Hi,

I have been blessed to be attending church at Fort McKinley with my family for some time now. If you have not checked it out then I encourage you to do so. To me, it feels like a mission field. Everywhere I look there is opportunity for God to work in amazing ways. It is exciting to be part of this movement of God to help reclaim Dayton for Jesus.

In Christ's Service,
Mark

Blessings. Michaiah

So Mark is the Ft Mckinley church like a branch of GUM. I've heard little bits and peices but I'm not sure I really understand what is going on with that. I did see Mikes Blog a few weeks ago mention it as well. I guess some people of GUM are going to start going there and it's connected with Belle Haven school but can you clear up for me what this is all about?

"The Fort" was Fort McKinley United Methodist Church. The members of Fort McKinley UMC voted to merge with Ginghamsburg. So now Fort McKinley is another location where you can attend Ginghamsburg. One difference is that it has a rather large building and it has its own on-site pastor, David Cook. Dave officially preached for the first time last Sunday. He will preach there some, but all the pastors will preach there at different times.

I like Fort McKinley because it is an outpost for a ton of ministries mainly due to its location. As you point out, Belle Haven school is just down the street where we have other ministry activities going on.

Here are the directions:

http://thefort.ginghamsburg.org/2381/

Worship there is 10:30 am but will move to 10:15 am in September I think it is. Then it will match up with the main campus.

In Him,
Mark

So if I go and give my offering there does that take from GUMs budget or since it has merged does it go into one pot? Do you know?

Just one money pot. Soon this website will reflect that as well. At least we are trying to work that out. One challenge with the Ft. McKinley building is that the sanctuary needs air conditioning. We pool the money but also take responsibility for all the expenses.

By the way, the people of Fort McKinley are some wonderful Christian people who were already serving the local community. Merging with Ginghamsburg brings in the resources to make the mission that church has always had explode into the community.

In Christ,
Mark

So is the message from week to week the same as GUMs or a different message do you know Mark? Do you think the feelings of that church resemble those spoken of at GUM. I mean I loved it years ago when Mike made the statement in Church that homosexuals were welcome in our church. I love that my church seems real in their beleifs against bigotry and racism. I want to stay in a church that has similar beleifs.

In the past we (The Fort) have commonly followed the current theme at Ginghamsburg and that even included clips from Mike Slaughter speaking a few weeks before. My guess is that we will tend to follow that same theme/scripture and may be exactly the same at times but may deviate other times. When Mike Slaughter preached their recently, The Fort actually heard the identical sermon that the main church heard the following week.

I think the beliefs at the Fort were not much different from Ginghamsburg's to start with and that is more so by the day as we become one community. Also, Mike Slaughter is the senior pastor over all Ginghamsburg's worship locations including Fort McKinley.

In Him,
Mark

I've always liked large churches where there are small groups for growth and more intimate fellowship. When I attend, I usually attend a large church like Ginghamsburg, but I know many people who prefer a smaller church and so I am so glad for Fort McKinley as I'm sure many will attend and serve there.