This Sunday in worship, we wrap up the sermon series, “What Kind of Church?” This series asks three important questions: What is the universal church called to be? What kind of church makes God’s heart glad? What kind of church will make the strongest gospel impact in our fractured, anxious world?
This Sunday, we will welcome back with joy, gratitude, and hope our Senior Pastor, Julie Pennington-Russell, from her 12-week sabbatical. Pastor Julie will assist with worship leadership this Sunday, and she will return to the pulpit next week: Sunday, August 25.
This week, we will welcome to the pulpit Rev. Mark DeVries. Mark spent 35 years in youth ministry, serving as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Their Families at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee for 28 years. Mark is the co-founder of Ministry Incubators and the founder and of Ministry Architects, the consulting group that has been working alongside First Baptist as they discern and begin to implement their next strategic chapter. Mark is the author of 12 books, including Sustainable Youth Ministry and Family-Based Youth Ministry. He and his wife Susan make their home in Nashville, TN and have three grown children and four grandchildren.
Mark’s message on Sunday is “A Camino Kind of Church” from Mark 1:16-20. Accompanying scripture passages are Psalm 62:5-12 and Ephesians 1:15-23.