About Our Church - Norwalk First United Methodist Church

Our Pastor

Pastor Ed Kovacik Jr.

Senior Pastor

Rev. George Edward “Ed” Kovacik, Jr. serves as Pastor of Norwalk First United Methodist Church. Pastor Ed brings to ministry a deep love for God, a heart for servant leadership, and a lifelong commitment to helping people grow in faith, hope, and Christian community.

Before entering pastoral ministry, Pastor Ed devoted many years to education and school leadership. He earned a degree in Music Education from Kent State University and later completed advanced study in educational administration. His background as a music educator, administrator, choir director, and church musician helped shape his gifts for teaching, leading, worship, and caring for others.

Pastor Ed’s call to ministry grew through years of service in the local church, including music ministry, lay leadership, pulpit supply, and congregational care. He completed licensing school in 2015 and served Toronto Riverview United Methodist Church and Bray’s Chapel before continuing his theological education. He earned a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 2019 and was ordained as a Full Elder in 2022.

Throughout his ministry, Pastor Ed has emphasized the love of Jesus Christ, the dignity of every person, and the importance of servant leadership. His pastoral approach is grounded in grace, compassion, worship, community engagement, and a desire to help others experience a vital relationship with Christ.

Pastor Ed and his wife, Roxann, have been married for more than four decades and are blessed with a daughter, Rev. Mikayla Doepker, her husband Robert and a granddaughter, Madiline Anne. Together, they continue to share a life of faith, family, music, and service.

“Since I was baptized at the age of 12 years old, I have felt the conviction of serving God. Through high school and college, I felt God’s continued presence in my life and in my music. I rededicated my life at the age of 22 after graduating from Kent State University. Following the birth of our child, Mikayla, I have felt God’s calling to be more involved in preaching the word and participating more in depth to the call God instilled in my life.”
— Pastor Ed

Contact
ed.kovacik@frontier.com
419-668-1938

First United Methodist Church, Norwalk, Ohio

Our Heritage

The Methodist Tradition

As United Methodists, we are part of a Christian tradition rooted in the grace of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and a deep commitment to loving and serving our neighbors. Our faith is shaped by Scripture, strengthened through worship and prayer, and lived out through compassion, justice, and service in the world.

OPEN HEARTS-
At Norwalk First United Methodist Church, Open Hearts means welcoming all people with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. We strive to create a place where everyone is valued, accepted, and encouraged on their faith journey. We believe that God's love is for everyone, and we seek to share that love through compassion, kindness, and genuine hospitality.

OPEN MINDS-
We approach our faith with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to grow. We believe God continues to work in our lives, inviting us to ask questions, seek understanding, and deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. Together we study Scripture, learn from one another, and remain open to the ways the Holy Spirit leads us to greater wisdom, deeper faith, and a fuller understanding of God's love.

OPEN DOORS-
We extend Christ's invitation beyond the walls of our church. Our doors are open to all, and our mission reaches into our community and beyond through worship, fellowship, service, and outreach. We believe the Church is called to be the hands and feet of Christ, sharing hope, serving our neighbors, and making God's love visible in everyday life.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, taught that God’s grace is at work in every part of our lives: preparing us, forgiving us, and shaping us into people who love God and neighbor more fully. Wesley’s vision of “holiness of heart and life” reminds us that faith is both personal and practical. We grow closer to Christ through worship, prayer, Scripture, and Christian community, and we express that faith through mercy, justice, generosity, and service.

A FAITH LIVED IN LOVE AND SERVICE-
In the Methodist tradition, faith is never meant to stay within the walls of the church. We are called to grow in love of God and neighbor, to practice mercy, to seek justice, and to serve wherever there is need. Our welcome is also a call: to follow Jesus, to love boldly, and to help transform the world through God’s grace.

Our Sanctuary

A Beautiful Space for Worship

Our Faith

What We Believe

We believe in one God, revealed to us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father created us and loves us. God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to save us and show us the way of life. God the Holy Spirit guides, strengthens, comforts, and empowers us to live as faithful disciples.

We study God’s Word so that we may know Christ more deeply, grow in faith, and live out God’s love in our homes, church, community, and world. We believe that following Jesus means more than attending church; it means becoming people who love God, love others, serve with compassion, and share the hope of Christ.

Jesus commanded His followers to go and tell the world about Him. Because of that command, we live to make disciples of all people, inviting others to experience God’s grace, learn God’s Word, and follow Jesus in everyday life.

Whether you are new to faith, returning to church, searching for community, or ready to grow deeper as a disciple, you are welcome at Norwalk First United Methodist Church.

Foundation

Christ's Outreaching Love

Our foundation is rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. His example of unconditional love, mercy, compassion, and grace guides everything we do. Jesus reached out to people from every walk of life, welcoming all with open arms, and He calls us to do the same. As followers of Christ, we strive to reflect his love by serving our neighbors, extending kindness without judgment, and creating a place where everyone is valued, accepted, and invited to grow in faith with us.

Grace

God's Unearned Gift

We believe that Grace is God's unearned and undeserved gift of love. Through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and welcomed into a personal relationship with God-not because of what we've done, but because of His great love for us and who He is. God's grace doesn't stop there. Through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, He strengthens, guides, and encourages us each day, giving us the wisdom, courage, and hope to face life's challenges and grow in faith.

Calling

Called to Serve

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to serve others with love, humility, and compassion. Scripture reminds us that we are all part of the Body of Christ, each uniquely gifted by God to share our talents in ways that build up the Church and bless our neighbors. Whether through acts of kindness, caring for those in need, teaching, encouraging, leading, or simply offering a listening ear, every gift has a purpose. Together, we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, sharing His love in meaningful ways and making His presence known in our community and beyond.

Hope

Hope That Never Fails

No matter where you are on life's journey, there is always hope. Through Jesus Christ, we have the hope of forgiveness, the promise of an eternal home with God, and the assurance that we are never alone. God's love is constant, His grace is endless, and his presence is with us in every season. Whatever you may be facing today, know that you are deeply loved, completely forgiven through Christ, and invited to live with a hope that never fades.

"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?"~John Wesley

Welcome Home

ALL Are Welcome Here

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At Norwalk First United Methodist Church, we believe that every person is a beloved child of God and is created in God's image. We welcome ALL people-regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, economic circumstance, physical or developmental ability or where you may be on life's journey.

We believe God's grace is freely offered to all. Therefore, all are welcome to receive Holy Communion, to be baptized, and to become members of our faith community. We seek to be a place where everyone can experience the love of Christ, grow in faith, find belonging, and use their gifts in service to God and others.

COME AS YOU ARE- YOU ARE WELCOME. YOU ARE VALUED. YOU ARE LOVED

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