For Columbus Podcast: Recent Episodes
Adam Ward
Interviews with congregational, parachurch, and marketplace Christian leaders; highlighting their flourishing impact on our city.
Adam talks with Scott Beck about Gloo, the tech company he founded in 2010 as a way to leverage a common digital platform for churches to leverage their collective might.
People are made to use their natural skills and gifts. Dan has launched a digital tool showing people their spiritual gifts and connecting them to opportunities where to use them in local churches and ministries. http://www.luminarydisciples.com/ http://www.realizeyourcalling.com/
Dave breaks down being a Christian to it’s simplest terms—being a neighbor. He talks his book and what’s been working for over 10 years in Denver and around the U.S. www.artofneighboring.com www.cityunite.org/work www.plusnothing.com
Jason is responsible for the biggest Jesus campaign ever in Colombus…and 9 other cities. It’s called “He Gets Us” and it started Cyber Monday ‘21.
For Columbus and Gloo have developed a tight relationship in 2021. Gloo is a faith-led, tech firm that is bringing 21st century tools and techniques to the table for the Church as a whole. Listen to how you can be a part of this unique relationship.
Adam interviews Krista about the organization who is desire is to build bridges between a police in the community. Also, exist to create a support structure for police and their families.
Adam interviews Savannah Kimberlin of the Barna Group about using market research to make data-informed decisions. They also discuss the research done specifically on CBus in 2021. Get your free GlooConnect toolkit here: https://stateofthecity.gloo.us/cities/columbus Find out more about Barna here: https://www.barna.com/access/
Adam interviews Nick Nye, the interim Executive Director of For Columbus, about the recent changes they’re making to help facilitate a larger ecosystem of faith-based organizations impact the city of Columbus.
Scott Kelso talks about his work in Columbus over the past 40 years, specifically with his dream on changing the city. We discuss his new, best-selling book Theological Violence. You can check out more at fivepointsgcan.org or email him at stkelso@gmail.com.
When the racial tensions  irrupt it in the summer of 2020, Natalia Chase knew this was her Esther moment. Uniquely positioned as the daughter of a biracial couple, for a combination of marketing background and worship leading came together as Unified DT. Yes Natalia is hard to see multi racial healing through worship in the gospel as delivered at outdoor venues across the city.
Adam Ward interviews Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted of Ohio: faith, family, fishing and innovation.
Adam Ward welcomes back the Alpha USA Sr Director Eastern Time Zone Jessica Gatton to talk about the model behind the crazy successful “listen evangelism” model they run (2020 had 35% growth). Contact jessicagatton@alphausa.org for more info. Jess will be hosting a local training with national speakers on August 21, 2021. Click here for more info: https://ohio.cmail19.com/t/i-l-clytde-jylltkdrii-j/
Adam talks with Lizzie Burke from the Luis Palau Association and is joined by Jean-Paul Tiendrebeogo and Doug Franck of Catalyst for Columbus and they discuss evangelism in our city. https://www.palau.org/about https://citygospelmovements.org/ eteams@palau.org https://www.catalystforcolumbus.com/our-team jean-paul@catalystforcolumbus.com doug@catalystforcolumbus.com sharon@catalystforcolumbus.com
Aaron Taylor planted a church in Powell and quickly found himself ministering to immigrants in the area. Now he has gotten multiple nonprofits together to create the Finding Hope Center.
Claim your Barna Cities scholarship: https://stateofthecity.gloo.us/columbus Sign up for more info: https://www.forcolumbus.org/ Read about the LECs: https://www.forcolumbuskids.com/ Contact me: adam@wiiwt.com About Eric Swanson: https://www.ericjswanson.com/about/ About LPA: https://www.palau.org/ About Harvard Flourishing: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/
Adam talks with Steve Combs about the post-Covid environment at Leave a Mark Church and building in this new era.
Adam Ward interviews Chris Money of Kindway (www.Kindway.org), an organization committed to investing in the lives of those impacted by incarceration. Chris was a warden for 18 years of her 30-year career with Ohio Corrections. They have created the revolutionary Embark Program where the recidivism rate is less than 1%, far below the national average of 50%. To get involved email info@kindway.org.
Adam sits down with business owner and coach Craig Hohnberger. Big implications for Chrsitian business leaders.
Adam Ward talks about the first steps required to re-define your church and its impact on the community in a post-Covid culture. 
