worship celebration times:
The evangelist B.W. Day had just preached an old fashioned revival in Vandalia, Ohio. For some reason, though, B.W. felt an urge to travel up North Dixie Road to a little town called Ginghamsburg. The year was 1863, and the results of the Ginghamsburg revival were 10 conversions. From the start B.W. spoke of a vision that Ginghamsburg would have a world-wide impact. With those 10 people and the mustard seed of faith, Ginghamsburg Church was born.
We are the legacy of B.W. Day and the hundreds of faithful servants who have been Ginghamsburg church over the past 144 years. Early Ginghamsburg understood the significance of their small congregation. They were a teaching church. Prior to 1979 over fifty young ministers had been trained up and sent out by the people of Ginghamsburg Church.
Through these many young pastors the lives of thousands, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands have been and continue to be touched and influenced for Jesus Christ.
By the 1970's, the Methodist revival fires had cooled as local churches across America dwindled. But not at Ginghamsburg--growth began rather suddenly as a church of 45 people became 300. A new building needed to be constructed quickly, and the teaching tradition lived on as the new structure became known as the Discipleship Center. The church moved to its current Main Campus in 1994 and now hosts 4500 people on its campus each week.
Throughout its growth Ginghamsburg Church remained focused on three things: bringing people in, building them up and sending them out.
As we venture into the future, it is a humbling thing to realize that we are a part of the miracle that has become Ginghamsburg Church. All of us are a part of what God has and is doing here. Every layperson, student pastor, elder and staff has been used by God to further God's purpose. Few other ministries in the country are positioned to have as much impact upon the future of the church in America. May God continue to empower us to remain faithful to God's call.
