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It's essential for our ministers to reflect the diverse populations we are reaching with the gospel
Bobby and Rebecca Markham
#1023169
In 2017, our pastor preached a sermon, where he spoke of a nineteenth-century revivalist, Gypsy Smith, who had an interesting practice. When he came to a new town he would stop on the outskirts and draw a circle in the dirt. Then he would stand inside that circle and say, “O God, please send a revival to this town, and let it begin inside this circle.”
Rebecca went home, bowed on her knees in our bathroom, drew an imaginary circle, and asked God to revive her, our marriage, and our church from the top to the bottom. As she was seeking God's face she sensed that God no longer wanted us serving on pastoral staff after nearly 17 years. With Bobby's present excitement in ministry she didn't feel she should tell him. God would need to persuade him, but she shared it privately as a matter of prayer with a mentor.
In the winter of 2018 Bobby began to struggle deeply with God's direction in his life. At the same time we were invited to a Pastor's Lunch Date, at FamilyLife in Little Rock, Arkansas to have a nice meal and learn about healthy communication. Following that meal we had the biggest fight of our marriage! God needed to unearth sobering truths about our relationship. That night we took a 30 day couple's devotional given to us at the Luncheon and began a new journey of healing and growth.
As we grew in our faith in Christ and the lines of communication strengthened, Bobby fearfully asked Rebecca, "Would you think I was crazy, if I told you that I thought that God didn't want us serving in pastoral ministry anymore?" - worried she might think he was walking away from the Lord, but she said, "Me too." God was moving mountains in our marriage!
Through much prayer and fasting God made it abundantly clear that He wanted us to serve as a part of the very ministry He used to transform our marriage and family. God has called us to be missionary staff with FamilyLife. And since we know we cannot accomplish this ministry alone, your prayers and support will make this calling possible. God provides our entire salary through the generous donations of Ministry Partners. Please join our team with your financial support, by clicking on the "Give a Gift" link on this page. Please also join us in prayer, and together, we can actually take the hope of Jesus to families all over this world, "one home at a time!"
Please feel free to contact us anytime! We would love to hear from you!
Bobby | 501.837.7572 or bobby.markham@familylife.com
Rebecca | 501.837.7571 or rebecca.markham@familylife.com
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