Harvey tells us about an exciting new program that helps people discover and love out their purpose in life. www.thrivinglive.org Harvey@thrivinglive.org
Adam Ward talks to Danny Ortiz, Director of the Wave, and traveling preacher. Danny has committed his life to learning the Bible and fighting religious traditions that are opposite its meaning. This episode will challenge you.
Adam interviews millennial leader and high achiever Gerald Murphy. Gerald currently serves on Catalyst as the Director of Community Initiatives.
Adam Ward interviews Ryan Lowery, one of two Senior Pastors at Dwell Community Church, a ministry of Xenos Christian Fellowship. www.xenos.org
Cultivate CDC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) specifically foe Faith-based community development for Milo Grogan. www.cultivatecdc.com Amy@cultivatecdc.com
Adam Ward interviews Scott Marier, Executive Director of Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM). Once in the corporate world for nearly 20 years, Scott has run a non-profit that feeds and provides assistance for those under the 200% poverty line in the Westerville School District for 16 years. http://www.warmwesterville.org/ 614-899-0196
Adam interviews the Search Area Director for Columbus. Search is all about making evangelism practical & doable. They prepare believers to share their faith and develop their theology. Call/text Doug at (614)940-4616 or email him at dfranck@searchnational.org. Check out their website at www.searchnational.org.
Adam Interviews lifelong CBus resident and local pastor, Bishop Johnny Amos. Johnny is fully committed to the inner city, particularly zip code 43205. He presides over two churches with Shiloh Christian Center and runs Street Souldiers (www.streetsouldiers.com) to impact the community.
Adam sits down with Dave Stephens, Chief Development Officer of The River Radio Ministries. It amazing how many things they do for the Columbus area. Hear Dave’s story and his role in being part of the most influential Christian organization in our city.
Adam reflects on the impact the COVID has had on him personally and what steps he feels faith leaders should be taking now to meet the needs of society.
Adam Ward interviews Madison Mikhail Bush, Founder and CEO of Point, a digital platform making volunteering easy. It is exploding in popularity due to the COVID crisis and now is an incredible time to get “the church that has left the building” working on the needs of the community. Point (web-based): https://pointapp.org/ Point App (Apple): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/point-volunteer-in-ohio/id1173737657 Point App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pointapp.point Link for 100k masks: https://pointapp.org/covid-19-columbus/
4/14/20 Webinar Link: https://zoom.us/j/491592220?pwd=c3JnYjdOSHhOekZmdjN2U3loOFU3UT09 Meeting ID: 491 592 220 Password: 012225
Interview with the Director Church Relations at Citizens for Community Values. www.ccv.org RuthMcNeil@ccv.org
CCV was gracious enough to allow us to ask questions of Dr. Michelle Reynolds. Michelle is the director of faith based initiatives for the governor's office. In this time of dynamic uncertainty, I wanted to invite a guest to share with Christian leaders recommendations and resources from the top office in Ohio. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus www.coronavirus.ohio.gov www.ohiochannel.org www.ccv.org www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/
John was instrumental in planting and growing Rock City Church but felt led to get back to personal evangelism. He now works for Search.
Jean-Paul was born in West Africa. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his uncle begore being ostracized due to his conversion to Christianity in the predominantly Muslim country. He was adopted by a couple from Ohio at age 16. Years later, he finished seminary and began evangelizing all over. Today, he is hoping for a revival in Columbus and is the successor for Executive Director for Mission Columbus. www.missioncolumbus.net jpt9076@gmail.com jeanpaul@missioncolumbus.net
Although Hannah's life seemed great early on, she suffered from sexual abuse from neighbors. Once relocated, it stopped. God clearly called her into ministry. Today, she helps those being trafficked in the Franklin County Municipal Court and with Sanctuary Night in her home neighborhood of Franklinton.
