The Pastoral Butterfly Effect

So, I went before our elders today to be interviewed for membership. Although, I think the term interviewed might not be the best term. Basically, it was a sit down with some elders and another couple being interviewed. We got to talk about our personal testimonies about how God brought us to saving faith and how God has worked in our lives since then. It turns out the other couple was from Capitol Hill Baptist Church where Mark Dever pastors. They started talking about how important they began to see church membership after attending there.

God was awesome in showing how He can work in one pastors life and affect a group of completely unrelated people. You see, our elders had begun going through a series called 9 marks that Mark Dever teaches about 9 “marks” (or distinguishing characteristics of a healthy and obedient church) and realized our need as a church to begin making focused actions toward implementing those “marks” in our fellowship. As I had mentioned, the other couple (Gar and his wife) had come to the same conclusion under Mark’s teaching (lol, I just noticed his name is Mark and their are 9 “marks”, but I digress). I heard of Mark and the 9 marks ministry after listening to a speaking engagement by Shai Linne on “Christianity and the Arts” that I posted here earlier this year. After listening to The Master’s College podcast, I came across a teaching by him on Church Correction, which was a huge blessing considering what I was going through.

So, one pastor focusing on the importance of one subject and being open to share that through numerous avenues joined six people (that I know of) under the same teaching and mindset. God is SO AWESOME!

Long story short, I’m now a member of Grace Bible Church and I can’t wait to start serving alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Coram DEO!

p.s. Thank you Howard for confronting my lack of short term spiritual focus. In regards to that, here’s a song related to this week’s goal of faithfulness by embracing self control.

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Zae Da Blacksmith – Self Control (from the epic B3ar Fruit Mixtape)