How We Started
The Story Of UEM
The Story Of UEM
The Story Of UEM
The story of Urban Encounter goes all the way back to the fall of 2017, when Bryan O'Donnell first went to a soup kitchen in downtown Columbus, on the west side, in an area affectionally named "the bottoms" by locals, but most people know it as Franklinton.
It was there Bryan found a people and a mission that would change his path in the
The story of Urban Encounter goes all the way back to the fall of 2017, when Bryan O'Donnell first went to a soup kitchen in downtown Columbus, on the west side, in an area affectionally named "the bottoms" by locals, but most people know it as Franklinton.
It was there Bryan found a people and a mission that would change his path in the best of ways. Bryan started to go every Wednesday and it was there his love for the poor was fostered and grown.
Eventually Jesus asked him to move from volunteer to leader and that is where he finds himself now, leading a handful of missionaries on the west side of Columbus whose sole purpose is to love a city, a people, a neighborhood until it looks like heaven.
They do this by evangelizing the people through outreach, worship, Bible study and community dinners. The presence of God brought in by Urban Encounter has already changed many lives.
The Crisis
The Story Of UEM
The Story Of UEM
The Greater Hilltop of Columbus, Ohio is where Urban Encounter resides and focuses its evangelization efforts in a neighborhood plagued by poverty, crime, drugs, and sex trafficking and leads the city of Columbus in the most violent crimes including, murder, felonious
assault, and robberies.
In fact, national data released by the FBI in Sep
The Greater Hilltop of Columbus, Ohio is where Urban Encounter resides and focuses its evangelization efforts in a neighborhood plagued by poverty, crime, drugs, and sex trafficking and leads the city of Columbus in the most violent crimes including, murder, felonious
assault, and robberies.
In fact, national data released by the FBI in September 2020 reflect these key findings about the Hilltop neighborhood:
- Crime rates are 112% higher than the national average.
- Violent crimes are 84% higher than the national average.
- You have a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim of crime.
Based on these facts, Urban Encounter knows and believes it’s time to do something; make the Hilltop an extraordinary place to live by dispelling the darkness with the light of Christ.
The Solution
Evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization
Urban Encounter seeks to proclaim the Gospel boldly, believing in its power to bring people to salvation. This is accomplished through outreach and Christian/Catholic initiatives that include street evangelization, faith formation, neighborhood social events, discipleship training and equipping.
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, It is t
Urban Encounter seeks to proclaim the Gospel boldly, believing in its power to bring people to salvation. This is accomplished through outreach and Christian/Catholic initiatives that include street evangelization, faith formation, neighborhood social events, discipleship training and equipping.
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, It is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16
Worship
Evangelization
Evangelization
We worship to do three things: 1. Give thanks, 2. To humbly ask God to move, 3. To declare that we will do something for Him. If our hours of worship do not include at least one of the above, we are worshiping in vain and for ourselves. We do not worship with the main intention of describing to God what He already knows or who He is, this
We worship to do three things: 1. Give thanks, 2. To humbly ask God to move, 3. To declare that we will do something for Him. If our hours of worship do not include at least one of the above, we are worshiping in vain and for ourselves. We do not worship with the main intention of describing to God what He already knows or who He is, this by no means being bad, but rather the mission of Urban Encounter Worship is to give thanks, to plead for God to move, and to declare what we will do for Him.
The original songs from Urban Encounter Worship are developed through God's wisdom, understanding, and knowledge and are the catalyst for souls to return back to the heart of Jesus.
Community
Revitalization
Revitalization
Urban Encounter seeks to support our missionaries' families and individuals that are a unified body of Christian and Catholic believers through work, prayer, and sacraments. This faith-filled community serves the Hilltop with good works and charitable acts of love and generosity.
Currently, the Urban Encounter community living in residenc
Urban Encounter seeks to support our missionaries' families and individuals that are a unified body of Christian and Catholic believers through work, prayer, and sacraments. This faith-filled community serves the Hilltop with good works and charitable acts of love and generosity.
Currently, the Urban Encounter community living in residences on the Hilltop is one missionary family and five male missionaries: living in the men's ministry house
"For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another."
