History - Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
OUTREACH MINISTRY
The calling of young men and women to abundant living and enlistment in Christian service has always been uppermost in the thoughts of St. Mark’s congregation and ministers. Through the years, the following have been recommended by the church to train for the ministry or Christian work:
Billy Hensley George Harding, Jr.
Lawrence Sykora, Jr. Lois Reed - Hawaii
Louis Hillendahl- Africa Dr. Bill Jack Marshall - Bolivia
Hugh Earl Zenor Phillip Zenor
Stephen Love Gerald Mann
James Johnman Steve Payton
Mark Hudgins
In 1952, St. Mark’s sponsored a refugee family from Germany, Mr. and Mrs. Berthold Lakadosh and their three small sons. After terrifying experiences during the war, the two had met in a refugee camp that was administered by the United States and they were married there. They were still at the camp when they were finally able to secure passage to America as displaced persons, but after arriving in New York City with their children new complications were faced. They did not have a sponsor. The World Church Service, an organization for assisting war refugees, took charge and through this agency St. Mark’s learned of this family’s tribulation and offered to sponsor them. Transportation from New York was furnished and they began housekeeping in the garage apartment owned by the church and became members of our congregation. A home near Fairbanks was constructed by Manuel Cassner, L.E. Froehner, Mr. Lakadosh, E.R. Froehner and other church members. Mr. Lakadosh found employment, reimbursed the church for the transportation cost to Houston and was a self-supporting citizen until the late 1950’s when he became ill and hospitalization was necessary. The church again assumed financial responsibility for the family for a period of time until he was able to return to work.
St. Mark’s received a heritage of missions from both the Norhill and Woodland churches and has continued that endeavor through the years, both in financial support and in service. This story can almost be told by this entry in the August 3, 1954, board minutes:
Junior Department A voted to pay for three scholarships to the children of India from the funds of their love offering.
The amount of the scholarship was not mentioned but it illustrates the early missionary thought in the church. About the same time, the church gave financial assistance to Rev. I.V. Masters from India who was in the United States attending school in Kentucky.
Dr. Bill Jack Marshall, his wife, Mary Lee, and young child came to Houston where Dr. Marshall was to serve his internship at Jeff Davis Hospital before going overseas as a medical missionary. Dr. Marshall spent his boyhood in Brady, Texas, attended Southwestern University in Georgetown and received his medical degree from Emory University Medical School in Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Marshall’s father was a Methodist minister in the Texas Conference. They came to St. Mark’s, joined the Voyager’s class and became an integral part of the church. The board minutes of November 1, 1953, stated “the official board would consider Dr. Marshall as the one to represent us as our own missionary.” The next board meeting approved payment of $100 per month to assist him with his expenses.
In 1955, Dr. Marshall received from the Mission Board, his appointment as medical director of Pfeiffer Memorial Hospital in La Paz, Bolivia, and he also later pioneered medical clinics in the Altiplano on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The church immediately began to determine their needs for the next four years and planned to provide for them. Furthermore, the board voted to consider Dr. Marshall our missionary and pay $400.00 monthly toward his salary. The Voyager’s class really came to life and took on new meaning and a new challenge with a “Marshall Plan” of their own. Money was raised for the Marshalls to use as they needed to get ready for Bolivia. Wooden trunks were built for their household possessions. The entire church became involved with the Voyagers after the Marshalls arrived in Bolivia and reported needs. In April, 1958, less than a year after it was decided to buy a truck, almost $2000.00 was deposited to the Marshall's bank account for the purchase of a one-ton truck. Medicines for the hospital were also purchased. In 1961, new stoves and utensils costing $1.464.40 were purchased to replace the old worn-out diesel ones in the hospital. It cost $1,000 to ship these items to Bolivia. In 1962, a refrigerator was purchased.
Dr. Marshall became ill while in Bolivia and the letter on the following page from Mrs. Marshall indicated their true missionary spirit.
