Ginghamsburg Podcast

From Self-Focused to Service-Driven: Chris Lundquist's Faith Journey In this episode, Chris Lundquist shares a powerful and relatable story of faith that didn't happen overnight—but grew through relationships, life changes, and a persistent call from God. Raised in a Christian home, Chris always believed—but admits his early adult years were marked by independence and a focus on self. It wasn't until he became a father that everything began to shift. Faced with the question, “What kind of dad do I want to be?”, Chris started a journey toward intentional faith, mentorship, and a life aligned with purpose. Today, Chris lives out that calling in impactful ways—from coaching track and field with a Christ-centered culture, to leading a thriving after-school program that mentors the next generation. Along the way, he's also learned what it means to trust God in closed doors, unexpected opportunities, and even in saying “yes” to fostering a child when it felt impossible. Through honest reflection and practical insights, Chris reminds us that faithfulness isn't about perfection—it's about willingness. And when we take steps toward God, even imperfect ones, He meets us with purpose, direction, and surprising impact.

Transformation Acts chapter 3. A man asks for spare change—and gets his life back. When God moves, it's rarely what we expect and never just surface-level. Real encounters don't just help you cope… they change you. ginghamsburg.org  

United  Acts 2 & 4. This wasn't surface-level community—it was costly, inconvenient, and deeply intertwined. People shared what they had. They showed up for each other. They lived like “mine” didn't exist anymore. It's the kind of unity that's hard to fake. ginghamsburg.org

Ignition Acts chapter 2. The Holy Spirit doesn't show up quietly. Wind. Fire. Chaos. Boldness. Everything the disciples were afraid of suddenly flips. This is where hesitation dies and the movement begins. ginghamsburg.org

To The Ends Of The Earth Acts 1:1-8 Jesus leaves—and hands the mission to a group of ordinary, unsure people. No backup plan. No clear roadmap. Just a promise of power and a call to go. Turns out, following Jesus was never meant to stay small or safe. ginghamsburg.org

What is Faith? Pastor Mike Slaughter, former Senior Pastor of Ginghamsburg Church (1979–2017), joins us this weekend with a message on what it means to trust God for what we cannot yet see. Known for leading with vision and conviction, Mike once stood in the gravel lot of a small country church and believed God would one day bring thousands to worship. In this message from Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, he reflects on the meaning of faith, the promises of God and the courage to follow God into an unseen future. ginghamsburg.org

The Patience of God God is not impatient or quick to condemn, but faithful, steady, and full of mercy even when we doubt, stumble, or fall short. Because God's capacity for patience is greater than our capacity to mess up, we are invited to live with greater freedom, to extend grace to ourselves, and to show that same patience to others. ginghamsburg.org

Hope Rising Luke 24:13-21 Two disciples walk to the town of Emmaus on Easter afternoon, grieving Jesus' death. Jesus joins them on the walk, but they do not recognize him until they later sit down to break bread. Today, consider how Easter and this story speak to us, what Easter asks of us, and how it gives us hope. ginghamsburg.org

Anger Anger can feel justified—even righteous—but easily turns destructive. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, expectations collide with reality. This week examines how unchecked anger distorts hope, and how surrender opens the way for the kind of peace that leads to the cross—and beyond. ginghamsburg.org

Lust Lust reduces people to objects and love to consumption. It promises intimacy but delivers isolation. This message invites honest reflection on desire, calling us toward a deeper, truer love shaped by faithfulness and dignity. ginghamsburg.org

Sloth Sloth isn't just laziness—it's disengagement of the soul. Peter steps out in faith, then hesitates when fear takes over. This week explores how spiritual drift happens slowly, and how Christ calls us back into courage and trust. ginghamsburg.org

Envy Envy thrives in comparison, quietly eroding gratitude. It convinces us that someone else's blessing diminishes our own. This week invites us to confront the lie beneath envy and rediscover joy rooted in God's goodness, not others' success. ginghamsburg.org

