Church Staff
Church Administrator
Music Director & Deacon in Residence
Music Director & Deacon in Residence
Atieno Figueroa, Church Administrator has been with Crossroads UMC since August 2017.
Atieno Ayo Figueroa is a Multi-Talented Performer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She studied Classical Voice at LaGuardia High School for the Arts (The FAME School) and she graduated from Queensborough College for Music Production, Fine and Performing Arts. In 2005, the Lord called her to New Baptist Temple; now Recovery House of Worship under the discipleship of Senior Pastor Edwin Colon. She continues her studies in Business Management with Penn Foster College and seeks to go to Grad school for her MBA in International Business/Entrepreneurship.
She served at Central Baptist Church as Church Clerk and Membership Director before the Lord uprooted her from NYC to Columbus, OH, (by way of NJ. Atieno, and her husband Angel, feel fortunate to have received the Lord's favor as newlyweds and welcomed a beautiful daughter in March 2018. She was led to serve at Crossroads UMC as our new Office Administrator. She continues to stress the importance of discipleship, as well as, walking close with the Lord and His Church.
Music Director & Deacon in Residence
Music Director & Deacon in Residence
Music Director & Deacon in Residence
Zac Casperson, Music Director is a lifelong United Methodist. In 1996, he started directing his church's handbell choir and for the past sixteen years served as the music director. He attended The Ohio State University for both a bachelor's and master's degree in early childhood education. He is entering his fifteenth year teaching fourth grade in the Groveport Madison Local School District. He and his wife, April, have been married for fourteen years and welcomed their first child in September.
April Casperson, Deacon in Residence is passionate about theological education, vocational discernment, and the organizations that recruit, educate and equip leaders for thoughtful, intentional ministry. April serves as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and is an ordained deacon in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.
History of Crossroads UMC
Our History
Crossroads United Methodist Church came about as the result of a successful joining of two area churches.
Brookshire United Methodist Church traced is roots back to a society that met in the small home of Mr. John Grubb. This church is thought to be the first Methodist organization on the west bank of the Scioto River. Over the next 103 years, the relocated several times and one time held a membership of 650 people. Eventually a small sanctuary was built on land purchased at the south end of Hague Avenue.
The dedication of Burgess Avenue United Brethren Church was held on August 27, 1916. This successful church eventually came to own four plots of land on the corner of Burgess and Sullivant Avenues. However, by the late 1990's attendance here, as in many churches, had fallen.
A series of meetings between the two churches resulted in a merger, giving birth to a single strong church in the area. On September 8, 2001, the newly created Crossroads United Methodist Church began its ministry under the then leadership of the Reverends Ray Wiblin and Barb Salyers.
Most recently, the members of New Horizons UMC merged in with Crossroads as well. And we are grateful they are with us!
Crossroads UMC is a vibrant and active church, engaged in many different areas of community outreach and ministry on the Hilltop and and Greater Westside areas of Columbus, OH. The full history of the ancestral churches that came together to become Crossroads UMC is maintained at the church, where we also play host to the Greater Hilltop Historical Society meetings.
The United Methodist Church
About the UMC
Regardless of one's age, race, life-story, or standpoint, each unique individual is welcomed within our church. No matter where a branch of the United Methodist Church may be located, the underlying structure remains the same, which we refer to as "connectionalism." We strive to weave the fabric between our disciples through our appointed-clergy system, mission-based outreach practices, and united giving.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." (Acts 28:19-20)
Derived from this "Great Commission," our church's mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We uphold this all-encompassing objective through four basic principles: welcoming, worshiping, nurturing, and sending.
This page provides a brief overview of our purpose of action within the United Methodist Church. Please visit the Main UMC Website for more details on our mission, our faith, our people, and our world.