After 15 years in Bolivia the Marshalls returned to Texas and now reside in Bastrop. In 1973, the new Pediatric wing of the hospital in La Paz was named in honor of Dr. Marshall.
CLINICA AMERICANA, CAJON 9, LA PAZA, BOLIVIA
October 22, 1957
Dear Brother Fagan,
I have just received a letter from my mother telling of their having seen you and of your expression of the desire that we come home for our vacation with the help of the people of St. Mark’s. I just can’t tell you what a wonderful feeling it gave me, and I do not need to tell you that it would just be about heaven on earth to get to visit with our families and friends at an unexpected time.
However, Bill and I feel that the money could be used to much greater advantage. We are thinking of the needed truck for the clinic, for which everyone is working so hard. The cost of our fare home would pay for about half of the truck worse than the Marshalls need the trip.
Bill is improving all the time - is beginning to be up a little now. He will begin to work again in about two more weeks (it is now seven weeks since he gave in to his illness), but he has had a rest at a lower altitude.
Please know that we will always be grateful for your offer of having our vacation at home, and we love you all the more for having made it.
Sincerely and gratefully yours,
Mary Lee Marshall
Other missionary activities have included -
-Used clothing drives in cooperation with the Volunteers of America
- Support to the Wesley House, a Methodist mission
-Support to the Larkin Street Mission
-A tutoring program principally for the neighborhood Mexican children
-Dr. E. Stanley Jones, who spent years as a missionary to India, gave a series of sermons at St. Mark’s in January, 1955, to a filled sanctuary every night.
-The Volunteers-in-Mission program of the United Methodist Church sponsored an ophthalmologic missionary group to Belize, the former British Honduras. Several of St. Mark’s members have participated in this program:
Gail Ford-White Paula Arnold
Jenny Bennett Dick Ford-White
Milton Waghalter Betty Waghalter
Carolyn Pringle Pam Voss
Lisa Martinson
Before the first group participated, the church collected over 500 pair of eyeglasses for this project. Pam and Chuck Voss “read” the prescriptions and attached it to the glasses. Another activity of this mission in Belize was the construction of needed buildings.
-Two young people from St. Mark’s have spent summers doing missionary work abroad:
Helen Marmarchev was a member of the “Amigos de Honduras” project. Her group worked in many ways to help alleviate human suffering and help prevent death from disease in that country.
Jeff Thompson spent several summers with the “Amigos de Las Americas” groups in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Mexico. This group did health work, particularly dental work and vaccinations.
-St. Mark’s has supported many mission activities close to home during the years. Among these is the Room to Grow program to establish new Methodist Churches in the district. St. Mark’s has participated in this endeavor since it was established.
- The church received a loan from the Board of Missions sometime prior to 1954 but the purpose was not reflected in board minutes. The minutes of July 7, 1954, do state, “that $200 per month be paid to a small church, selected by our district superintendent, until our indebtedness to the mission board is paid. The church was to be in our district.” On February 1, 1955, it was voted to “inform the board of missions that we are prepared to liquidate our debt to them, that we shall pay the balance of the $3,125.00 to the Spring Branch Methodist Church by May 15, 1955, to which church we have made monthly payments of $200.00 since June, 1954.”
- A new Methodist Hospital was built in Houston in the early 1950’s and St. Mark’s contributed over $11,000.00 for furnishings.
- Holly Hall, a retirement home for the elderly, built and operated by the Church Women United of Houston has received financial support from St. Mark’s from an annual fund drive.
- The Methodist Home in Waco has also received funds from the annual Christmas offering.
- The Meals on Wheels program began in the Heights area in 1974, and St. Mark’s has participated in the delivery of a hot meal to the elderly. Mrs. Eva Copeland has been the coordinator of the program since it began and usually there are five cars every Friday delivering the meals.
- In the fall of 1973, a tutoring program began its first full year of activity under the leadership of Margaret Blackstone and many volunteer helpers. The students involved were neighborhood children who were having difficulty with their work in the local schools. The program continued until 1979.
