March 13, 2025

Dear Central Church, 

They tell me that time flies when you’re having fun. I was reminded of that this week as our district superintendent, Dr. Kyle Poole, met with our church board for my 2-year review. 

We came to Central Church in November of 2022, feeling the call of God to leave Bentonville, AR for a new adventure here in Kansas City. Not only has it been fun, but more importantly, it’s been good! 

One of the purposes of this review process is to highlight what God is doing through the pastor/church relationship and to celebrate His faithfulness. We were able to rejoice in new believers being baptized, capital projects being completed, multi-cultural ministries working together, and ministry programs being launched to bless our community. God has been faithful these last 2+ years, and your church board has extended my call for another 4 years. 

As we gathered to pray together at the end of the review, God confirmed to me that the “best is yet to come.” Central Church has a rich and storied history, and I’m honored to be a part of the Central story. I truly believe our best days are ahead as we join together to “help people experience God, connect with others, and impact our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” 

Thank you for loving me and my family so well. I hope we reciprocate that love to you in what God has called us to do. You are an easy church to love, and I pray often for you the way Paul did for the Philippian church, “I thank my God every time I remember you…I always pray with joy…being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” (Philippians 1:4-6) 

We’ll continue our “Practicing the Way” sermon series this Sunday as our kids’ pastor, Pastor Bethany Tibbs, preaches on “Becoming Like Jesus.” We are blessed to have Bethany and her family at Central, and you will not want to miss what God has put on her heart to share with us.

Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark