Ohio Conference

Story by Anna Bartlett

Members of Ohio Conference’s Elyria church run several programs to build community with those in need of healing.

“In the entire community of Elyria and Lorain... there is a very strong drug epidemic and [high risk of] overdose in these cities,” shares Marius Marton (pictured below), Elyria church pastor.

In response to this members of the Elyria church, some who are themselves recovered or in recovery from addiction, run a long-standing women's ministry and a brand-new men's ministry to build community with those in need.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Belinda Cheeseboro, an Andrews University (Mich.) 2015 graduate who is now working on a Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University, participated in research that was recently recognized with a Nobel Prize.

Story by Oksana Wetmore

Over the past five years, the number of women in pastoral ministry within the Columbia Union Conference has grown to 40. Meet six women pastors who reflect on their call to ministry, as well as their challenges, successes and blessings.

Heather Crews
Mentored for Ministry

Growing up in a dual pastors’ family, Heather Crews was no stranger to a pastor’s lifestyle. As a 9-year-old heading from one church service to another, she recalls being a strong-willed pastor’s kid, grabbing at every chance to delve into challenging Bible discussions with her father. “It was a joy to travel with my dad on the open road between Bible studies,” she says. 

Story by Sue Kirschbaum

Earlier this year, nearly 45 members of the Akron First church participated in the “Walk to Stop Hunger.” A total of 229 walkers raised $9,263.51 to benefit the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, which services eight counties around Akron and Canton. About 20 percent of the amount was raised by Akron church sponsors.

Story by Anna Bartlett

Collective is a student-led Friday evening worship service and fellowship meal held in homes where students and faculty of Kettering College in Dayton, Ohio, can share their stories and worship together.

As Kettering is not a residential campus, many of the students live in a very segmented world, says Steve Carlson (pictured), campus chaplain. They drive in for class and then go home, often only interacting with others within their own program.