- A scholarship Loan fund was approved by the Administrative Board in 1975. There are strict guidelines to follow and it is funded by gifts and memorials.
- In January 1985, Mrs. Virginia Thompson and her sons presented a check to the trustees for the Lee Thompson Memorial Ministerial Rest, Recreation and Study Fund, which provides money for the minister of St. Mark’s to travel for recreation or study. Mrs. Thompson has added to this fund from time to time.
- The North Main Food Pantry, sponsored by five area churches, has received support from the church since it was established when Houston’s economy took a nose dive in the mid 80’s. A large number of needy families are given food.
- On August 4, 1987, the charge conference approved the establishment of an endowment fund. A check had been received as the initial donation and, since then, additional gifts have been made. The funds are placed with the United Methodist Foundation of the Texas Conference for investment and administration.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH
SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Sunday School is actually the church because it is the church at work reaching people and training them in Christian service. It includes all ages __ from the youngest child enrolled in the Cradle Roll to the oldest adult enrolled in an adult class. The early churches that were the nucleus of St. Mark’s paid particular attention to this area of work; therefore, it was obvious that this work should continue.
Mr. L.R. Gripon was appointed Sunday School superintendent in October 1939, when the congregations of Woodland and Norhill merged. It was necessary to bring the classes together, form new classes and provide classrooms. Even though the church was new, space was at a premium from the beginning when attendance averaged between 500 and 750 every Sunday. A dedicated group of teachers was chosen and the Sunday School remains an integral part of St. Mark’s.
Records do not reflect who followed Mr. Gripon, but in 1961, Robert Wright was superintendent. The duties of the superintendent are now performed by the Council of Ministries.
THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC
It has been said that Christianity is a singing religion and that certainly applies to St. Mark’s. From the earliest beginning there was song, for many years in the German language and later in English. The instrument used in Emanuel Church was either a piano or reed organ (we know the latter was used at Zion.) The accompaniment at Norhill and Woodland was always a piano. When talk of a new church for Woodland began, the ladies started an organ fund and had accumulated about $2,000. But from time to time this money was used for other purposes, namely, a payment on the lot for the new church, part payment on a temporary building, repairs to the parsonage and, eventually, the remaining $900.00 given to St. Mark’s building fund. The ladies appeared bore the steering committee and stated that they had always supported the needs of the church and felt that an organ should be purchased now to make the new sanctuary complete.
A contract for the organ was let to M.P. Moeller and Company in late 1939, but the instrument was not ready for the first service in the sanctuary. The specifications were:
GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
Open Diapason 8 Bourdon 16
Flute Harmonique 8 Geigen Diapason 8
Dulciana 8 Stopped Flute 8
Octave 4 Vox Celeste 8
Flute Harmonique 4 Salicional 8
Quint 2 2/3 Orchestral Flute 4
Fifteenth 2 Salicet 4
Chimes Flute Twelfth 2 2/3
Tremelo Piccolo 2
Muted Trumpet 8
PEDAL ORGAN Oboe Horn 8
Open Diapason 16 Vox Humana 8
Bourdon 16 Tremolo
Lieblich Gedeckt 16
Major Flute 8
Dolce Flute 8
The installation of the organ was completed in April, 1940. One rank of pipes, the Mixture Number III, consisting of 193 pipes was added in 1977 and another rank, the 8’ Bourdon rank with 61 pipes was acquired by an anonymous gift in 1986. This makes a total of 22 ranks.
