The Answer Lies Somewhere in the Middle

The question of what kind of congregation do we want to be has been asked by most congregations over the past 20 years, and most likely over the past 2000 years. Some want to focus on the young exclusively, some on the ageing exclusively, some on the non-converted exclusively, some on the (name your group) exclusively. God has been faithful in extending His mercies to these many exclusively focused congregations, and we give Him great thanks and praise. The question for us St. Mark is, do we fit into this exclusive club or are we something different?

As I’ve participated in our physical transition, as I’ve seen us develop new ministries, as I’ve watched my and many of your children grow, and as I’ve felt the aging of 30 years to 33 years (I know I get no sympathy), I have asked myself continually – “Who is St. Mark?” I believe deep down in my bones that we are not called to be exclusive. I believe with all of my heart that we are meant to be a congregation that is a family and not a focus group. Please don’t misunderstand me; I am not against meeting the needs of a particular group, because I believe that God is blessing many ministries that are doing just that. What I believe is that, here at St. Mark, we have the skills, blessings, and desire to build a family of believers, and not a focus group. A family that spans generations. A family that is focused on raising children, encouraging teens, young adults, parents and singles, caring for widows, and widowers, and mourning as we rejoice with those whom we have known as they enter glory.

All of this brings us to these questions, “how do we do ministry in the middle”, or, “how do we best act as a family and not a focus group?”
1 Cor 9:22 – “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

These words from Paul command that the Church search out and act upon new, old, exciting, boring, any and every method, song, style, dress, anything that might connect with and unbelieving culture, so that they might come to know Jesus as their Savior. This does not mean that we are willing to give up the truth about who God is and what His Word teaches us. It means that we are willing to somehow bring the unchanging truth to an ever-changing world.

As we look at St. Mark, and discover the strengths and passions that define her, we see that the best way for us to bring God to the culture is for us to do everything we can to be a “family of believers”. A family is made up of people of all ages, and is well versed in the need to help and care for babies, toddlers, children, teens, parents, adults, the elderly, and the dying. Focusing all of our energy on just one group is not who we are. We strive to do all that we can to meet everyone where they are and give them a place to belong. This requires us to meet one another in the middle. To put our own preferences aside at times so that other members of the family are fed and nurtured. Our family values never change (the good news of Jesus), but how we share them often does.

I pray that as your immediate families gather together, and you see all of the changes that have happened, the new experiences that you share, and the old traditions that you celebrate, you would see that the Church was meant to function in the same way. A family of believers meeting one another wherever and however best meets the needs of those we call our brothers and sisters in Christ from 1 to 100. God bless all of you my dear Christian family.