I also noted the two dates that I had previously written next to the highlighted passage; 10/17/00 and 9/10/01. That morning I remembered on 10/17/00 I decided to take a position offered to me by a large Environmental Consulting firm out of Orlando. God had used this verse to call me to leave my 16 year employment working for Broward County as an Environmental Engineer to take a new job as a Senior Environmental Consultant. I left my secure, comfortable well paying county job that I loved so much because I believed that God called to me to, and made me a promise through this verse. During the next year I opened a satellite office in Delray Beach FL, hired two employees and managed a multi-million dollar State contract along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in other State environmental contracts. I made an amazing amount of money, was loved by the owner of the firm and all the clients. The Lord was gracious to me, had blessed me and His face was shining on me. I was even promised a 10% office-sharing bonus after one year.
Then during that year, in May of 2001 I went on a short mission trip to the Adventure Learning Centre and found out they used a science and nature based curriculum to educate and share the gospel with Bahamian children. I felt the call to this ministry in the Bahamas so clear and powerful, it was undeniable. After about 7 months in my new position I had to tell the firm that I was called by God to serve at ALC. When the owner asked, "How much are they going to pay you?", my response of "nothing" baffled him. Over the next three months I wrapped up my obligations as they searched for someone to replace me. I had to forfeit my office sharing bonus, I sold my home and everything I had accumulated, sold my new car and said goodbye to my friends and church family and landed in Nassau with two duffel bags to my name on 9/5/01.
I had been again reading through the bible and five days after arriving in the Bahamas, on 9/10/01, I opened it to Numbers 6. It was then that I realized the Lord had completely fulfilled his promise with abundant peace!
For over 18 years I have been blessed,
I continued my time with the Lord that day in a daily Oswald Chambers devotion. As I was flipping through the paperback devotional to find July 8th, I spotted something written on the bottom of one page. I turned back to it and saw a note I had written on the April 24thdevotion. I had written “Jesus saved me Saturday [April 24] 1993”. I smiled and then went to the July 8th devotion.
For almost a year though, I had not had peace. I have been earnestly praying for God's direction regarding my service at ALC due to differences of the values and character between myself and ALC's leadership and board. Truth was being compromised. I have always said that it was not a man, but God who brought me to Adventure Learning Centre, and it would not be a man, but only God who would move me away. I was committed to follow God no matter what direction he chose.
As I continued in my Oswald Chambers devotion, God's directive became undeniable to me. As you see in the text it is entitled Will to be faithful then it says choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15. I ask you to read the whole thing but can summarize it with a few sentences of the devotion;
"When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you."
After reading this, I immediately got up and submitted my resignation to the ALC Board. I would have been disobedient to stay and continue to overlook our differences. Despite my joy and love of sharing the gospel with what has been by far the most impactful evangelistic ministry in The Bahamas, I knew I must move on.
At this point, four days later, I don't know what God has for me next but I am certain of the One who has me. I am excited for what He has for me but I am also saddened by the events that have taken place, not for myself but for the ministry. I ask you who have been praying for me, to pray for the ministry and especially for the tens of thousands of Bahamian children and adults who have heard a clear presentation of the gospel at ALC over the last 27 years. Pray that God would draw those, who don’t yet know Him, to Jesus and for those who do know Him, to walk in His will.
I am open to whatever God has for me. I have already spoken to another youth ministry, considered the possibility of teaching at a Christian school and applied for two secular jobs. But I remain Compelled to tell.... until the whole world hears.
Some of my supporters have committed to continue supporting me financially for up to three months. This is truly a blessing. If you would like to help me through this transition, GO Ministries will continue to accept and distribute support for me through November. Thank you for journeying with me.
If you would like to continue support for one, two or three months, click here; Support Mark at ALC or you can write a check to GO!Ministries and mail it to; 270 East Palais Road, Anaheim, CA 92850. Make sure to write my missionary #1273 in the memo space.
