Plymouth native to become Ordained this Sunday in Bloomville
Mike Ebersole grew up going to the United Church of Christ in Shelby and was confirmed and baptized there. While he was born in Shelby, Ebersole and his family lived in Plymouth just north of Shelby. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 1978. Ebersole believes he has been called to minister by God since he was a child. He currently serves as a licensed minister at College Hill UCC and St. John’s UCC, both in rural Bloomville, Ohio.
After being approved for Ordination by the NWOA Church and Ministry Team, Ebersole will be Ordained this coming Sunday, February 19, 2023 at the St. John’s (Baseline) UCC, 5721 East Country Rd. 58, Bloomville beginning at 3:00PM. Ebersole described Ordination as being, “blessed, affirmed, and confirmed into a position, a way of life.” He continued, “It’s more than just a position, it’s a way of life, it’s a way of being, it’s a relationship with God and God’s people.”
“We go through a process of growth, blessing, and searching. Most people call it ‘calling,’ calling and discerning. So I am at that point now where I, along with those who are around me in the churches and those who are my mentors, think it’s the right time for me to be ordained,” said Ebersole. He attended the University of
Dayton and had a few experiences that led him to the Catholic church. However, he did not end up serving in that church.
Ebersole was in the trucking business for over 30 years. He drove for about 15 years and was in trucking management for 15 years. When he began his journey with UCC, his original plan was to be a chaplain, which he initially went to school for. During his last year at school, he was asked to minister at the two Bloomville churches. He felt that the situation was just right and decided to take the position. Ebersole graduated seminary in July of 2020.
“I guess I don’t see myself as a human interest story. I’m just going along, doing what I think is the right thing to do and what God calls me to do,” said Ebersole about being interviewed by the Shelby Daily Globe. Consider supporting Ebersole by attending his Ordination ceremony this Sunday afternoon in Bloomville.
CAPT (SEL) Driscoll is receiving a promotion to Captain US Navy in April and his sister, Patty Sponseller (Driscoll), ask that we publish his bio because his mother, Barb Driscol,l and two other sisters, Theresa Roth and Beth Driscoll, still live here in Shelby. Sponseller says that their family is so proud of him!
CAPT (SEL) Driscoll is a native of Shelby, OH and enlisted in the United States Navy and reported to boot camp at Naval Training Center Great Lakes on 26 April 1993 as a Seaman Recruit. After boot camp he reported to Hospital Corps School Great Lakes and subsequently reported to duty stations at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay and Naval Clinic Corpus Christi. At Corpus Christi he was selected for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP).
CAPT (SEL) Driscoll earned his Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi in May 2002 and was commissioned to the rank of Ensign. He reported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth where he worked on an orthopedic post-surgical ward and then the Intensive Care Unit. As a critical care nurse CAPT (SEL) Driscoll deployed with Naval Medical Expeditionary Unit-portsmouth to Kuwait and then forward deployed to Balad, Iraq to