Mrs. William Riesing Shriner, a member of St. Mark’s, was the first organist. Mrs. Shriner was a musician of established reputation in Houston and was accompanist at many musical events in the city. Other organists have been:
Mrs. Ray Lasley
Mrs. Kathryn Alt
Mrs. Mary Ellen Bond
Mrs. JoAnn Dube
Mr. E. Gabbert Wilder
Mrs. Diana Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Pat Henry
Miss Lucille Leifeste, daughter of Rev. A.A. Leifeste and a teacher of music in the Houston Independent School District, was the first choir director employed by St. Mark’s. Miss Leifeste is a graduate of Baylor University and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
The following have served as choir directors:
Miss Lucille Leifeste Jan. 1940-Oct. 1940
Mr. J.N. Brandstetter Nov. 1940-Sept. 1941
Mr. William Triggs Sept. 1941-Dec. 1942
Miss Dorothy Dow Dec. 1942-Nov. 1943
Miss Lucille Leifeste Nov. 1943-July 1989
Mr. Terry Bebermeyer August 1989 ----
At various times there have been young people’s and children’s choirs.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
It has been said:
After the men have done their best
The United Methodist Women assumed the rest.
This certainly applies to the women of St. Mark’s.
On October 2, 1939, the members of the Ladies Foreign Missionary Society, the Ladies Home Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid of the Norhill Methodist Episcopal Church and the members of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the Woodland Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, South met together at the Norhill Church and merged into one group called the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of St. Mark’s Methodist Church.
Three circles were formed, each with approximately 40 members. They were named Loyalty, Friendship and Goodwill. In January, 1940, officers were elected with Mrs. F.M. Black as president. The Society was divided into five circles named for the circle chairman. A business Woman’s circle, later known as the Wesleyan Service Guild was organized.
From the beginning, the women have been active in both study and action. The approved studies have been presented and reading programs have been promoted.
Among outside groups the society has supported are the Co-Operative Home, Wesley House and the Mexican Bible School. Other activities include the city-wide Parent Church Council, Methodist Hospital Auxiliary, serving the Kiwanis Club weekly luncheons, and during World War II, entertaining service members, rolling bandages, knitting and sewing.
In 1941, interest groups were formed- Parent Education, Spiritual Life and Bible Study, Community Service Volunteer Office Service, Social Relations and Local Church Activities and Visiting and Mission Service. There have been many dedicated women who have given time, prayer and money to support the work of the women’s organizations through the years.
The following ladies have served as president of the Methodist Women’s Organization at St. Mark’s:
1940 Mrs. F.M. Black
1941 Mrs. Wayne Andrews
1942 Mrs. E.Y. Blount
1943-1944 Mrs. W.S. Brandenberger
1945 Mrs. R.V. Harris
1946-1947 Mrs. P.H. Watson
1948-1949 Mrs. J.H. Harris
1950-1951 Mrs. Fred Crawford
1951-1952 Mrs. J.H. Nixon
1952-1953 Mrs. T.E. Horton
1953-1955 Mrs. W.F. Manning
1955-1957 Mrs. J.F. Ethridge
1957-1959 Mrs. Jerome Fischer
1959-1960 Mrs. Katie Avery
1960-1962 Mrs. W.M. Waddell
1962-1964 Mrs. L.E. Froehner
1964-1966 Mrs. E.B. Avera
1966-1970 Mrs. L.E. Copeland
1970-1973 Mrs. Henry Knapie
1973-1975 Mrs. L.E. Froehner
1976-1979 Mrs. J.A. McMichael, Jr.
1980-1983 Mrs. W.M. Waddell
1984-1987 Mrs. W.F. Manning
1988- Miss Lela Blount
WESLEYAN SERVICE GUILD
This group was organized in January, 1940, by Mrs. F.M. Black, president of the W.S.C.S., with 14 charter members. Miss Ola McGill was elected president. The group met, usually in the homes of members, for study and to plan outreach programs.
By the early ‘70’s the membership was small and most were retired. The younger women of the church did not live in the neighborhood and many worked outside the home; therefore, they did not join the group. The guild voted to join the day group.
