Sometimes you take a step and it’s not right, so you make adjustments and go another direction.
This is what happened with the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. Paul and Silas headed to Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbid them to preach in Asia.
Then Paul and Silas went to the province of Bithynia, and the same thing happened.
The Holy Spirit told them not to minister in Bithynia. (I’m guessing that at this point Silas might be thinking, “Maybe this Paul guy doesn’t know what he’s doing?)
The next night, Paul had a vision of a man from Greece pleading with him, “Come over here and help us.”
Paul and Silas decided to leave for Greece at once, knowing that the Holy Spirit was leading them there.
Debbie and I are at a similar place with our ministry.
Five years ago, Deb and I made a decision to resign our staff position at Living Word Christian Center, to plant a new church.
It has been a journey of faith.
The church never grew above 50 people and we rarely made our budget. In August of this year we walked through the painful experience of closing the church doors.
When you go through an experience like this you have a lot of questions.
- Why didn’t the church grow?
- Is God done with me?
- What am I going to do next?
I did not know the answer to these questions, except that I was quite sure that I had not finished my course and that God still had something for me to do.
One scripture that the Holy Spirit used to minister to me was the parable of the fig tree.
“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”
The owner of the vineyard represents the Lord. Sometimes the Lord does ask us to chop down the tree, but it’s important that we understand the purpose in chopping down the barren tree was to use the space in the vineyard to plant a tree that will be bare fruit.
The Holy Spirt began to talk to me about refocusing my ministry on kids and family ministry. That is where I have born the most fruit in my life.
At this point I began to pray and I asked the Lord for several things.
- I don’t want to move again. (I’ve moved more than any one human should.) I asked the Lord to connect me with a church in the Twin Cities.
- I want to be part of a generational church. It seems like most churches fall into one or two categories, either they are stuck in the past or they have a philosophy that they don’t want anyone over 30 on the platform. I don’t think when we get to heaven we are going to be separated by generation. It’s not going to be Boomer Heaven and Millennial Heaven. We are all going to be together. I’m convinced there has got to be a way to bring the generations together in church.
- The third thing I asked for was that someone would pursue me. I did not feel led to put my resume out there and go through multiple interviews with different churches. “Lord you know where I am and what my gifts are. You can speak to the leader that you want me to help” was my prayer.
Two days after my prayer, Jodi Ruch, reached out to me on Facebook. (In 1987, when Jodi was 16 years old, she was one the captains on my puppet team. Today Jodi and her husband, Nate, are lead pastors at Emmanuel Christian Center in Spring Lake Park.)
Jodi mentioned that Nate wanted to talk to me. I met with Pastor Nate at a local Starbucks. Emmanuel’s Kids Ministry was in transition and Nate wanted to hire me to do some consulting – to walk them through the transition of hiring a new leader for their kids ministry.
As I began to walk through the process of consulting, it was clear to me that the God had prepared a place for me at Emmanuel. In other words, Emmanuel Christian Center was the answer to my prayer.
Pastor Nate is leading Emmanuel through significant change to reach the next generation, but he is doing it in way that is honoring to the generation that built the church. This is not an easy thing to do and most people don’t have the patience to do it.
The bottom line is that on October 2, I received a new assignment from the Lord. I started my new job at Emmanuel as Family Ministry Pastor. I am super excited to be part of an amazing team and looking forward to what God has in store as we reach our community for Christ.
Right now my heart is full of gratitude.
Gratitude to the Lord for giving me another assignment. It’s an incredible feeling knowing that He is not done with me yet and I still have a supply to offer.
Gratitude to my wife Debbie, for always sticking with me as we walk our journey together.
Gratitude to Pastor Nate and Jodi for believing in me. (There’s not a lot of churches hiring Family Pastors that are over 50)
Gratitude to Emmanuel for asking me to serve their families.
One last thought: Be nice to the kids you are leading because one day they may be
your boss.
love this! congrats and I look forward to reading how God continues to use you!
Way to go Pastor Mark! I love how you and Miss Debbie are are always sensitive to the Holy Spirit and seeking the Lord, and are not scared to try something new with God! You continue to be a trail blazer, and I think the impact you’ll have for the Kingdom from ECC will be so much greater than you or the leadership there even are hoping for!
Wow! That’s awesome Mark. So happy for you and Debra. Thank you for being transparent and sharing part of your journey with your supporters. I know changes are coming for me too. Love and blessings to you both.
Congratulations, Pastors Mark & Debbie! You are filled with wisdom and strength, grace and patience to accomplish all God has before you!!!!
Congrats!
Love you Guys! your in our thoughts and prayers!
That is so good! I’m happy for you that you found a place that really gets your heart for generational ministry. “His faithfulness continues to ALL generations.” Psalm 100:5
Dearest Brother Mark and Sister Debbie: I would like to thank you for the encouragement. I have been the children’s Pastor in our church since 1984. haha long time huh. I met you and Debbie a few times over the years and used your lessons many times. Our church is very small and has never really gotten bigger than 100 but out children’s ministry has always been thriving. Recently our numbers have dwindled much. We went from roughly 50 kids to 4 or 5 on a good Sunday. I never was impressed with numbers for I’ve seen as much power from small groups as large. Our kids are strong in the Lord which I am very blessed by. I’m old school as you can see but God’s anointing is God’s anointing no matter the things you use or teach. I seek God every week for the lessons and use your stuff and bro. Willie’s as fillers which work great. I just want to congratulate you on your new position ans am seeking God myself as where I can go or do and at my age of 68 will not be easy but Moses wasn’t a young shaver either. My heart is kids and always has been so I await God’s direction as you did. If you find it in your heart please pray for my wife and I as we go through this time of I don’t know what? Thank you for your time and once again congratulations and be blessed with all a wonderful God has for you and Debbie. In his love and service always, Pastor Paul Furedi
We’re so grateful God has brought you to lead us! An answer to prayers from all parties involved. 😎
Bless you Mark. I worked withPastor Been in Janesville for a bunch of years. Good man and great family. Pray you are blessed in you new assignment
Thanks Mark
Congratulations as you step into the next phase of your ministry! ECC families are blessed beyond measure to have you, and I know that feeling is mutual as you minister to them. Happy you found a new ‘home.’ Much love always!
Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments. We are excited about the new journey.
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