Each year an equal number of West Ohio clergy members and lay members attend the West Ohio Annual Conference session for worship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the conference. During these sessions members hear reports of past and ongoing work; adopt future goals, programs and budgets; and ordain clergy members as deacons and elders. This year members will also elect delegates to the 2016 Jurisdictional and General Conferences. If you are a new member of the annual conference, you may want to know what's expected of you. Read our Member Information

Vandalia United Methodist Church (pastor Rev. Michael Malcosky) is a leader in consistent giving for Imagine No Malaria. Meet church member Liz Ball who is the author/illustrator of the popular "Hidden Treasures" hidden picture puzzle book series. Over 3,000 of her hidden pictures are published in more than 100 newspapers, magazines and publications throughout the U.S. and internationally. Liz has created a one-of-a kind Imagine No Malaria Hidden Picture Puzzle and donated it to the West Ohio campaign for churches to use. 

 "Supporting Imagine No Malaria just felt like the right thing to do, especially after seeing photos of sick children and the statistics of this preventable disease," Liz shared.

 (read more and download the INM puzzle)

Union United Methodist Church in Boston's South End had a dilemma. A snow emergency parking ban and, well, snow - on the streets, on the sidewalks, piled up to the stained-glass windows - made it clear that worship would be difficult if not impossible.Instead, the congregation logged in at FreeConferenceCall.com for about 23 minutes of praising God together. Severe winter weather has affected United Methodist churches across much of the United States, particularly in the Northeast. To cope with the restrictions brought by snow, ice and plummeting temperatures, congregations have become creative about worship and have expanded community services to assist those left out in the cold. (continued)

The West Ohio Conference offers two scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students attending accredited institutions of higher education. The West Ohio Student Leadership Scholarship awards up to ten scholarships with a minimum $500 award per student. The West Ohio Ethnic Minority Scholarship is a $3,000 award. In order to be considered, a student must be an active member of a United Methodist Church in the West Ohio Conference. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2015. Application and Information

Thank you West Ohio for getting on board with Bishop Palmer's request to raise the remainder of our $3.5 million goal by Annual Conference by having a Sunday to Save Lives in each and every church in the conference. We've heard from many of you about your plans and encourage you to continue to send us your updates.

Make your Sunday to Save Lives more than just a special offering. Consider planning children's events, Chili Cook-off's, Pancake Breakfasts, 5K walks or other events that fit the context of your ministry setting. Enlarge the partnership of support beyond those in church that Sunday morning. It may be as simple as setting a goal to safe one life for every family member of every person in worship on Sunday or saving 10 lives over 3 years for every person in worship. Maybe it's something only you and God can imagine together. 

During your Sunday to Save Lives, take the time to build awareness of malaria, why the church is involved in this mission and share the vital elements of Education, Communication, Prevention and Treatment. Use the great resources available free to you at www.inmohio.org. Finally, remember if you need help, reach Conference Coordinator Dave Boling at dboling@wocumc.org or 800-437-0028, ext.247. Thank you for Saving Lives! Set a God-sized goal for your church! 

The Wesley Festival brings people together through music in venues nationwide to aid critical missions of the United Methodist Church. The 2015 festival will culminate in a gala concert at Washington D.C.'s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, benefiting Imagine No Malaria, an extraordinary effort to reduce preventable deaths caused by malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially the death of children and mothers. If you or your church choir would like to participate, please visit the website where there are applications to perform at the festival and information to about attending or participating in other ways.  Information  You can also read about the festival in this issue of the Interpreter Online.