The following served as president:
1940 Miss Ola McGill
1941 Miss Dorothy Shriner
1942 Mrs. Mae Namendorf
1943-1944 Mrs. Kitty Brailsford
1945 Mrs. Frances Moers
1946 Mrs. Agnes Andrews
1947 Mrs. Texanna Dennard
1948 Mrs. Sarah Mickleberry
1949 Mrs. Lee Pickle
1950-1951 Mrs. Ruby Clifton
1951-1953 Mrs. Alma Moore
1954-1955 Miss Dorothy Shriner
1956-1957 Mrs. Maidie Wilbanks
1958 Mrs. Helen Ruth Janes
1959-1960 Mrs. Rosa Mae Hillendahl
1961 Mrs. Ruby Clifton
1962-1964 Mrs. Helen Ruth Janes
1965-1967 Mrs. Evelyn Nevill
1968 Mrs. Ruby Clifton
1969-1970 Mrs. Nora Cox
1971-1973 Mrs. Rosa Mae Hillendahl
METHODIST MEN
The Methodist men were organized in May 1941, and it was stated that the price of the dinner was not to exceed 25 cents. In 1948, the price was raised to 75 cents and through the years has been increased as is now $3.00.
For years the men provided coffee and doughnuts before Sunday School, helped with clothing drives, provided funds for Mark Hudgins who was in seminary and supported all church activities.
Records are not available for all years but the following have served as presidents:
1941 Warren Switzer
1945 Gordon Randolph
1946 Mabry Bouknight
1948 L.E. (Buck) Froehner
1949 W.E. (Tick) Ray
1950 Roy Fleming
1951 Roy Fleming
1952 Dave Smith
1953 A. Burke Haymes
1954 to 1970 not available
1971 Wallace Manning
1972 Lester Pickle
1973 Leo Copeland
1974 Joe Guerreo
1975 Ken Leigh
1976 Wayne Brinkmeyer
1977 Roland Massey
1978 Raymond Moers
1979 Raymond Moers
1980 Jim Ethridge
1981 Glen Brinkmeyer
1982 Gary Homburg
1983 Gary Homburg
1984 Raymond Moers
1985 David Hunter
1986 David Hunter
1987 David Hunter
1988 C.T. Theck
1989 Steve Sawyer
BOY SCOUT TROOP 30
There was an active troop in both Norhill and Woodland churches at the time of the merger and Troop 30 was the troop to survive and has been an active organization through the years. Mr. A.H. Blume was scoutmaster almost 50 years and at his death in 1982, Lawrence Wagenhauser, who was an assistant scoutmaster and who “grew up” in Troop 30, became scoutmaster.
During World War II days, the troop helped farmers who were short of labor to harvest their bean, strawberry and watermelon crops. In 1945, the troop won the coveted Eisenhower Paper Campaign Award by collecting more paper than all the other troops in Houston combined___ 30,000 pounds. Aluminum and rubber were also collected. In 1946, at Loew’s State Theater on Main Street, the troop was awarded the National Ingrid Bergman “Spellbound” Victory Clothing Drive Trophy. This was a large silver trophy for collecting clothing for the war sufferers in Europe. In 1946, both of the “Billy Carroll” awards for outstanding Scout advancement were won and through the years many other trophies were won.
At various times there have been Explorer units and Cub Scout packs.
<<Insert image from page 166 with the following caption >>
Picture of Troop 30 taken in 1948 at Camp Strake
TOP ROW: Donald Young, Bill Sauer, David Mitchell, Charles Mooney, Byron Cloud. MIDDLE ROW: Frank Herbert, Jack Graham, Billy Henson, Harold Edge, Lawrence Wagenhauser, Ben Allen, Alvin Diess, Jerry Edge. BOTTOM ROW: Pat McDuffie, Kenneth Flakinger, James Thomas, Billy Marshall, Fred Gebhardt, Russell Kendrick, A.H. Blume
MOTHER’S DAY OUT
The Mother’s Day Out Program began in October 1980, with Mrs. Alberta Taylor, a retired school teacher and principal, as director. The faculty included Mrs. Kathryn Dennard, Miss Ann Graham, and Mrs. Hettie Sykora.
