I think any words I add to this story will only cheapen it, so I’ll keep my part short.
If you haven’t already heard, this past Sunday, an assistant counselor at the Living Church of God’s Ohio LYC Camp was killed during a tragic water skiing accident. Her name was Morgan Montgomery, she was 19 years old, and she had been baptized for 19 days.
There aren’t words. Not from me, at least. Not today. I wouldn’t be remotely qualified. The only thing I will say is that in the aftermath of such a devastating blow, I’ve been reminded of something that’s so easy to overlook:
The Church doesn’t have boundaries. Not manmade boundaries, anyway. It’s bigger than that; it’s bigger than a logo or a trademark or a corporate identity. God’s Church is composed of God’s people, and it’s during tragic moments like these that we see those artificial boundaries melt away.
I’m not naïve enough to think these boundaries exist without reasons. The history of God’s Church is a long and complicated one, and any solution is going to require more than all of us getting into a room and pretending everything’s okay. This isn’t a post to say that unity is possible if we would all just play nice with each other. What I am saying is that when we draw the borders of our organizations, we’re not drawing the borders of God’s Church.
God’s Church is filled with God’s people. The people who are seeking Him and serving Him and being led by His Spirit. And during this past week, I’ve seen an outpouring of sympathy from scores of those people, regardless of their abbreviation of choice. “Brethren” means more than the people who attend your congregation. Your brethren are your brothers and sisters in the faith, and you probably have more of them than you think.
I don’t know the Montgomery family, and I never met Morgan, but from everything I can tell, she was my sister. Her death is a painful loss for the entire Church of God community, and it’s been gratifying to see that, in spite of our differences, we’ve been able to embrace that loss together.
But enough from me. Below you’ll find a video clip of Morgan’s father, Mr. Martin Montgomery, who flew in to the camp from Australia and gave this touching and heartfelt message:
Mr. Martin Montgomery addressing the campers this morning.
Posted by Living Youth Programs on Thursday, August 6, 2015
Well said, Jeremy.
Thanks, Mr. Fox.
Thank you for this post. The video clip is not there, though.
Sorry–now it has appeared!
No worries! Sometimes Facebook doesn’t play well with other sites…
Beautifully stated. Thank you.
Glad I could be of service. Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for your post, Jeremy. I did know Morgan a little from past years at camp, and I can say that based on my own interactions with her, she was as sweet and good and kind as any human can be. A stellar example. These times of tragedy hit us hard and hurt so much. But it’s from these ashes we see beauty rise, as God’s people come together and hold one another, regardless of affiliations and differences, because when one member suffers, we really do all suffer with them. And in the aftermath I am reminded that God is good, always. Even in the hurt, the pain, the trial and the storm. In life or death, in joy or sorrow, God is good. And we see that goodness extended to and through His people. He holds us during these times as we hold one another.
Thanks for the comment, Kristine. We do serve an awesome God who has an awesome plan, even in the darkest of times. It’s wonderful to know we’re all connected in that way.
Thank you. My thoughts exactly
You’re welcome. Glad to hear it 🙂
Thank you Jeremy, as a family who has been in three organisations, we have brethren that we love in all of them. We truly long for a time when we are together.
You’ve very welcome. I long for that time as well!
I agree with you a 100%…We are all brothers and sisters in Christ…and we are to show love one to another…My heart goes out to her family and friends…Thank you for your post…Thy Kingdom come!
Thanks for the kind words. Longing for the Kingdom as well!
God has definitely blessed you with an ability to eloquently craft thoughts in writing. Thanks for sharing this. True sentiments so well expressed.
Thanks very much, Angela. I appreciate that a lot.
Thank you Jeremy, we are God’s people and when one member suffers we all do!! Very nicely said!
Thanks for the kind words…times like this definitely remind us how connected we all really are.
I too am saddened about this families loss, and I am in awe of Mr. Montgomerys ability to give such an eloquent speech about his daughter and her life when you know that his grief was consuming him whenever he stopped and dwelt on it. It showed me that he is a man of Godly character and God was with him and comforting him through this trial. But I am still concerned about the lethargy and divisions among those that call themselves God’s people. We come together to grieve and support one another, and as well we should. Even the friends and family of the world that have seen this video can feel the pain and suffering of those involved in this tragedy. They offer prayers and support for those that have been affected. If we as God’s people could not do this, I would think God would spew us all out for our shortcomings and pettiness. But how can our Father stand to look at us at all, when we can’t put aside our disensions and stand together worshipping our Father on His commanded sabbath day? When are we going to stop worrying about who’s in charge and realize it is God and Christ. There should be no more talk of corporate structures, or separate organizations. No more divisions, no more hate, no more vanity of thinking your the only one in the “right” group. It’s time for Gods people to stand up and stand together as the body of Christ.
If only it were that easy! But if we’re being honest with ourselves, the differences between our fractured groups goes deeper than just corporate stylings. I don’t think this is the proper forum to have a discussion about it, but it’s clear to me that this isn’t a problem we can solve by getting in the same room and pretending we don’t have any differences in opinion. I don’t believe for a second there is one “right” group, but I also know the differences between the groups aren’t as superficial as they’re sometimes made out to be.
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. (2) I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; (3) for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (4) For when one says, “I am of the Living Church of God,” and another, ” I am of the Philadelphia Church of God,” are you not carnal? (1Cor. 3:1-4; paraphrased).
Careful. It’s in the same book that Paul writes, “there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you” (1 Corinthians 11:19). Divisions aren’t pretty and I don’t like them, but in chapter three Paul was chiding the Corinthians for aligning themselves with certain ministers rather than paying attention to the real foundation. It’s a bit of a jump to equate that with the different CoG groups. I’m sure some people in every group are following men, but I think many more are doing their best to imitate people who are imitating Christ—something Paul clearly instructed them to do (1 Corinthians 11:1). It’s more complicated than just popularity-based factions, and I don’t think it’s right to simplify it to that.
But like I said in the comment above, this isn’t the forum to be discussing these things. It’s a deeper problem than we can solve here in the comments, and I really don’t want this post to become a place for debating who’s right and why.
To Mr. Martin Montgomery and the Montgomery Family… I don’t know Morgan, I’m a member of the United Church of God, but I read of the tragedy. I wish to express my profound sorrow at your family’s loss. At this time I pray that God the Father and Jesus Christ will strengthen your faith and comfort you with the sure knowledge that “… the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4: 16-17. We do not sorrow like those who “have no hope”. My prayers are with you and your family and I pray that God will raise her up at His coming. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Please accept my sympathy
During such a tragic time, this needed to be said…thanks, Jeremy. My heart grieves and aches for the Montgomery family, for those at the camp and for all of those Morgan touched. Her family has given us all a precious gift of John 13:35 in action.