History

Vision Ohio began as a vision-based organization in the mid 1990’s.  Pastors Terry Hofecker and Jeff Gill shared a vision for a new Grace Brethren Church in every county of Ohio. Vision Ohio met 3-4 times a year talking, praying, seeking God for a church multiplication movement. The group operated very much like a “think tank” for church planting in Ohio.

GBNAM starting talking about raising up Regional Career Missionaries and VisionOhio was pleased when Ron Boehm was appointed to the Midwest. With his full-time ministry focus on church planting, church planters were recruited, assessed, coached and encouraged in their training tracks.

In December 2005, GBNAM announced grants for various church planting opportunities and Key Church Resource Centers.  In combination with GBNAM, Northwest Chapel and Southwest Grace, the Vision Ohio Church Planting Operations Center was formed and began to refine the church planting systems for Ohio.

Using Tom Nebel’s 7 systems in his book, Big Dreams in Small Places, the staff developed this configuration:

•    Ron Boehm – Director of Op Center and Established Church Relations

•    Terry Hofecker – Training 

•    Martin Guerena – Assessment

•    Tony Webb – Coaching and Recruiting

•    No Person – Fundraising and Spiritual Dynamics (not covered initially).


When GBNAM ceased operations at the end of 2007, Tony Webb became the Director of VisionOhio. VisionOhio continued the same systems and became a relationally-driven ministry group.

The FGBC has granted provisional recognition to VisionOhio as a regional, cooperating Grace Brethren organization and will re-evaluate their status in 2010.