The program was open to the public and began as a learning experience for children two, three, and four years old. It was later extended to take younger children and the number of teachers has increased. Classes are held two days a week.
Originally MDO was financed through tuition and gifts and the annual dinner, “Putting on the Ritz,” but the church now underwrites some of the expenses by including a small amount in the church budget.
Directors of the Mother’s Day Out have been:
Mrs. Alberta Taylor
Mrs. Judy Clark
Mrs. Pam Voss
Mrs. Elizabeth Furman
Mrs. Mary Tyler
Mrs. Nancy Wilcox
PARENT EDUCATION CLASS
The Parent Education Class was founded on October 16, 1940, by Mrs. L.E. Parchman, who was approached by Mrs. J.H. Standish and Mrs. W.D. Smith, concerning the possibility of having a group to study child care. At first, the class met twice a month but later changed to monthly morning meetings followed by a covered dish luncheon. The motto of the class was:
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
There were excellent programs, usually by prominent outside speakers. The class was affiliated with the Citywide Parent Council.
The class disbanded in 1957. The following ladies served as president:
1940-1943 Mrs. Irene Smith
1943-1944 Mrs. Lucille Hilger
1944-1945 Mrs. Lavenia Winfree
1945-1946 Mrs. Hazel Chastang
1946-1947 Mrs. Mary Wolfram
1947-1948 Mrs. Alliene Norton
1948-1949 Mrs. Thelma Ethridge
1949-1950 Mrs. Ola Mae Klepper
1950-1951 Mrs. Eva Copeland
1951-1952 Mrs. Bess Franks
1952-1953 Mrs. Faye Wisener
1953-1954 Mrs. Mildred Huebner
1954-1956 Mrs. Dorothy Johns
1956-1957 Mrs. Jean Schulz
AUTUMN CLUB
As stated in the by-laws: “The purpose of this club shall be the bringing together men and women 60 years of age and older for fellowship, recreation, diversion and clean entertainment.”
The club was organized in October 1953 and was a community wide organization in that many members were not affiliated with St. Mark’s. The last meetings were held in 1981.
The following served as president:
1953-1954 Mr. W.J. Froehner
1954-1955 Mrs. Callie Rawson
1955-1956 Mr. P.E. Switzer
1956-1957 Mrs. E.R. Froehner
1957-1958 Mr. H.E. Schmidt
1958-1959 Mrs. E.Y. Blount
1959-1960 Mr. H.E. Schmidt (deceased)
1960- Mr. A.H. Mueller (acting president)
1960-1962 Mrs. P.E. Switzer
1962-1964 Mr. W.M. Love
1964-1966 Mrs. E.Y. Blount
1966-1968 Mrs. S.A. Talcott
1968-1970 Mrs. J.Cecil Smith
1970-1972 Mr. W.A. Bregenzer
1972-1974 Mr. M.L. Edge
1974-1976 Mrs. Frances Weisinger
1976- Mr. W.A. Bregenzer (deceased)
1976-1977 Mrs. Mary Hartman
1977-1978 Mrs. Grace Ray
1978-1980 Mrs. Erna Mae Shorck
1980-198 Mrs. Vivian Longmire
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
In the ‘30’s and ‘40’s when the churches merged both were neighborhood churches. Many families had lived in the Woodland area since the addition was developed in the early part of the century. Members of Norhill had been residents of that addition since its development in the mid ‘20’s. There were many children and young people; in fact, the May 29, 1938 edition of The Houston Times (the local church newspaper) gave the names of 35 high school graduates and eight from local universities.
Information available in the Heritage Room states the church had 1,525 members in 1939, and that of the total 646 churches in the Texas Conference only eight had a membership larger than St. Mark’s.