In this 2-part series, Adam switches seats, becoming the one interviewed. He is interviewed by his spiritual mentor, his father. Part 1 covers Adam’s life up until WIIWT and Part 2 everything since, including all of his work for the city of Columbus. https://columbusarea.church/ https://wiiwt.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEGdFfvXbBDvv3YlHW7lO5w
In this 2-part series, Adam switches seats, becoming the one interviewed. He is interviewed by his spiritual mentor, his father. Part 1 covers Adam’s life up until WIIWT and Part 2 everything since. Learn how his family, profession, and extracurricular activities led to this podcast and more. https://columbusarea.church/ https://wiiwt.com
Season 2 premiere. 32 years ago, Rich Nathan was a lawyer teaching business law to MBA students at Ohio State, while moonlighting as a teaching pastor at a small church in Columbus. Today, he is the senior pastor of that same Vineyard Columbus, now the largest church in our city. Listen to how he explains growth was never the strategy, but a byproduct of taking a holistic-biblical approach to church. https://www.vineyardcolumbus.org/ https://www.richnathan.org/
Brondon Mathis has advised the mayor of Columbus, the Ohio governor, and the White House on urban and racial tensions. City prayer, specifically 24/7, is his desire and dream. Listen to this interview on how he went from pastor’s kid to college and military drop out to ministry giant. http://brondonmathis.com/
Nate Eckhart started attending Rock City Church right after their launch in 2011 as a new believer, immediately participating in their outreaches. Today, he is the Beyond Our Walls Pastor, leading all of Rock City’s local and global outreach programs. 20% of Rock City’s budget funds efforts outside of its walls. Wow! Hear how. https://rockcitychurch.tv/beyond-our-walls
Paris Yanno has been active in ministry all of her life. Her and her husband spent 26 years in the inner city of Youngstown before coming to Columbus two years ago. It was then she started Father’s Heart, a ministry dedicated to helping foster children by training churches in up to three levels of commitment. https://www.fathersheartohio.com/
Ann-Michel, aka Chel, had a troubled upbringing that led to severe health problems. Her life was burnt to nothing and she rediscovered God all over. Today, she runs a women’s outreach group here in Columbus. Here how The Table Gatherings started and how you can get involved. www.thetablegatherings.com
Evangelizing millennials and Gen Z. Impossible? No! It’s what Jessica Gatton teaches every day. As the Ohio Director for Alpha USA, it’s Jess’ job to start Alpha groups, teaching churches and ministries how to share the gospel and their faith with the unsaved. https://alphausa.org/
Forty years ago, Rich Mendola went to the Urbana Missions Conference and his life’s direction was changed. Immediately, he was called to reach the lost around the world. However, it looked different than he thought. He worked with international students at American universities. Twelve years later, he took over International Friendships, to reach international students at as many colleges in the U.S. as possible. Hear his story. https://www.ifiusa.org/
Hear how this native Aussie went from being a PK to leading the annual women’s Selah Conference in Columbus, Ohio. As Lead Pastor of Life Church in the near east side reaching a widely diverse congregation, Melanie has a story and a passion you want to hear. www.theselahconference.com http://www.lifevineyardchurch.com/
Three years ago, Scott and Monica came together to form The Share Mission to help the church help those in their own Columbus backyard. They have formed a network and technique that makes it simple for churches to get involved in their community without reinventing the wheel. They handle all administrative tasks. www.thesharemission.com
As the Ohio Superintendent, John Wootton oversees all of the A/G churches in the state of Ohio. Their offices are based in Polaris, just north of Columbus. recently, his team announced Ohio for Jesus, a 10-year plan to change the state by improving the health, functions, and outputs of local churches. Hear his story to ministry and this role as he looks forward to 2030.
Part 2 of the For Columbus Leaders Summit, an event where 130 influential Christian leaders from congregational, parachurch and marketplace came together to discuss what a united city movement in Columbus might look like.
Part 1 of the For Columbus Leaders Summit, an event where 130 influential Christian leaders from congregational, parachurch and marketplace came together to discuss what a united city movement in Columbus might look like.
Immigrants and Refugees - Kevin Vereide of Refugee Immigrant Group Director by Adam Ward
Adam Ward interviews Phil Krause, the Executive Director for Safe Families Columbus. Phil shares about this wonderful, gospel-based model for helping families in crisis by providing childcare ranging from a few months to over a year. An alternative to foster care, the Safe Families model is incredibly successful in keeping families together long term. For more information, visit https://columbus.safe-families.org/ or email Phil at pkrause@safefamilies.net.
Adam Ward sits down with Answer Poverty founder Robert Caldwell to discuss how his organization is alleviating systemic poverty in Columbus, OH.
Adam Ward sits down with Bob Ostrander, President of Centerpoint Life Planning. Bob has developed significant resources to train pastors and Christian leaders in dealing with the complex and intertwined crises they face today. He has identified six crisis points and created content to be trained in one of ten areas. All content has a biblical world view. Find out more at www.centerpointlifeplanning.com.
