recipient of the West Ohio UMRA William B. Murry Vital Church Award is North Lewisburg UMC, from Capital Area North, with Karen Montgomery as pastor. So far in 201... (read more)
Monday, Sep 30, 2019
OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare ministry of the United Methodist Church. We have 29,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 12 hospitals, 200+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home health, medical equipment and other health services spanning 47 Ohio counties. OhioHealth's connection to the United Methodist Church is long-standing and deep. While other health ministries moved away from faith-based roots... (read more)
Monday, Sep 30, 2019
Connection Blueprint is continuing to have an enduring impact upon the life of the Marion Epworth congregation and the Marion Community. Connection Blueprint is a learning experience that affirmed and acknowledged our congregation's context of ministry, our gifts and resources, and our on-going outreach efforts; and then challenged us to take further steps. The program met us where we were, not by offering some sort of one-size-fits-all solution but by providin... (read more)
Friday, Sep 27, 2019
When the Rev. Jon Ferguson was appointed to Stillwater United Methodist Church seven years ago, the congregation appeared healthy.
However, despite the church's prime location and an average attendance of 500, the Dayton, Ohio, congregation was on the brink of bankruptcy. When the district superintendent approached Ferguson about participating in the Missional Church Consultative Initiative - MCCI - the pastor replied, "I'd get down on my hands and knees and be... (read more)
Monday, Sep 23, 2019
The people of New Hope United Methodist Church in Proctorville are reclaiming their identity as beloved children of God, and they invite everyone to be part of the great work God is doing. After having no professions of faith and 3 baptisms in 2017, New Hope UMC saw 5 professions of faith and 12 baptisms in 2018. New Hope UMC was recognized as the 2018 Shawnee Valley District Light of the World award winner at this year's West Ohio Annual Conference. Light of t... (read more)
Monday, Sep 23, 2019
Providing quality financial education opportunities for your church just makes good sense. Today, many people are struggling with making ends meet. Many Americans live pay check to pay check and have little, if any, money saved to meet even the smallest financial emergency. Perhaps you have been in a similar situation. If so, you know how financial stress can impact a person.
CNBC reports, 30% of Americans are constantly stress about money. Financial stress can... (read more)
Monday, Sep 23, 2019
Pork chops sizzle on the grill while the chef begins preparing a decadent mixed berry cobbler. The room fills with comforting scents reminiscent of grandma's kitchen. Patrons nibble on bits of filet mignon wrapped in bacon discussing everything from cooking experience to religion.This isn't a new restaurant, it's the Pastor's Pantry Cooking School.
This unique dining experience also serves as a dinner church in Wheelersburg, Ohio, led by chef and local pastor... (read more)
Monday, Sep 23, 2019
The deadline to submit legislation to the 2020 General Conference is now in the rearview mirror. So what is ahead?
The coming months will provide a fuller picture of what options will be before delegates when The United Methodist Church's top lawmaking assembly meets May 5-15 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
A big focus of the coming assembly will be dealing with the fallout of this year's special General Conference. The contentious gathering has led to v... (read more)