Greed Greed convinces us that more will finally be enough. It narrows our vision, shifting trust from God to accumulation. This message challenges us to notice where desire turns into demand, and how freedom begins when we loosen our grip. ginghamsburg.org  

Gluttony Gluttony isn't just about excess; it's about appetite without restraint. Esau trades something eternal for something immediate, revealing how quickly hunger can cloud wisdom. This week asks what we keep reaching for to fill us—and why it never quite satisfies. ginghamsburg.org

Pride Pride doesn't always look loud or arrogant—it often sounds like self-reliance. It whispers that we don't really need God, or that we know better. Ash Wednesday invites us to begin Lent by naming the oldest snare of all and remembering who we are—and who we are not. ginghamsburg.org

When Leading Through the Wilderness? Exodus 18:21–23; 33:11 – Leadership in the wilderness is exhausting. Moses carries the weight of a restless people and discovers that even faithful leaders feel overwhelmed, lonely, and stretched thin. This final week explores how God sustains those called to lead—not by removing the burden, but by sharing it, strengthening it, and reminding us that the work has always been his. In the end, the wilderness reveals not just the limits of Moses, but the greater Deliverer who leads us home. ginghamsburg.org  

When I am Struggling with Change? Freedom doesn't always feel better than familiarity. In the wilderness, Israel wrestles with change, loss of control, and unmet expectations. God meets them daily, teaching that transformation is rarely instant—but always intentional. ginghamsburg.org

When I Feel Trapped? Exodus chapters 7-14 – Sometimes the way forward looks impossible and the way back is closed. The Red Sea moment forces Israel to confront fear, trust, and surrender all at once. This week asks what it means to trust God when escape seems out of reach. ginghamsburg.org

When Obedience Makes Life Harder? Exodus chapters 5-6 – What happens when doing the right thing leads to more resistance, not less? Moses obeys God—and everything gets worse. This message wrestles with the uncomfortable truth that faithfulness doesn't always bring immediate relief. ginghamsburg.org

When I Need Direction? Exodus chapters 3-4 – Few moments feel heavier than standing at a crossroads with no clear path forward. Moses encounters God while unsure, unqualified, and hesitant. This week explores how God often speaks direction not when we feel ready—but when we're willing to listen. ginghamsburg.org

When I'm Wounded?  Exodus chapter 2 – Pain has a way of reshaping our questions about God. When life leaves marks we didn't ask for, trust doesn't come easily. Moses' story shows how God meets us not after the wound, but right in the middle of it. ginghamsburg.org

While I Wait? Exodus Chapter 1 – Waiting can feel like silence, and silence can feel like absence. When prayers stall and progress feels slow, it's easy to wonder if God has forgotten us. Exodus opens in a season of long waiting, reminding us that God is often doing his deepest work before we see any movement. ginghamsburg.org

Christ The Refugee Matthew 2:13–23 — The Escape to Egypt “Our King knows the road of the refugee and walks with the displaced.” The Christmas story doesn't end at the manger—it leads into a midnight escape. Even as a child, Jesus knew the fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability of families forced to flee. He understands the stories of the displaced because he lived one. And he calls us to see, honor, and stand with those who carry that same burden today. ginghamsburg.org

Christ Gives Access Hebrews 4:14; 10:19–22 Through Christ, every border to God is torn down. No more distance. No more separation. In Jesus—our great High Priest—we're given direct, confident access to the Father. The invitation isn't exclusive; it's wide open. Step in.

Fitz grew up in Ohio, navigating his parents' divorce and his father's struggles with addiction. It was during that season of instability that Fitz was introduced to church for the first time and encountered Jesus in a way that, while not dramatic in the moment, ultimately changed the direction of his life.

