Ministries across the West Ohio Conference were celebrated for their creative and innovative ways they engage with their communities at the 2023 Bishop’s Go Awards Ceremony held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Columbus Ohio.

The Bishop’s Go Awards recognized 45 congregations who were recipients of Go Grants to resource innovative ministry ideas to help develop relationships beyond the walls of their buildings and within our communities, to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Prior to the event, Go Awards sponsors, recipients and ministry leaders were interviewed on the Red Carpet sponsored by West Ohio Ministry Partner OhioHealth.

Four Grant recipients qualified for The Breakout Vision of the Year Award sponsored by the United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio. The recipient of this title and additional grant was awarded to Covenant United Methodist Church in the Miami Valley District for their Kahawa House Coffee Initiative. Other ministries in the Final Four were South Salem UMC (SHV), Richards Chapel UMC (MIA) and Urban Farm Church (CAN).

When asked about the importance of these awards, Bishop Palmer said, “If you are a Christian, you are under a mandate to Go into the world and love the world as God loved the world. I am excited about this because we either innovate, renovate or we die.” To encourage leaders, Bishop said, “Even if you are afraid to try something new, try it anyhow.”

The event closed with a reception sponsored by Wespath Benefits and Investments and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.