Romans 12:4-
Revitalization
Revitalization
Revitalization
Urban Encounter attracts people of faith to live, thrive and make an impact in the Hilltop. Our goal is to steward the property in which our missionaries live. Our missionaries are given opportunities to learn skills of basic housing maintenance which empower them to make an impact on the environment around them.
Currently, we have a men
Urban Encounter attracts people of faith to live, thrive and make an impact in the Hilltop. Our goal is to steward the property in which our missionaries live. Our missionaries are given opportunities to learn skills of basic housing maintenance which empower them to make an impact on the environment around them.
Currently, we have a men's missionary house on Sullivant Ave. in Columbus, Ohio. This year, five men have dedicated themselves to serving the ministry and the people of the Hilltop. Another missionary family has purchased a house in the area and is contributing to the work of the ministry to revitalize the Hilltop.
We believe that this philosophy of stewardship will inspire others as they see a tangible example of faith in action.
"Unless the LORD build the house,
they labor in vain who build... all this God gives to his beloved in sleep..."
Psalm 127
Meet the team
Bryan O'Donnell
Bryan O'Donnell
Bryan O'Donnell
President and Founder/Men's House Missionary
Hi! I'm Bryan O'Donnell, I was born and raised in Fremont Ohio. In 2019 I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to start a mission in the Hilltop. What I love most about ministering on Sullivant Ave. is encountering Jesus in the poor, homeless, and addicted on a daily basis.
Jotham Allwein
Bryan O'Donnell
Bryan O'Donnell
Co-leader/ Director of Community and Worship
I'm Jotham Allwien and I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. In 2018 I helped see Urban Encounter Ministries get started with the simple mission to return neighborhoods back to the heart of Jesus. I'm Currently the co-director of Urban Encounter and I oversee worship and community. We want to
Co-leader/ Director of Community and Worship
I'm Jotham Allwien and I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. In 2018 I helped see Urban Encounter Ministries get started with the simple mission to return neighborhoods back to the heart of Jesus. I'm Currently the co-director of Urban Encounter and I oversee worship and community. We want to see a missionary community that claims territory for the Lord, who are experts in proclamation, demonstration and discipleship.
Maggie Allwein
Bryan O'Donnell
Daniel Stoneking
Praise and Worship leader
Hi all! My name is Maggie Allwien and I live in Hilltop with my husband Jotham and our son Isidore. I grew up on the east side of Columbus, but the Lord has called me to the west side in order to foster community, healing, and wholeness among other women and children in Hilltop, and to carve the path for future mi
Praise and Worship leader
Hi all! My name is Maggie Allwien and I live in Hilltop with my husband Jotham and our son Isidore. I grew up on the east side of Columbus, but the Lord has called me to the west side in order to foster community, healing, and wholeness among other women and children in Hilltop, and to carve the path for future missionary women of Urban Encounter. Jotham and I are also the primary worship leaders for Urban Encounter, and we believe worshiping the Lord can change peoples lives no matter what circumstances they are in.
Daniel Stoneking
Daniel Stoneking
Daniel Stoneking
Missionary
I was born and raised in south Texas and have lived in Washington state for the last 12 years. I have been a Registered Nurse for 15 years, most recently in Psychiatric medicine. I am a proud graduate of Encounter Ministries - Seattle campus. I have a passion for supernatural ministry, especially seeing those with mental illness and addictions set free in Jesus.
Seth Holway
Daniel Stoneking
Seth Holway
Missionary
Hey, I'm Seth! I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio three minutes from the Urban Encounter men's mission house! I am a recent graduate from OSU, where I encountered the power and love of Jesus who lit a fire in my heart to follow Him wholeheartedly. I seek to heal the sick and share the profound peace of Jesus Christ.
Alex Pineda
Daniel Stoneking
Seth Holway
Missionary
Hey everyone I am Alex Pineda. I was born in Honduras and moved to the U.S. with my dad in 2017. When I started working around the Hilltop I got involved with UEM as a volunteer and I felt called to help those consumed by addictions and prostitution. I moved to the missionary house in August 2023 and I am excited to make this area a better place for everyone.
Adam Landry
Adam Landry
Adam Landry
Missionary
My name is Adam Landry and I am originally from Staunton Virginia but have been in the Midwest several years. In October 2023 I joined Urban Encounter's missionary team. I am excited to share the saving power of the Gospel with the people of west-side Columbus and grow in my love of Jesus Christ and His Church.