Mark's Thoughts

MOVING AHEAD

2006-07-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today I am sitting in my office and thinking about the future. I am 54 years old and i still think I have some of the best years of my life ahead of me. I have noticed that my focus has changed in the past 5 years. No longer do I feel like I need to build a mega church. Today I feel we need to grow laterally. I desire to see churches planted, Bible Studies begun not just in the area I live but around me. Epic Community Church will be launching in October. My prayer is that we will have someone on site by October in Grand Ledge. In 2007 I would like to see someone go into the Delta Township area. In 2008 we need to key in on East Lansing. In 2009 Okemos, in 2010 Dewitt, in 2011 Bath township. That is 7 churches in the next 5 years. We need to be actively recruiting church planters to fulfill the mission. With no vision the people perish.

Finally Here

2006-06-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last entry. My life seems to be changing on a daily basis. On April 28th I became a grandpa to Logan Arlin Foudy. He was born in Ft Wayne Indiana at DuPont Hospital. He was 7lb5oz. 19 inches long. He is a keeper.

Just Thinking

2006-04-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday before Easter and I am swamped so I decided to put aside my work and write. God has been such a comfort to me over the past few weeks, even though I have had to deal with some difficult situations. It is great to know my Lord will never leave me , He is always there. When I am down , He bring along things to encourage me.

Oh yes, soon I will be grandpa! My daughter Kristi is expecting any time now. She will be a great mother, because she had a great mom to train her. Kristi and Joel are keeping the name a secret because we already know it is going to be a boy. So I call him "JEHOSOPHAT".

Ben is leaving next Friday for Colwood UB to start his internship in Youth Ministry. Please pray for him as he embarks on this new adventure. I am deeply proud of both of my children as they seek to serve the Lord. It is interesting that it was their dad who was the rebellious one. I knew what God wanted in my life and I always tried to go a different direction.

May the RISEN SAVIOR be at the center of your life daily.

Mark

SPRING IS HERE

2006-03-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well today is the first day of spring and I am freezing, but I do know warmer weather is on its way. As we anticipate new growth around us I hope you do nor neglect new growth in your life.
I need to tell you in all honesty I am going through a time of being unsettled in my life. I know God is dealing with me, but as of yet no answers have come. All I hear Him say to me is" rest in Me." So here I am resting but still praying for my Lord to reveal to me steps I need to take.
I really believe God wants to move Sunfield UB Church to a new level, but what is that level. As far as the church, things are going so well. As far as personal, I am happy about where my family is. Kristi is about to make me a Grandpa. Ben is going into ministry. Ruth is satisfied with her teaching position. Things are going great. So why the unsettled feeling.
I believe God takes us through these times so we stop and just listen for His voice.
All that I am hearing is the song "OPEN MY EYES LORD I WANT TO SEE JESUS'

West Michigan Cluster

2006-03-07T13:10:00.001-08:00

Today I had the funeral of a 71 year old man from Sunfield. As I was preparing my message I went to John 11 and read about the death of Lazarus. When Jesus said that he was, "THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE", he asked Mary and Martha ,"DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?"
Our message is a life changing message and people who do not know Christ will be lost. My question is, "DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?" We become so busy with doing ministry I believe we forget that if we do not share Christ and His power to be BORN AGAIN people will end up in a lifeless eternity. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? When was the last time you shared Christ with someone? We dare not sit in our offices and act like CEO's we need to get into the field because they are white unto Harvest. AS I read over our reports from last year the one thing that struck me was that we are not seeing more people being brought into the Kingdom.
As we move together into 2006 my prayer is that we will become a cluster of churches that does not just talk about evangelism, WE DO IT!
I hope you will join hands with me as do the work of the Kingdom. My prayer for 2006 is that in our cluster we will see 200 people come into a relationship with Christ. Will you join me in that prayer?

West Michigan Cluster

2006-03-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Church Planting

2006-03-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

God is opening a door for a church planter for the UB's here in Michigan. I am really excited about what God is doing here at Sunfield and in Portland. Tuesday night Tom Blaylock and I met with a potential church planter. When I left that meeting I offered a prayer up to God to do His will. This young man is a super young guy with a vision and a desire to build a great church for God. He first must be assessed and then we will move to step 2. Please be in prayer that God would be in the middle of this guys life. We do not want to go ahead of God!
By thw way has everyone read, "REVOLUTION" by Barna. I would be interested in any comments you guys would have. A thought provoking book.

HONDURAS

2006-02-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well last Saturday I got back from Honduras. I went with Pastor Lee Rhodes and Lee Buckmaster. God showed something to me that I will carry with me forever. Here I saw people with nothing yet their hearts were full of joy. Children with smiling faces were all around me. Why do we in America with so much have such little joy? Pastor Raudaulas, the director of the UB work in Honduras told me they now have 80 churches started in Honduras. There is a great need for their Pastor's to have Study Bibles. He told me they need 100 Study Bibles which could be purchased for $20 a piece. Are their other churches out there who can help me get these Bibles to them? Let me know!!
While in Honduras I met with Pastor Ailio who is starting a church in Olanchito. Right now he has a group of 55 people. He has a vision of a church of well over 5oo people. I asked the Lord to renew my vision for Sunfield area and praise God He is doing just that! Last Sunday we had 236 folks in our worship services. It is only the beginning!
Next year in February I am going down again to Honduras. Please consider going with me. I will be sending out more info in the weeks to come.
By the way you guys in my cluster why don't we plan this trip next year together.

Blessings
Mark

We Have Only Just Begun

2006-02-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

This morning I got up early and drove on wet roads to Lansing, MI. I met with Tom Blaylock, National Director of Church planting of the UB's, Ed Love, church planter in Portland, MI.and Roy Atherton, assistant pastor of SUB. It was a great time of sharing and talking about our dreams and visions that God is placing in our hearts. I am convinced that we as a church need to be involved in church planting if we want to see more people come into the kingdom.