December 2021
Family greeting and ministry update
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~Romans 15:13
Dear loved ones,
I write with Katharine to wish you a comfort and hope-filled celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and genuinely fruitful new year.
Katharine and I are privileged along with Jon to spend time with Andy and Pete’s families this season. We enjoyed a Christmas Program with Andy, Sheri, Loxi, Paul, and Cora at their church along with Jeff and Marcy, Sheri’s parents. In the spring and summer, we cheered on Paul and Andy in their first t-ball season in Enumclaw. We had a great early dinner with Pete, Nellie, Farah, and Lilah at the McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge. Hopefully, we will be able to share photos in coming days.
Katharine is in her 26th year primarily at the Covington Library within the King County Library System through the COVID-19 pandemic and post shutdown seasons.
Jon, our youngest son, 29, moved back in with us during this past year and works full-time as a mover with First Due. We love having him with us during this transitional season for him.
I am in my 19th year serving as a volunteer chaplain for men at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent and 16th year with Prisoners for Christ Outreach Ministries. My last PFC international mission trip was in Cameroon in February of 2020--there were four canceled trips. Our many PFC teams pivoted—for me, it means fruitful Zoom conferences and evangelism services with our national missionaries throughout Africa, the Philippines, India, Nepal, and recently in Mexico. I regularly write pen pal letters to former inmates.
As part of my pivot and lifelong learning, I am training and actively participating in leadership strength coaching as a personal business through WeAlign. My purposes are to grow in godly maturity to constantly finish well and to serve others. I continue to participate on the leadership team with Celebrate Recovery at the Kent Covenant Church Thursday nights
I’m a leader and mentor in my second year in the Colson Fellows Program and attended my first Wilberforce Weekend in May held in Fort Worth, Texas. My second is scheduled for May in Orlando, Florida
Throughout this past year, I was privileged to preach memorial services for two lifetime friends--
In May, for Dick Rothlisberger, my chaplain co-worker at the MRJC since 2002 where I still serve with Judy, his precious widow.
In September, for Steve Merrick with Paul and Amy and their families at the Baptist Church in Union, Oregon where I served as pastor from 1989-1992.
In Christ,
Mark