Adam Ward sits down with founding Pastor Lonnie Keene of the recently rebranded StrongPoint Church. He and his wife founded the church 22 years ago this week. Let's hear how he got here.
Adam sits down with Franklin Co Municipal Court Judge Herbert to discuss his revolutionary CATCH Court, a way for victims of human trafficking to get their lives back through an intense 2-year program.
Adam Ward sits down with Harvey Hook, co-founder of Convene Columbus. Convene exists to help people discover and fulfill their life's purpose. Harvey is well-connected among top leaders in Columbus and beyond.
Adam Ward sits down with Dean Fulks, Lead Pastor of LifePoint Church and author of the "Your Next 30 Days..." series. LifePoint has 4 campuses and ministers to 4,500 attendees. He is also the C-Bus Director for the Send Initiative, an SBC church planting division.
Adam Ward sits down with Tyler Flynn, Executive Director of Mission Columbus. Tyler has been part of Mission C-Bus since 2000. Prior to that, he was a pastor for 29 years. Mission C-Bus has created a network of ministry-based groups: pastors, parachurch, and more. What began with a tutoring initiative has turned into so much more.
Adam Ward sits down with C-Bus area Moms in Prayer director Kathy Stauffer. She shares about this wonderful ministry that helps moms come together based on schools their kids attend.
Adam Ward sits down with Brian Weakly, a former NCAA basketball coach, as he makes the transition from coaching to ministry. Brian is a graduate of Worthington Christian School. He, his wife, and four children live in Westerville.
Adam Ward sits down with Esther Flores of 1 Divine Line to Health. Esther works directly with people in the sex trafficking industry in the Hilltop and Franklinton area. Listen to what she is doing to demonstrate Jesus' love to these people.
Adam Ward sits down with Kyle Hammond, Senior Pastor of Adventure Church, to discuss church planting, putting systems in place and creating excellence. www.adventure.church
Adam Ward sits down with Tom Thompson, founder of The Refuge, whose vision is "Changing lives of the addicted and those surrounding them through discipleship." The Refuge has been doing incredible successful ministry in central OH since 1999.
Adam Ward sits down with LSS Faith Mission AVP Sue Vililo. They discuss the sheer number of people they serve meals, provide beds, offer medical services and more for. https://lssnetworkofhope.org/
Adam Ward sits down with Dr. Dave, the father of the Columbus Prayer Summit, as he prepares for the 21st annual one this August. Dr Dave discusses his big shift from being raised and trained as a doctor in India and then coming to America. http://columbusprayersummit.org
Adam Ward sits down with Greg Bondurant, Senior Pastor of Westerville Christian Church. Greg has served at WCC for 30 years. In the interview, he shares how a small pivot ten years ago led to outstanding generosity to the community outside of their walls. http://wcchurch.life/
Adam Ward sits down with OG C-Bus Pastor, Bishop Timothy Clark to hear about his journey that led him to Columbus in 1982 and what the First Church of God has done since then. Website: www.1stchurch.net Social Media: ctypastor
Adam Ward talks with Ann Bischoff, CEO of Star House. Star House is the only 24/7, drop-in shelter in central Ohio for homeless youth. https://starhousecolumbus.org/
Adam Ward sits down with former USAF pilot turned Pastor Mike Smith to hear how we went from the Executive Pastor of Heritage Church to planting and leading Vista Community Church. https://vistacommunitychurch.org/
Adam Ward sits down with local Out of Darkness chapter founder Brandy Zachariah to discuss what they are doing to help and rescue women from the sex trafficking industry in Columbus. www.outofdarknesscolumbusohio.org
Adam Ward sits down with One Church founder and Lead Pastor, Greg Ford, to discuss the tremendous growth rate of their church along with its sorrows and successes.
Adam Ward talks with Dennis McCallum, founder of Xenos. Dennis answers questions about the church he has led since the early '70s.
Adam Ward sits down with Steve Combs of Leave A Mark Church to talk about his history and hear how their church is impacting South Columbus.
Adam Ward visits Keith Minier of Grace Fellowship. Keith shares his personal and church journey from 60 attendees to over 4000 today.
Adam Ward sits down with Mark Fuller, former Senior Pastor of the Grove City Church of the Nazarene, to talk about his time leading a megachurch through a generational transformation and what he hopes the future is for Columbus.