Strangers Become Family At the cradle, strangers become family. The journey of the wise ones reminds us that God's salvation doesn't stay inside our borders—it reaches every nation, every seeker, every outsider. The cradle of Christ welcomes the stranger… and invites us to do the same. ginghamsburg.org

The Forgotten Get Good News Ever felt like you were on the outside looking in? This week in Christmas Beyond Borders, Pastor Fitz takes us straight to the margins—the place where the Christmas story actually begins. From forgotten shepherds to people today who feel unseen, unwanted, or unqualified, the message is simple and disruptive: Jesus doesn't wait for us to clean up and come to the center. He comes to us—right where we are. And if we want to follow Him, we move toward the margins too. It's where joy breaks in, where lives get rebuilt, and where God's glory shows up in ways the masses often miss.

When John Jung tells his story, he laughs at the idea of having a “plan.” His life, he'll tell you, is a series of moments that make sense only in hindsight — a story stitched together by grace rather than strategy. “It wasn't my plan,” he said with a smile. “But it was clearly God's.”

Make Room for the King Advent is not just a celebration of Christ's coming; it's a summons to go. The incarnation is the ultimate mission trip: Jesus, the Son of God, left the glory of heaven to bring light to a dark world. As his followers, we are sent to embody that same love, especially to the poor, the forgotten, and the brokenhearted. Christmas is a border-breaking movement of compassion. Our journey begins with readiness. in Mark 1:1-8, John the Baptist calls us to prepare our hearts, crossing the inner borders of sin and apathy so we can receive the King.

Gratitude at the Banquet God's Kingdom is one of invitation. There's a feast prepared and everyone is welcome to the party. That's how God designed it. God's kingdom is for everyone, and often we have the opportunity to invite someone to the table. Once we realize that we're welcome at God's table and we open the invitation to others around us, we'll discover our gratitude will never stop growing. ginghamsburg.org

Rachel has seen God most in seasons of having to wait upon God. “Those are the absolute hardest seasons. All of our senses are on high alert and we're really raw. We're really in tune. We're really seeking and searching for that next part of the journey.”

Gratitude in the Fire We all face challenges and difficulties each day. Often those feel so overwhelming that we want to give up. This week as we look at the writings of Paul, we'll be reminded that our struggles are only temporary. There is more for us in the future, especially as we keep our attention focused on Jesus. When we live with gratitude, it gives us the strength to keep singing, even in the fires of life. ginghamsburg.org

An Unlikely Offering Everyone has something meaningful to contribute to the world. Whether it's something simple like sharing a smile, or a life saving surgery, everyone has something to share. One particular event in Jesus' story illustrates this so well. He was sharing a meal with friends and he received an unlikely gift, from an unlikely person. But instead of speaking harshly, he spoke with tenderness and gratitude. Each one of us has gifts we can offer the Lord. Those gifts will draw others closer to Jesus and will make us become even more like Jesus. Listen in as we welcome back Pastor Rachel Billups and dive into the life of Jesus and learn together what it's like to bring an unlikely offering. ginghamsburg.org

When you meet Tina Bradley, the first thing you notice is her laugh. It's the kind that fills a room—warm, contagious, and utterly disarming. What you might not notice right away is that behind that laughter lies a lifetime of resilience, faith, and grace in the face of heartbreak. Tina's story is one of quiet faithfulness—of learning to find joy not because life is easy, but because God is good.

Group Our world is fiercely independent. We're told we can do everything on our own and that we don't need anyone's help. But the Jesus way teaches us a different way, running in a different direction than our world and culture. We know that our lives are richer when we share them with other people. When we support, encourage, help, and walk alongside others, it's mutually beneficial. Yes, we can provide what someone else may need, but we in turn receive something even better. This is the greatest joy of living the Jesus life together with others. ginghamsburg.org

Our world is fiercely independent. We're told we can do everything on our own and that we don't need anyone's help. But the Jesus way teaches us a different way, running in a different direction than our world and culture. We know that our lives are richer when we share them with other people. When we support, encourage, help, and walk alongside others, it's mutually beneficial. Yes, we can provide what someone else may need, but we in turn receive something even better. This is the greatest joy of living the Jesus life together with others. ginghamsburg.org

In this podcast episode, Becky Gruber shares her life story, faith journey, and ministry experiences at Ginghamsburg Church. Raised as a preacher's kid (PK), Becky developed a deep curiosity about people from diverse backgrounds due to her father's work as a campus minister, which exposed her to a wide range of cultures and experiences from an early age.

