Someone recently suggested that I include my own bio on the list of staff that I’ve been compiling for the last couple of weeks.  Where do I start?  

As a kid, I played fastpitch softball.  (Softball is for sissies, but fastpitch is the real thing!)  It was in those seven years that I believe God was preparing me for my role as a pastor’s wife.  Being a catcher is like playing all the positions at the same time, but staying in one place.  You get foul balls, pop flies, you’re a baseman, there are line drives, you make the pitcher better if you make the right calls, you keep the ump happy, and with the right padding, you can get hit pretty hard and still be OK.  A great catcher is very fast and can throw all the way to second base with a surprising speed and accuracy.  If something gets past you, it could very well cost you the game and there’s no one around to rescue you.  Although a catcher is part of the team, they are also very clearly playing their own game just outside the bounds of the field.

And that pretty much sums up my life in ministry.  I love my role, although it includes such a variety of jobs that it can leave me reeling.  I’m definitely on the team, but just slightly outside of the bounds.  I do my best to make the pitcher look good, I can take a hit better than most, and not too many things get by me. 

I try very hard to hide my fierce determination because when it comes out, it tends to scare small children.  I can easily accept someone elses failure, but I can’t tolerate my own.  I need people around me to do what they are great at because that is when I’m most comfortable.  Whiners and those who spend more time complaining than working absolutely drive me nuts. 

I am blessed to have a church that doesn’t make me feel like I have to be something I’m not.  I’m never going to be on the worship team, play the piano, bake cookies for the women’s bazaar, or wear a broach.  Nor am I good at saying all of the right things.  No comments necessary on that one…

The thing that gets me up in the morning is to watch people’s dreams come true.  I want you to be incredible and if I can help, I’ll pretty much bleed to make it happen.  I love people…a lot.  I spend my extra thought time trying to figure out how to get you involved in the bigger picture of doing something great for God.  I ask for updated church directories frequently so that I can go through each name and take inventory of where you are fitting in.  If you’re not, I want to know about it, but don’t tell me unless you want a new ministry.

Most importantly I love God.  I love His Bible.  I love the job that He’s given me.  I’m doing my best to please Him and “catch” as many people as I can for the kingdom of God.

And behind all of the amazing leaders that I’ve spent the last week telling you about stands an amazing man.  Our lead pastor is a phenomenal man.  I have the privilege of sharing my life with him, so I know him well. 

Mark was a youth pastor for over a dozen years, which took us on an incredibe journey that molded and shaped our lives into who we are now.  For at least ten of those years Mark never dreamed of starting a church.  In fact, I’m pretty sure that would have been the job that he wanted the least…ironically it has become his greatest joy in ministry.

Several years ago, Mark knew his days in youth ministry were coming to a close.  It was bittersweet because we both really loved that era of our lives.  However, when God begins to tug at your heart, you are never quite comfortable.  After much research, prayer, and counsel, his path was obvious.  He would join the ranks of those who have sacrificed and stepped out in faith to start a church from scratch.

Mark is dripping with optimism and faith.  I’m not sure the thought ever crossed his mind that this might not work.  I believe that is because God whispers to a pastor’s heart differently than the rest of us.  The mantle of ministry is a heavy one…one that I would not wish for on anybody.  I think God is gracious to those that have a pastor’s heart.  A common thread for those in ministry is a strong determination mixed with a sensitivity that can easily break a man. 

Mark is a leader that allows other people to be their best.  He is so deeply confident in who God made him that he has no problem letting others be better in the giftings that God has given to them.  He is an enabler in ministry.  He will use people far before they are “perfect” and “ready” because he so deeply believes in the using the gifts God has given us…at the level that they currently are.

He strives for excellence in everything he does and suffers deeply when he lets someone down.  He has an insane attention to detail, which is famous for being labeled as “intense”.  We are blessed to be following a man of integrity.  What you see is what you get.  He has no ability to be guarded or pretentious. 

Mark loves to laugh, which is probably his favorite part of being a dad.  He enjoys the small moments of life.  He lives for your stories of changed lives and bursts with excitement when you grow in your life.  His intentions are pure and his reason for being a leader has nothing to do with titles and egos.  He is called by God to preach the Word and that humbles him daily.  It’s what I admire about him the most.