Rocking the church

Jule Koch Brison | Nov 05, 2009

Reverend Mark Hudsun beside the pile of rock, removed from behind the Pentecostal church.

The church of Jesus Christ may be built on a Rock, but since Rev. Mark Hudson arrived at Sharbot Lake Pentecostal Church (SLPC) in May of this year, he has embarked on a course that has literally shaken up the foundations of his new church.

Mark Hudson is originally from England, where he spent the first 15 years of his life, and his wife Debbie is from Embree, Newfoundland. Mark has been in ministry for 22 years and has pastored at several churches, most of which have been Congregational churches. This is only his second Pentecostal church, but he has always chosen to pastor in small communities like Sharbot Lake. “I’m thankful for those whom God calls to minister in big cities,” said Rev. Hudson, “but that’s not where my gifting lies. I like to be in a small community, where people can’t walk by without saying hello to each other.”

Before coming to Sharbot Lake, Mark Hudson had no idea that within a few months, in addition to his duties as a minister, he’d also be acting as a general contractor, overseeing a major building project at the church. “I knew we needed a new roof,” he said, “but that was all I knew.”

For many years Sharbot Lake Pentecostal Church has been set to build a new church on a property it owns on Highway 7, but that direction has now been changed. The highway property is for sale and the new construction is being done at the present church.

Mark Hudson does feel very strongly that the church should be located in the hub of the community it’s reaching out to; however, the decision to stay in the village wasn’t made unilaterally because of his preferences, but came about through a combination of factors.

One of those factors was the discovery that the foundation at the back of the church was crumbling and urgently needed repair. SLPC was in no position to start work on a totally new building, so it was decided to tear down the old addition at the back and replace it with a new structure that will expand the sanctuary and also enable the church to function as a multi-purpose building.

Since SLPC has no fellowship hall, the pews are being replaced by comfortable padded chairs that can be rearranged as needed. In addition, new carpeting is on order.

“During ministry training they caution you to never make any sudden changes in the first year,” Rev. Hudson said, with a hint of wonder in his voice. He says that both the church leadership and its members have been fully supportive of the changes. “I’ve been told by some of the members that they’re glad we’re taking pride in our older building.”

Hudson says he’s found that the added responsibility of securing contractors and overseeing all the details of the construction does take away from his other ministry responsibilities, but he is pleased at the progress of the work, which in the past few weeks has brought huge earth-moving machines to the site.

Both he and Debbie are also pleased to have settled into the church and the community. They have both felt “overwhelmed” by the welcome they’ve received from the church. Debbie has had the opportunity to preach and sing several times since she’s arrived. She is currently working towards getting her credentials as a counsellor.

While he is presently overseeing many changes at the church building, Mark Hudson’s true goals have not changed. Those goals continue to be, he says, “to build up the church, so that we function as a team, and to declare God’s word, wherever I am.”