Morgan “The Terminator” Ott
By: Dan Bracken, Communications Director
Morgan smiling at camera
The first week in December, Morgan’s sister received a routine COVID check before a standard tonsil procedure. A positive result prompted the entire family to be checked as a precaution. Soon, Morgan’s entire family became the COVID poster family. Everyone’s symptoms varied, but 14-year-old Morgan pulled the #longhauler straw. 

COVID crystal lungs?
 
Check.
 
Sixth nerve and Bell's palsy?
 
Check.
 
Neck spasms?
 
As Morgan attended Ginghamsburg Church for Ash Wednesday worship, Morgan’s head moved on its own. Maybe it was just a neck spasm? Morgan’s father had suffered from seizures before he died six years prior. That “random” neck spasm came back a week later, and Morgan was transported to Cleveland Clinic for aggressive testing.
 
Non-epileptic seizures. Check.
Morgan in hospital
Though she has every excuse to be sour about life, Morgan is sustained by her faith in Jesus and support from those at Ginghamsburg Church.
 
“On paper, COVID has broken my body and mind. But, I can tell you it has NOT broken my heart or my soul. I keep telling the doctors ‘I’m like the terminator. I’m coming back from this.’”
Morgan walking in snow
This is Morgan, an inspiring young woman who gives us a glimpse of Easter hope:
 
 
Happy to have the glass…
 
“This year, I have felt really low,” says Morgan. “Being separated from my family…not being able to participate in school activities…my life has moved on without me.”
 
“But,” Morgan continues, “Being prayed for by my church family and others, being loved on by people I have never met and knowing they genuinely care has filled me with hope and faith.”
Morgan’s #longhaul journey has been a fuzzy one. Jesus doesn’t promise us unicorns and rainbows. But what he does promise is that on the other side of the tomb, there is hope and new life.

Dan Bracken
Communications Director
It's food drive weekend!
This Sunday, bring your donations to the front drive canopy at the Tipp City Campus main building, or inside the building at Fort McKinley. Servant volunteers will be there to collect your contributions. Need some ideas for the food drive? Consider these: canned fruit or vegetables, breakfast items (pancake mix, coffee, oatmeal), macaroni & cheese, baking mixes, cooking oil, tuna or chicken in a can, rice or pasta. Anything you would keep in your own pantry will be perfect!
Online Opportunities
First Up
Sundays, April 11-May 5
9am, in-person and via Zoom
Discovery Bible Study
Wednesdays
6:30pm, via Zoom
Listen and Learn
Wednesday, April 21
7pm, via Zoom
By the Numbers...
  • Offering this week was $65,458 from 319 individual or family givers.  
  • In-person worship was attended by 1181 individuals across both locations.
  • Online worship was streamed over the weekend by 2,501 unique devices on three platforms (YouTube, Facebook and ginghamsburg.org/live). (Television broadcast reach numbers are pending.)

New Series Weekend at Ginghamsburg!
Our culture has taught us to avoid certain subjects – religion and politics among them. But certainly, there’s no conversation more vehemently avoided in the church than sex. While advice abounds regarding what not to do and who not to do it with, we’ve lacked the conversational tools and biblical insight needed to adequately address the subject. With so much at stake, let’s flip the script and pursue the value of living healthy sexual lives – discovering one of God’s greatest gifts to humans. 
Fort McKinley Online & In-Person Worship Time:
Sunday: 10:30am
Tipp City Online Worship Times
Saturday: 5pm
Sunday: 9, 10:30am

Tipp City In-Person Worship Times:
Sunday: 9, 10:30am

Special note:
Saturday, 5pm is online ONLY
FYI - Upcoming Charge Conference

As part of its Tuesday, April 20 monthly meeting, the Ginghamsburg Leadership Board will be in a brief charge conference with the Miami Valley United Methodist District Superintendent to review and set pastoral compensation. For additional information, contact Kate Johnsen, Leadership Board Chair, at leadershipboardchair@ginghamsburg.org.