The Zone Gathering

What is your officially title? And what does that mean you do?
I am an administrative assistant. One of my responsibilities is to look over the connection cards collected in the offering and to respond to the visitors. I send a welcome e-mail to the first-time guests, and if they request information about small groups or ministry opportunities, I send them information. Some of my other responsibilities include keeping record of the weekly offering, stuffing the bulletins, and entering worship songs into the computer for Sunday’s worship.

Tell us a little about the small group that you lead and how that experience has impacted you.
I am a leader of the Ballston “Greenhouse” small group. I started attending this group over a year ago, soon after I started attending NCC. When I first came to the church, I didn’t know anyone, so I wanted to get involved in a small group. I have made many friends who keep me accountable and help me grow spiritually. My small group has become like my spiritual family. I do everything with them!

Where can you be found on Sunday mornings?
On Sunday mornings, you can find me playing keyboard on the Ballston worship team.

When did you start following Christ and what have been some of the spiritual turning points in your life?
I started following Christ at a very young age. I was raised in a strong Christian family, and I attended a Christian school most of my life, so I had a strong Biblical foundation. A spiritual turning point in my life was when I went on my first mission trip in 1995 to El Salvador. God used this trip to open my eyes to the hurting world around me. I realized how selfish I had been for not reaching out to those that were unsaved and in poverty. On this trip, I felt the Lord calling me into ministry, and my relationship with God became much more personal. I started spending time with Him every day in prayer and Bible study.

Another turning point in my life was when I did a one year internship with Teen Mania Ministries. Teen Mania is a mission organization based in Texas. I decided to take a year off before going to college so that I could focus on God and seek His will for my life. During that year, I grew a lot spiritually. I took classes in character development and leadership. I learned a lot about missions and ministry.

My spiritual life has not always been mountain top experiences. In college, I went through a season when I felt dry spiritually. I spent so much time studying, and I neglected my quiet times with the Lord. I began to doubt God because I couldn’t sense Him in my life and I thought He was being silent. But becoming part of National Community Church has made such a difference in my life. Pastor Mark’s powerful teaching, worship, and the people at NCC have helped re-ignite a passion in my heart.

Tell us a little about your background.
I was raised in Warrenton, VA, a small town, not too far from Skyline Drive. I have one younger brother (23), and two older sisters, who are married and have kids. I love spending time with my nieces! I have a degree in Intercultural Studies (missions) from Lee University, in Cleveland, TN.

What is your favorite Scripture passage?
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:14-16

This Scriptures passage reminds me that God has uniquely made me, and I am special in His eyes. He has a wonderful plan for my life.

What are your favorite books?
Two of my favorite books are The Sacred Romance and Journey of Desire by John Eldredge. The author explains that God calls us on a journey full of intimacy, adventure, and beauty. God longs to be in relationship with us, and He is the only One who can truly fill us.

What are your favorite movies?
My new favorite movie is The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The producers did a great job, and so did the cast. What an awesome allegory! My favorite funny movie is Napoleon Dynamite. I laugh hysterically every time I watch it. Of course, the plot is not that good, but I love the humor because it’s random.

What is your favorite fast food?
My favorite fast food is a salad at Wendy’s. I like the Oriental salad with mandarin oranges. The crispy chicken salad at McDonald’s is pretty good too. (**Editor’s Note: Apparently, Mary does not realize that fast food is not supposed to be healthy.)

What is something that most people at NCC would not know about you?
I have been to six different countries on mission trips: El Salvador, Botswana (Africa), India, Israel, South Africa, and Mozambique.

If you were not working at NCC, what would your dream job be?
My dream job would be to teach music in a school or to travel with a Christian band. I have always had a dream of being in a band that toured on the road.

Who is your hero?
Some of my heroes are female Christian singers such as Natalie Grant and Bethany Dillon. I have a lot of respect for them because they are very young, and they are using the gifts God has given them. The lyrics to their songs are very powerful.

What do you do in your free time?
I read, play guitar or piano, sing, exercise, or cook.

In NCC: THE MOVIE, who would play you and who would play Pastor Mark?
I can relate to the role that Julie Andrews played in the Sound of Music. I love music, and I love children. I am working part-time as a nanny for 3 children right now, and I love to sing with them.

Jim Carey would play Pastor Mark. Pastor Mark has a great sense of humor, and he sometimes does crazy things like Jim Carey (like jumping in a river to chase geese).

I love the fact that Mark has a great sense of humor because his sermons are never boring!

What is your favorite Pastor Markism?
One of Pastor Mark’s quotes that stands out to me was from his “Wired for Worship” series. He said, “God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He’s just looking for a willing heart.”

Pastor Mark used the story of Moses to illustrate this point. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites, Moses didn’t think he had what it took to lead, but God wanted to use him despite his weaknesses. This is a great lesson for me because sometimes I feel unworthy for what God calls me to do, but God wants me to step out in faith so He can use me in powerful ways!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 13th, 2005 at 8:53 am and is filed under Spotlights, Staff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.