The following information gives the decline in membership at five year intervals and was obtained from the annual Texas Conference Journals in the United Methodist Center in Houston:
Year Church Membership
1940 1,473
1945 1,934
1950 2,006
1955 1,813
1960 1,762
1965 1,457
1970 935
1975 915
1980 830
1985 683
1989 625
These numbers are disheartening but there is an explanation for them. As the young people married, new homes were established in the suburbs and when new churches were organized their memberships were transferred and their training and experience from St. Mark’s was put to good use. The older members also left the old neighborhoods for new homes, particularly in Timbergrove Manor. Many, however, continued to attend St. Mark’s. Real estate was cheap and Spanish speaking people purchased property and established homes.
So much for the decline. What has been done and what are we doing to change the trend?
A tutoring program was started in 1976 to help neighborhood children who were having learning difficulties in the public schools. Many church members volunteered to tutor on a one to one basis in selected subjects, mainly math and English. Besides the tutoring, field trips were made to various points of interest around the city.
In 1982 an attempt was made to reach the Mexican population of the neighborhood jointly with El Mesias Methodist Church, which is located east of St. Mark’s. That church held a dinner for St. Mark’s workers and St. Mark’s reciprocated with a dinner for their workers. Both churches then cooperated in a neighborhood survey in the Woodland Heights area. This endeavor was not very fruitful, however, as most of those contacted stated they were members of another denomination. The pastor of El Mesias did hold services in Spanish at the Sunday School hour at St. Mark’s for a short time. Very few attended and the program was dropped.
As wonderful as the past has been, we look to the future. The work has hardly begun. There is more to be done for Christ than there was when Norhill and Woodland merged over 50 years ago. We must spend more of our energy and talents in reaching people for Jesus Christ.
St. Mark’s is alive in ministry and activities.
St. Mark’s is alive and on the move.
The neighborhood is changing again. Now young professionals are buying the beautiful and well-built homes and restoring them. Therein lies the future of St. Mark’s. However, to move effectively the church will require the leadership of a large number of laity and that means “us.” We need trained lay persons to share and provide leadership for the ministries. Revivals met the needs in early day Houston and people responded to the appeals of the evangelists. But times have changed and the emotional appeals of an evangelist do not touch the heart and soul of the people as they once did. Evangelism today is best served through a personal type of contact with people through house visitation by the minister and laity and through the church school. Wesley “felt his heart strangely warmed” at the Aldersgate but many of the younger generation are not familiar with this statement. The church in search of renewal, as is St. Mark’s, has to find the methods and techniques and ways to reach the people who seek to be re-created or re-born.
It has been more than a century since Rev. Brueck founded a church with German immigrants as a nucleus. Rev. Leifeste and Rev. Landrum, the laymen and laywomen who worked diligently on the merger that culminated in St. Mark’s had a dream for the future. They put those dreams and hopes into action. That took place more than 50 years ago.
Our heritage is impressive. St. Mark’s is alive and we shall go forward with our dreams.
Mr. W.E. Vater, who worked on the merger and was St. Mark’s first Administrative Board Chairman sent these reminiscences and expectations for the future on the occasion of St. Mark’s Fiftieth Anniversary:
“When it became desirable for both congregations to improve their facilities and because we were situated so close to each other, it seemed appropriate and logical that Woodland Methodist Church, South and Norhill Methodist Church merge.
“This occurred just before the general unification of the Methodist denominations. The merging congregations had to secure the approval through the bishop’s office in order to proceed. A new site had meantime been secured and plans were immediately made to build approximately half-way between the merging congregations.
“Part-way into the construction of the new building the architect and the general contractor abandoned the project. We were in trouble!
“Rev. Landrum and Rev. Leifeste were towers of strength during this time. They and the members of the new congregation showed uncommon devotion and commitment under considerable stress and the project proceeded to completion. St. Mark’s has served a vital need in its community for fifty years and now enters a new decade and presently, into a new century. There will be new opportunities and new challenges. During fifty years St. Mark’s has prepared for this and can expect new victories. May God grant it the will and the commitment for these opportunities.”
