Ohio Conference

Marius E. Marton, pastor and law enforcement chaplain, spends his Mondays at the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, providing counseling and prayer with the employees.

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Last fall pastors and chaplains from across the Ohio Conference were asked if they had ministries at hospitals, prisons or with law enforcement/first responders. Marius E. Marton, senior pastor of the Elyria district, shares his story:

Lorain County Sheriff Phil R. Stammitti swore me in as a civilian deputy to serve as chaplain in March 2017.

Joshua Roberts/AP Images photographed Lois and Leroy Peters, and their son, Leroy.

Story by Liz Anderson / Images by Ty Wright and Joshua Roberts/AP Images

"We Can't Live Like This"

Leroy and Lois Peters’ roller coaster experience with mental illness started when their son, Leroy, “snapped” following a humiliating incident while stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Lois remembers the moment she and her husband learned that something was terribly wrong.

Looking for an event to celebrate Easter this weekend? Here are several special programs across the Columbia Union Conference you (and a friend!) can attend:

Friday, March 30

  • 7 p.m.: Experiencing the Sacrifice at the Williamsport church, 16421 Lappans Road, Williamsport, MD 21795
  • 7:30 p.m.: Good Friday Communion at the Hamilton church, 3570 Hamilton Middletown Rd, Hamilton, OH 45011
  • 7:30 p.m.: (Doors open at 7 p.m.): Easter: a Story of HOPE at New Hope church, 12350 Hall Shop Road, Fulton, MD 20759

Sabbath, March 31

SVA’s Rwandan refugee students meet members of the police department who raised funds for their education.

Story by Vicki Swetnam

When Police Officer Tom Thompson heard about the 26 Rwandan refugee students attending Spring Valley Academy (SVA), he determined to raise money to help provide them with lunches, tuition and other expenses. He encouraged fellow officers at the Grandview, Ohio, police department to join him in a “no-shave” fundraiser challenge. They proudly presented a $3,000 check for the Rwandan students to Principal Darren Wilkins at a pizza party held at the school.

Members of the Fredericksburg Pathfinder Club participate in the Columbia Union Pathfinder Bible Experience

On Sabbath, 54 teams, comprised of at least 320 Pathfinders, gathered in Blue Mountain Academy’s gymnasium in Hamburg, Pa., to test their knowledge of the Bible during the Columbia Union Conference’s sixth Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), a competition that tests participants Bible knowledge. So far it is the largest Columbia Union PBE event in the union.