Leading people to intimate places with God where his voice can be heard.
One Thing
January - March 2006
One Thing
Steve Klassen
“We need heroes who have one idea they believe can change the world and who are ready to act on it.” (Floyd McClung)
As the years go by and I watch myself and my friends and acquaintances get older I am convinced that Floyd McClung is right. We need heroes in the world who are focusing their energies in one direction, acting on one burning idea, a dream, or a deep conviction that won’t go away.
The writings of King David reveal his passion to walk closely with God, which marked his life. “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) Paul the Apostle likewise was marked by singleness of mind and heart, “…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” (Philippians 3:13-14)
One of our privileges at the MARK Centre is interacting with people who have a specific vision. For a couple of months this fall I met weekly with a man who is now with his wife launching a missionary training center for Latin Americans in Guadalajara Mexico. Friends of ours just flew back to Thailand to start an orphanage for babies with aids. These people have a focus to their lives that is contagious. We want to get behind them with money and prayers and whatever they need to realize their dreams.
I have also seen this single-mindedness recently in the CEO of a thriving business. His passion is to see people working in areas where they are most gifted. His conviction is that personal happiness will abound as they do exactly what they have been created to do best. Other less visible heroes are all around us putting into practice the one idea they believe can change the world.
A father asked his son a great question recently. The son was struggling to know where God was leading him to give his energy with respect to a career. This young man was studying part-time at a Bible College and also working part-time as a framer. His father, knowing his son’s dilemma asked him one day, “Erik, what gets you really excited - a bag of books or a bag of tools?” Erik was grateful for the question and answered honestly that a bag of tools got him excited. The very next day something happened out of the blue that Erik will never forget. A man, who knew nothing about the interaction between Erik and his father, gave Erik a bag of expensive tools. The unexpected gift has focused Erik’s life, closing one door and opening wide another. Today he is framing.
What will you be remembered by? Do you have one idea that is burning in your heart? Are you ready to act on it?
Jackson’s jump & Josiah’s dunk
As a family we are excited about the arrival of our 6th child, expected
in early March! Our kids are healthy, growing up and enjoying life.
Josiah, our family linguist was baptized in November and just two
weeks later Jackson “jumped into manhood” as he celebrated
his
13th birthday by skydiving on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Mia
turns 11 next month and has enjoyed school cross country, volleyball
and is now joining basketball. Ellarie loves playing with friends
and her Irish and Hip Hop dance classes. Bethany and Jackson share
a passion for soccer. Jackson is a natural defender, but Beth
scores every weekend and is turning into her team’s speedy
striker.
Matching gifts eliminating our debt
In October a small group of men met together in the rooftop chapel
and prayerfully decided to put together a plan to pay off the remaining
debt (about $120,000) from our building phase. These men decided
to set up a matching gifts plan so that if anyone chooses to give
a gift toward finishing off the remaining debt, they will match
that gift immediately and in so doing speed the day when our debt
will be entirely eliminated. Will you consider giving a gift to
finish off the MARK Centre building phase debt that will be matched
by this group? We are very close (about $50,000 to go) and would
love to see this debt eliminated soon so we can move forward with
even greater confidence than ever!
Dave and Scott from the fall TREK group constructed this tree house that is almost ready to host people for sleepovers.
This spring we hope to build an outdoor living room in this northeast corner of the property with a gazebo, table/chair area, barbeque and hot tub.
Please let us know if you want to participate with us at the MARK Centre in some way. We are grateful for your support. Every week we are hosting people, awareness is growing and momentum is building. We are excited to see what happens next!
In Canada, cheques can be made payable to MARK
Centre, and sent to:
31605 Old Yale Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 2B4
In the United States, cheques can be made payable to MBMS
International, and mailed to:
4867 E. Townsend Avenue
Fresno, CA 93727-5006
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MARK Centre Advisory Council Members
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Home phone: (604) 852-3562
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