Dr. Lysle H. Humphrey, who was a campaign division leader in the fund raising for the new church and has had many places of leadership in St. Mark’s, makes this statement:
St. Marks United Methodist Church has enjoyed over one-half century of spiritual mission and ministry in our community. Our roots are in two former Methodist churches, one from the North and one from the South, which united one year before general Methodist unification. These roots have nourished a great new spiritual body which is blossoming forth in second and third generations of Christian witnesses.
The future for our church looks bright indeed. Our dedicated leadership, both clergy and lay, is of the highest order. Their goals and programs address every aspect of the Gospel as we understand it. We will let no obstacle detain us. Our song of Ascents will be a line from an old black spiritual; “Lead On King Jesus.” We can do all things in Him who strengthens us.
And from Fred Arnold, Chairman of the Administrative Board:
The Future of our History -
St. Mark’s U.M.C. has a history rich, indeed, with accomplishment and tradition. And, it is the family of St. Mark’s in a close fellowship with each other and with God that has forged this whole caring enterprise.
But no matter how significant our past, our action in the future is how we will be judged and remembered. Therefore, it is my sincere wish we continue to take our collective missions to a higher plane and demonstrate an unfailing commitment to ourselves, our church, our community and, most importantly, our God.
Our prayers, presence, gifts and services from now on will solely determine how we, St. Mark’s U.M.C., will be remembered in the future of our history.
Chris Bacorn, Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Committee, has these hopes and expectations:
When I think about the future of St. Mark’s I am reminded of the past. Our church began with the marriage of two churches fifty years ago and continues in the tradition of great marriages. We remain committed to the relationship. Like all good unions, the marriage has improved us. We are less selfish than if we had remained single. We have learned something about service to others and something about self-sacrifice. We have learned that there are worse things than conflict. By resolving our conflicts we have grown stronger and closer. We have learned to tolerate weakness and failure in each other. We have raised up several generations of good Christian citizens who have taken their place as useful members of society. We have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless. We have improved the neighborhood. Like all enduring marriages we have experienced gains and losses. We have lost pastors and members. But the pain of those losses has not stopped us from embracing new pastors and members. We cherish the past but welcome the future. We have done all this for love of each other and for the glory of God. We go on.
Derelys Presley, Education Chairperson, has the following comments:
It has been exciting for me to be a part of the St. Mark’s congregation for the past ten years. St. Mark’s has grown during this time in both size and spirituality. My hopes and dreams for the next half century are that St. Mark’s will become an important part in the lives of many more Heights families; that this congregation will work toward a common goal of Christian unity and spirit; and that St. Mark’s will continue to provide quality programs and ministries that reach out to the community in order to “Go ye therefore…”
Expectations and Hopes for St. Mark’s from our Senior Minister, David M. Lanagan:
St. Mark’s is poised to become the pre-eminent church in the Heights, a cathedral church with a program to meet every need, a friend for every person from every walk of life, and a vision for the future. In some sense, its past is prologue to its future. It will once again regain prominence as a church with higher membership. Even now it is climbing steadily towards its first thousand. It will honor its history by preserving the spirit of the adventurous people who began this experiment in faith, all the while improving the plant and making it conform more fully to the needs of the people it serves. St. Mark’s will “reach for the Heights” in service, ministry and love to children, families, singles and youth. It is now and will continue to be “the heartbeat of the Heights.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A Brief History of the Work of the Deaconess - Miss Lydia Ebel
In Norhill Book in St. Mark’s Heritage Room
A History of Houston Methodist Missions 1815-1963
by Rev. Walter W. Armstrong
Texas Methodist Centennial Year Book 1834-1934
by Rev. Olin W. Nail
Texas Conference Methodism on the March
C.A. West, Editor
Jubilaums Ausgave der Sudlich Deutechen
Konferenz in Texas and Louisiana
A History of the Southern German Conference
by Bruno Carl Schmidt
A History of Methodism 1916
by Horace M. DuBose