Growth  Maturity is a word which carries strong feelings, thoughts, and ideas. When we're young, we can't wait to reach maturity. But as we get older and do mature, we wonder if we'll ever reach full maturity. It's a process. The same can be said about following Jesus. It's a process, and the longer we follow Christ, the more mature we become. But along the way there are things that can help us reach that level of Christian maturity. The first of these things are a series of practices, known as disciplines, which draw us into a stronger and closer relationship with Christ. These are actions which help us learn to trust, listen, follow, and ultimately obey the Lord. These are essential steps we must take and incorporate into our daily lives. As we take these steps, we'll be amazed at how much we'll grow, and how much closer our relationship with Christ will become. ginghamsburg.org

Yours is the Kingdom Each one of us has a kingdom problem. We want to build and rule our own kingdom. We want the attention, the platform, the success, the authority, and most of all the adoration that comes with those things. But as we've seen in the life of Jesus, we're not supposed to long for this kind of kingdom. Our minds and hearts are to be focused on an eternal one - the Kingdom of God. This is why we pray "Yours is the Kingdom, power, and glory forever." It's never been about our glory. It has always been about the glory of God. ginghamsburg.org  

Kate Johnsen has been part of Ginghamsburg for more than thirty years. She's seen it all—from the early days of folding chairs and donuts in the unfinished worship center to watching her children grow up in the church she helped nurture. Her story isn't one of dramatic conversion or fame. It's one of quiet obedience and faith that has stood the test of time.

Deliver Us Evil can seem like a foreign concept to many of us. We think our lives are great, and that the difficult or inconvenient things are just coincidences. The truth is, there is an enemy who wants nothing more than to see us fall. But Jesus provides us with hope. We have the power in our lives to resist the evil one, in Jesus' name. We don't have to live as slaves to fear, addiction, shame, and pain. Yes, we will face temptations and struggles in our lives. But as we pray "deliver us from evil," Jesus will fill us with strength and power to live each day. ginghamsburg.org

Forgive Us Forgiveness is something that makes or breaks relationships all the time. Wars have been started and ended because of forgiveness. Families have been broken apart and restored because of forgiveness. There is power in forgiveness. This is why it's so important for us to live with forgiveness. But forgiveness is a two-way street. We can't simply ask for forgiveness. We must also forgive. This is what Jesus taught us and this is how Jesus wants us to live. Forgive us...as we forgive those who... ginghamsburg.org

If you've been around Ginghamsburg Church for any length of time, chances are you've experienced Dan Bracken's work—even if you didn't know it at the time. From the powerful videos capturing our mission in places like Louisiana, Beirut, and South Sudan, to the graphics and stories that frame our worship each week, Dan's fingerprints are everywhere. He's our Communications Director, a creative force, and above all, a man on mission. But Dan's story didn't begin behind a camera. It began with a youth group in Lexington, Kentucky, and a desire to make a difference for people he loved. --- Have a copy of the written blog delivered to your inbox every time a new episode is released. Subscribe here. When someone tells their stories of how God has worked and continues to work in their lives it speaks to our hearts. We begin to feel a connection to them and see them in a new light. It is with that truth in mind that we created  "People of the 'Burg."  It's our hope that you will get to know your neighbor, see a member of the church family in a new light and possibly find unity in your struggles and faith.   Sincerely, The Blog Team Dan Bracken, John Jung, Kate Johnsen & Sarah Hardin

Daily Bread Everyone has to eat. It's a fact of life. If we don't eat for long periods of time, or don't eat properly, it has significant impact on our health and well being. But as Jesus taught his disciples to pray for their "daily bread," he was showing them that it's much deeper than simply having bread to eat. This is a prayer of trust and dependence. This is a prayer asking the Lord to provide. Jesus was showing the disciples how to look to God first, and not their own wisdom, resources and abilities. Jesus reminded the disciples, and is reminding us today, that the Lord will provide - even if it's in unexpected ways. ginghamsburg.org  

