Hello friends. I haven't taken the time to write much personal stuff on my blog lately. I do miss doing so. And I've heard from you that you miss it too. The truth is that starting and running a new church takes an incredible amount of energy, especially when I so desire to do something different than what has been done before.
I remember driving with Mary Kay last December when we were talking about whether or not to start Church Requel or not. During the drive we dreamed about what it might be like. I told her that I would love a church where I not only had the opportunity to preach on the weekends, but could also share with people my love for the Scriptures on a daily basis. Then we talked about the geographic limitations of being in just one location, but the wide open audience opportunities we potentially could enjoy beyond Mansfield if we were to put our work on the internet.
When I examined most of the video websites, I was surprised to find that very few people (actually I didn't find anyone that did it consistently for any length of time) provided a daily Bible study. Many pastors provided their weekly sermons. But that's quite a different feel than when someone is sitting down talking with you on a one to one basis. And that's what I wanted my Bible studies to feel like.
Well, it's been five months now and 130 Bible studies later. I now know why I haven't found anyone else who has done it. #1) Because it takes a lot of work. #2) the audience is not immediately available. So, it is easy to get discouraged looking at all the work that goes into it and then looking at what appears initially to be so few people actually engaging in the study.
Have you ever heard someone say they were called to do something? Or that this is their "destiny"? Well, this is my calling... this is my destiny. This is what I believe God has created me to be and to do. And while it does take an enormous amount of work, I don't believe there ever has been a time in my life when I have ever been more engaged or more happy or more satisfied with what I'm doing.
The truth is that I love what I'm doing. I love just about every aspect of it. I love engaging with the Bible. I love praying over it and thinking about it. I love sitting down to my computer and writing out an outline or a script for what I think I should say about a particular verse. I love schlepping my gear around town looking for a suitable backdrop and then recording a study, sometimes two or three times to get it right. I love coming back and editing the video. The uploads and the internet connections, I will admit, are pretty much a daily chore and I hope that some day I may find somebody to help me with it. But every job has an aspect of drudgery.
And while the audience is not large yet, it is growing. Certainly there are the wonderful, supportive people who come to Church Requel every weekend, who support my work by encouragement and with their hard earned finances. Increasingly, there are people from other states and other countries, who tune in - some ocassionally, some daily. And every now and again, I receive an email or a twitter from someone telling me that my word for them this day was just what they needed to hear. And what price could I place on something like that?
So I don't have as much time to write or journal here as I would like. But know that I am writing each and every day. Know that most of my energies are going into these daily studies and these weekly sermons. This is my gift to you, a gift that comes from my heart desires and passions. I hope they benefit you and bless you and draw you closer in your relationship with our Lord. Mark
