Mark has served as Pastor of Windham Baptist Church for the past 30 years. Mark is one of our Small Town Summits Coaches. Rural New England churches that are “stuck” and need a pastor to come alongside of them can receive free coaching. Contact us HERE for more information about STS Coaching.

Tell us a little about your ministry in small-town New England.

I did not grow up in New England, but while I was in college, I visited the Sebago Lake region of Maine for three weeks. My brother told me to go to Windham Baptist Church. They welcomed me with open arms (and spaghetti). I wanted to live in a place like that! Little did I know that in 1996 I would be called to serve at that same church and call this region my home. My wife grew up in Maine, and my daughter and son were born here. I love this place, but especially these people. The teens I once focused on are now elders and pastors and leaders throughout the region.

What are some reasons that you love the small places?

I love small places because they're places where people can be known. I've lived in large places; even impressive places with impressive people who had important places to go and important things to do. Too often that caused people to be passed over, and few were given the opportunity to do new things. In small places I rarely feel the rush, traffic patterns don't rule my life, and people are likely to see me as part of the community.

People here are not afraid of life being hard. They don't need gimmicks. They insist we stick to gospel-shaped means and methods. Success has more to do with our sending capacity than our seating capacity.

What thrills your heart about the place God put you in?

I love that Windham Baptist was willing to let me grow up and grow into what God had for me. We’ve passed that blessing on to others. We love being deeply relational and pointing each other to who God is, how God acts, who we are because of Jesus, and how we should live. In light of that, we are free to let others grow up here and develop their gifts too. We help others embrace that they are extravagantly loved by God. That leads to people who are equipped to make disciples of others and then free to impact others. We cling to the truth that “God works through people just like me.” Ultimately, in time, many are released for the good of the kingdom throughout our region and world. For a small church, we rejoice that a large number of our church family are valuable for the kingdom and live for the good of the orchard, not just one tree.

What are some of the difficulties you have come across in small-town ministry?

Small towns have long memories so some wounds take a long time to heal; be patient. Every church experiences loss and people leave, but when you're in a small church that pain is more in your face. It doesn’t just impact pastors, it sticks to his wife and his children. Loss is felt by the rest of the faith family especially when they run into them at the store or at a school event. I think I understand Paul's heart for the Corinthians when he urged them, “our heart is wide open…. widen your hearts also” (2 Corinthians 6:12-13).

A poverty mindset can cripple us. We forget that God is not limited by what's in our bank account, what we own, or the people we know. This mindset makes it hard to dream, hard to imagine that God would supply, because clearly small towns don't have the resources—at least that's what we can believe.

How would you encourage a small-town pastor who is wondering if his ministry is worth it?

Don’t quit—it's too early. Whether you are a church planter or revitalizer, each takes ten years plus. It will be worth it! After thirty years I have been able to see the rest of the story so many times; people who walked away from Jesus have returned and relationships have been restored. Many of those have returned wholeheartedly, passionate about the grace they have received from Jesus. By God’s grace and over time we have seen networks developed, churches revitalized and new areas reached.

Open your heart to the people God gives you to shepherd and let them shepherd you and your family. Help your people know God through his Word and prayer; make it clear. Do your job—show up when you say you will.

Focus on those three areas and God will, undoubtedly, throw you into the pool where you will feel in over your head—but he will grow you and your flock. They don't need a shepherd who can handle anything, they need someone who trusts God in anything and depends on him for everything.