Your Kingdom Come When Jesus prayed 'your Kingdom come,' he was showing that God's kingdom was a much different one than the kingdom of humanity. The kingdom of God is one of love, servanthood, and humility. Jesus not only taught his disciples, and us, to pray for God's kingdom to come. He also showed us how to live with our hearts and lives focused on making God's kingdom a reality in our communities. As we learn to pray for God's kingdom to come in our lives, we'll find we're aligning with the heart of God. This changes us and will change the world around us. ginghamsburg.org

In the fall of 2021, Derick contracted Covid-19. At first, he thought it was just a bad cold, but his condition quickly deteriorated. For days he was weak, unable to walk to the bathroom without carefully planning each step. At night he was plagued by nightmares of darkness and despair, praying desperately for God to spare his life.   Eventually, Derick was admitted to the hospital for four days. One Sunday afternoon, as sunlight streamed through the window, he turned off the TV and sat in the quiet. What happened next would radically change his life...   Have a copy of the written blog delivered to your inbox every time a new episode is released. Subscribe here.

To the One Above To many, God can feel impersonal and distant. But in reality, God is the exact opposite. God is deeply personal and as close as we will allow God to become in our lives. God wants to be in a relationships with us, the way a parent is deeply connected with their children. Jesus teaches the disciples, and us, that prayer is a deeply personal conversation. We can approach the creator of the universe as easily as we can approach our parents. We're not praying to some distant overseer who doesn't care about our lives. Instead, we are praying to someone who wants to know us and love us. ginghamsburg.org

Tamar Sometimes a story carries such weight that it leaves us speechless. This week's campfire story is one of these stories. Tamar was a daughter of King David, but her half-brother destroyed her life. She was helpless, voiceless, and humiliated. So many people live with this terrible reality every day. Rather than ignoring these stories, we can learn to listen, grieve and change. We all have voices and privilege we can use to help those around us who are helpless and powerless. Yes, it means doing difficult things. Yes, it means having uncomfortable conversations. But ultimately when we speak up for those in need, God steps in and changes everything. God ultimately creates beauty out of brokenness, and sometimes God uses us to make that happen. Warning: This sermon deals with sexual violence and may be upsetting to some. If you are dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence and need help visit ginghamsburg.org/recovery or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE.

In this heartfelt episode of People of the 'Burg, Pastor Sarah sits down with Todd Shiverdecker to explore his faith journey, his deep roots in church life, and the powerful role community has played in shaping his walk with Christ. Todd's story begins in a small United Methodist church where his grandmother—his spiritual rock—instilled in him the importance of faith. Though his church attendance varied through the years, it wasn't until he and his wife Donna found their home at Ginghamsburg Church that his faith truly deepened.

Mephibosheth Everyone feels like they don't fit in. It can happen in many ways and places: on a team, in a social group, or even at work. We desire to feel like we belong. Mephibosheth was a man in the Bible who was an outcast for multiple reasons - his family history and a disability both prevented him from finding a place to belong. But his story is like our story. He was shown grace, kindness and love, which resulted in Mephibosheth finding his place. God has the exact same plan in place for us - to welcome us in with love, grace and kindness. Each one of us is a child of the King. ginghamsburg.org/planyourvisit

Abigail Everyone loves the fairytale, where the beautiful girl shows kindness, love and grace to the coldhearted beast of a man and by the end he changes, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. Sounds perfect, right? But life isn't like a fairytale. How do you find joy when your relationship is cold and difficult? How do you live with peace when there's constant turmoil? The answer is by keeping our attention fixed on the Lord. As we look at the story of Abigail, we'll see how her heart, wisdom, and quick action changed the lives of many people around her. ginghamsburg.org/planyourvisit