Mark Brown has accepted our offer to serve as our new Worship Arts Minister! Mark currently serves as Music Minister for the mother church of our denomination, MCC Los Angeles. Before coming into MCC, Mark gained invaluable experience on the worship staff of two huge churches in the northwest United States.

His first Sunday here will be July 20!

“Mark was our top choice for this position,” Pastor Jeff says. “After we picked apart resumes, interviewed the leading candidates, and checked references, Mark surfaced as ‘the one.’” After Jason Saylor, our interim Worship Leader interviewed Mark, he told our Search Team, “When Mark sang, I was almost moved to tears. I could really feel God’s Spirit moving through him.” Jason went on to say, “It’s rare to find someone with Mark’s combination of musical skills: he has a lovely voice, plays the piano beautifully, sight reads well, is skilled at composing and arranging music, and knows church music well. He’s the whole package!”

For almost six months, Pastor Jeff and the Board of Directors conducted an intensive national search. We received applications from twelve gifted individuals from across the United States. The decision to hire Mark was approved unanimously by our Board of Directors.

Mark’s Background
Mark was born on an Indian reservation in Montana in 1966, then adopted by parents who served in the military and were devout participants in Assembly of God Churches. Throughout his youth, Mark was active in church music ministry, playing the piano and singing. At an early age, he felt called to serve God through music and worship.

Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition and Arrangement at Northwest College, Seattle. His first job out of college was as Associate Music Minister at a huge church — The Neighborhood Church, Bellevue, Washington — where for three years he led worship, conducted a 15 piece orchestra, directed a children’s choir of 40, and assisted with an adult choir of 60. From there, Mark was hired as Associate Music Minister for Tacoma Life Center, the largest Assembly of God Church in the Northwest United States, with attendance of 6,000. Mark’s duties included leading worship, conducting an orchestra, directing a youth choir of 110, directing a children’s choir of 40, founding and directing a seniors’ choir of 60, and assisting with the adult choir of 150. Worship services were televised.

When Mark came out to the Church’s leaders, they told him he could continue in his position if he pledged never to enter a gay relationship. He declined and resigned. What followed was a period of wilderness years during which Mark assumed he had been rejected by God and the Church. During this time, Mark worked in the banking business.

Six years later, a friend invited him to Four Winds Community Church, Portland, Oregon, a Native American Christian Church. This was Mark’s first experience in an affirming Church. He began volunteering in their music ministry and eventually served for two years on staff as their Music Director. During this same time, Mark served as musical director, composer, and arranger for a trio called “We 3″ that produced a CD.

After two years at Four Winds, Mark became Minister of Worship and Celebration for MCC Portland. There he prepared both a liturgical and contemporary service each week, built the choir from a handful to 28, started an orchestra of 14, oversaw worship teams, began annual Christmas programs, and launched a successful musical theater group as an outreach into the community.

Eventually, Mark accepted an offer to move to Los Angeles to serve as Music Director for MCC LA, where he currently serves. There he has prepared a liturgical and contemporary service each week and built the choir from a handful to 22. He oversees the praise band, has instituted Christmas and Easter programs, and has launched another successful musical theater group.

Mark is excited about the prospect of coming to Jesus MCC because of our reputation as a leading congregation in the MCC Movement and because our Christ-centered focus resonates with him.

Why Mark?
Although there are many reasons why the Search Team selected Mark, here are a few of the most important:

• Spiritual Alignment. Mark is passionate about following Jesus and loves our Christ-centered focus. His authenticity is evident.
• Calling. Mark articulated a strong, unambiguous, life-long sense of calling to Worship Ministry. When asked what he would most like to be doing five or ten years from now, his response was unequivocal: “I want to be the best Worship Minister possible.” This is someone who could, if the fit works well, conceivably devote the rest of his career to our Church.
• Giftedness. Jason and Durwin Griggs (choir representative) gave Mark very high marks for musical competence. This was echoed by all Mark’s references, including former supervising pastors.
• Personality. Mark is a warm, gentle soul. Unlike the stereotype about talented musicians, Mark is easy-going, relaxed, and humble. People will love working with him.
• Professional Track Record. In every church he has served, Mark has helped the worship program take big steps forward.
• Diversity. Mark’s Native American heritage, church background, and personality style will all add diversity to our staff. He has a deep commitment — and the education and experience — to help us broaden our worship to include a range of styles, from classical to contemporary, from traditional to innovative.

Please begin praying now for Mark’s big move from the West Coast to the Heartland. Once he arrives, our job is to surround him with love and support here in his new home!

This entry was posted on Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 3:46 pm and is filed under Church News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.