Hanging Out a Shingle

I am now available for pulpit supply and special meetings within driving distance from Dillon, Montana.  Please give me a call if you would like to schedule a meeting: 406-683-2721

I am in grief but trusting God!

September Pastor’s Chat

God is faithful! What a comforting thought and truth it is to know that our Lord, Savior, and God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Over the past (nearly) 6 years I have tried by the grace of God to be faithful to Him and His calling on my life to shepherd His flock at FBC of Dillon, Montana. However, on Wednesday, August 18, it became very clear that this calling was to come to an abrupt end. After having not received a majority in a vote of confidence to continue as Pastor of FBC, I gave my one month notice of resignation. We had prayed for God’s will to be revealed through the vote of our church members. I trust in God’s sovereignty and trust Him to provide for the flock at FBC as well as for us in the days to come. Can you trust Him? Will you trust Him?

God knows what each of us needs to be more conformed to the image of Christ. God is a faithful judge and heavenly Father! We can trust Him to send our way what is best for all of us. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.” Regardless of your understanding or lack of understanding of what has happened here at FBC—love God! Grow in your knowledge of Him. Grow in your faith and trust in Him. Search the Scriptures daily and obey its clear teaching. Don’t become bitter. Be forgiving. Be wise. Be careful and discerning. Ask God for wisdom and follow His leading. Be faithful to God, for He has been and will be faithful to you! People will fail you, but He will never fail you!

With love and prayer, Pastor Mark

Listen to Sunday’s Sermon: Love God!
Download: Mp3

May God give us wisdom, comfort, and help from
Romans 8:26-39

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Time to move on! But where?

Last Wednesday night I felt the peace of God in an unusual way. While the vote of confidence ballot was being counted I asked the 30 members in attendance and a few visitors to turn to the hymn, "It is Well with my Soul" and we sang all 4 verses. As we continued to wait for the 4 deacons to return with the result, I asked if anyone would like to share a verse of scripture that would be edifying. About 6-7 people read or quoted comforting, encouraging, and challenging passages. During this time the deacons returned and all sat down and finally a deacon looked at the other deacons and got up and whispered in my ear, "15 to 15! It is your call Pastor" Earlier in the week I had had a premonition that it would be a split vote. When I heard that it was indeed, I felt the sovereign love of God for me and God's love in my heart for those who voted for me to continue as pastor and for those who cast a no confidence vote. For the first time in my life I experienced, in a great way for me and in a small way in comparison to my Lord, how He must have felt when He said on the cross, "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do." As moderator I could have cast a vote in my favor to have a majority but knew that God wanted me to abstain from voting and read my prewritten resignation letter:

Resignation Letter of Pastor Mark Worden

August 18, 2010

Having not received a sufficient percentage for a vote of confidence as indicated by the constitution or my own conscience before God, I submit notice of my resignation as Pastor of FBC. I will gladly serve the church for another month or mutually agreeable date. I desire to work toward a peaceful and fruitful transition to the glory of God. My thoughts and emotions are mixed. First, I want to thank the Lord for his grace and help these past (nearly) 6 years. Second, I thank the congregation for the privilege of being your pastor, for the fellowship and friendship which we have enjoyed, and for the lessons of life and ministry that we have experienced together. Tammie and I will be praying for God’s blessing upon each of you and the congregation as a whole in the days to come. Romans 8:28 should bring hope, direction, and comfort to all of us at this time: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” We ask for your prayers during this transition time and for God’s future leading in our lives to fruitful ministry in the place of His calling, wherever it may be.

Sincerely in Christ,

Mark R. Worden

Now we are looking to the Lord for His direction, comfort, and wisdom and ask for your prayers.

If you get a chance listen to the message preached the Sunday before the vote of confidence: Good from Bad
http://sermon.net/download.php?c=18884-count_audio_download-2475187

God's Sovereignty

Coming up on our 25 year anniversary - August 10 Praise the Lord!

Our daughter took these photos of us:

A Shepherd's day off

My wife and I took a little drive this afternoon just to be together and enjoy God's creation:

True love throughout the year and not just on Valentine's Day

When things are not going to well in my relationships. I go to God in prayer and read I Corinthians 13. The following Studies will open your eyes about what true love is all about.

I John 4:18-19, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."

I Corinthians 13:4-7, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Bible Study outlines on God's descriptions of love:

Lesson 1 – Love Suffereth Long

Lesson 2 – Love is Kind

Lesson 3 – Love Envieth Not

Lesson 4 – Love Is NOT Proud

Lesson 5 – Love’s Behavior is Not Unseemly – Coming soon – I lost the file

Lesson 6 – Love Seeketh Not Her Own

Lesson 7 – Love Is NOT Easily Provoked

Lesson 8 – Love Thinketh No Evil

Lesson 9 – How Love Rejoices

Lesson 10 – Love Rejoices in the Truth

Lesson 11 – Love Beareth All Things

Lesson 12 – Love Believeth all Things

Lesson 13 – Love Hopeth All Things

Lesson 14 -Love Endureth All Things

Lesson 15 – Love Never Fails

February Pastor's Chat

February Pastor’s Chat

Each Sunday morning sermon this past month has been focused on our church theme, God Is Faithful. The first 4 sermon titles are part of the portrait that God paints for us of His faithfulness. From the canvas of the Word of God we have seen Our God— A Faithful High Priest, Our God—A Faithful Provider, Our God — A Faithful Judge, and Our God — A Faithful Protector. The last sermon in the series will focus on our faithfulness to our faithful God — God Is Faithful; Are You?

If you know this faithful God, naturally you will desire to tell others about Him. The Psalmist declares, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness, to all generations” (Psalm 89:1). Again he confesses, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation” (Psalm 40:10).

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, your Lord has given you a calling and a commission to go forth and preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). This mandate has two parts: 1) Salvation – making disciples of Christ and 2) Sanctification – teaching obedience to all of Christ’s teachings. Does this mandate seem to be to overwhelming even to begin? In ourselves it surely is! But we do not have to go it alone! Jesus, our faithful God, has promised to go with us: “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” In the context of this great commission we are told in verse 17, “And when they saw [Jesus], they worshiped him.” Worship preceded their witness. Let’s worship our Lord for His faithfulness and then depend on His faithfulness to enable us to witness to others of His mercies that fail not! God is faithful!

With Prayer, Pastor Mark

January Sermon Links to Mini-Series on "God's Faithfulness"

January 3, 2010
Listen:Our God- A Faithful High Priest
Download Mp3:

January 10, 2010
Listen:Our God--A Faithful Provider
Download Mp3:

January 17, 2010
Listen:Our God--A Faithful Judge
Download Mp3:

January 24, 2010
Listen:Our God -- A Faithful Protector
Download Mp3:

January 31, 2010
Listen:God Is Faithful; Are You?
Download Mp3:

(If these sermons have blessed you please feel free to share the links with others who might benefit from them.)

"So than faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17