Mark Lewis

I was blessed to be raised in a home where the name of Jesus was exalted, where Christian principles were taught, where living a Godly life was both exemplified and expected. While I was immersed for the forgiveness of my sins at the age of 10, my conversion story extends many years beyond that precious Easter Sunday in 1971. My parents encouraged me to ask questions about God; their support instilled in me a lifestyle of seeking and growing in the Lord and His will, rather than assuming I had already "arrived" with all the answers.

As impacting as my parents have been, it has been my 22+ year marriage to Gina, and the blessings of our parenting Casey and Patrick that have facilitated my deepest maturing in the Lord. The day-in and day-out joys of family life, coupled with seasons of pain, have taught me to thank God for each day, to trust Him more, to take nothing for granted, and to love the people in my life actively in the name of Jesus.

I am blessed to be a member of a congregation where I see shepherds actively modeling the biblical role to which they are called. Shepherds are to embody and share the love of Christ. They are called to teach the flock. They look after the members of the congregation, focusing on the spiritual health of those in their care, as well as being present in both the significant and day-to-day events of their lives. Shepherds seek to live out Christ's prayer from John 17 for unity in the Body that is so impacting the world will know that God sent Him. Shepherds are constant in their prayer life with the Father, maintaining an intimate relationship with their Maker that will provide focus, strength, and His wisdom in their words and actions. And Shepherds seek out the lost members of the flock who have drifted off or have been pulled away by the enemy, seeking to extend God's love, grace and mercy to them with the hope they will at some point return to the Body.

As I reflect on a vision for the Highland church my heart is drawn to numerous passages, but for the sake of brevity I'll focus on one, Acts 2:42-47: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The brothers and sisters of the early Jerusalem church lived in excited expectation of the return of Jesus. They embodied a fervor and focus that came from prayer, fellowship, unity, and a passion to share the Good News of what God had done for all people through the precious life of Jesus. Their joy and celebratory heart overfl owed into the lives of all with whom they came into contact. My hope is for us to continue to humbly and prayerfully seek to be that simple, growing, transforming Body that Christ has called us to be.