How Do You Pray

May 2008 - July 2008

Steve Klassen

Brennan Manning heard a knock on his door. When he opened the door a young woman he had never met asked him to come and pray for her father who was dying with cancer. He went with her.

When Brennan entered the father’s bedroom he noticed an empty chair beside the bed and casually said, “You were expecting me.”  “No,” the man replied, but went on to explain the empty chair.  A couple of years earlier the man had heard a series of sermons on prayer but didn’t really get anything out of them.  He also tried reading a complicated book on contemplative prayer but that didn’t help either. 
Then someone told him, “Prayer is simple.  It is a conversation with God.  Believe that he is with you and talk to him and then listen to him talk to you. Try putting a chair beside your bed and picture Jesus sitting there next to you.”

The man put the empty chair beside his bed and for two years for two hours a day he practiced this simple way of praying.  He didn’t tell his daughter in fear that she would think he was out of his mind and send him to an institution.  After hearing the explanation, Brennan affirmed the man and told him he had indeed been praying and that he wasn’t crazy.

A day and a half later the man died. Brennan asked if he had died in peace and the daughter said, “Yes, he told me a corny old joke and smiled and died.  But the strangest thing happened the moment before he died, he raised himself up and laid his head on the empty chair beside his bed and then died.” 

How do you pray? 

Exploring new directions

When Evy and I flew to Guadalajara, Mexico in early March we knew we were in an exploring mode.  Trever and Joan invited us to come alongside them as they took steps in the direction of their dream to launch a center to train missionaries. 

The building they were focusing in on looked perfect to us and to the couple from California who joined us for the trip.  Discerning together was exciting.  A decision was made.  The beautiful building in the picture below is hopefully going to be the home of the Matthew Training Center (MTC) some time soon.   Trever and Joan are in the process of sharing their vision and raising money to make a down payment on this building. 

We believe God is guiding the MARK Centre to play an encouraging role in the lives of people like Trever and Joan in different parts of the world.  As we continue to explore different invitations to help grow retreat and training centres around the world, we are convinced that God is up to something special on an international scale for MARK Centre.

Possible site for Matthew Training Center in Guadalajara, Mexico

MARK Centre Board Meets for Strategic Planning in June

A day and a half of meetings focused on long-range strategic planning will be a first for the MARK Centre board. In light of hiring an Operations Director for the Chalet in Abbotsford, and sensing the potential of new directions for the broader ministry of the MARK Centre, these meetings are highly anticipated.  An outside facilitator will guide the meetings that take place June 20-21, 2008 in Abbotsford.

photo taken by Nancy Boothe

TREK Debriefing in June

We are looking forward to having the Fall and Winter TREK participants returning to the MARK Centre for 2 week debriefing periods throughout June.  They come back from all over the world – Peru, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Burkina Faso, Thailand, and Germany.

What’s Been Happening

* Alpha Retreat *   * Young Adult Retreat*
* Family Reunion *  * Sacred Space Retreats*
* Personal Retreats  *  * Small Group Retreats*
* Couple Getaways*  *Sacred Space Retreats *
* Leadership Retreats * * Spiritual Direction *

Coming Ahead

May 23-25    Presence Retreat
June 20        Winter is Past Day Retreat
June 1-28     TREK Debrief
Nov 20-23    Silent Retreat

Contact the MARK Centre:

-MARK Centre Office: (604) 556 7796
-Steve and Evy Klassen, MARK Centre Executive Directors
-Steve’s Cell: (604) 852 7644
 steve@markcentre.org   
 evy@markcentre.org   
 bookings@markcentre.org
 www.markcentre.org

MARK Centre Board Members 

Randal Bartsch
Blair Grabinsky
Nancy Boothe  
Paul Wartman     
Cam Stuart
Kelly Marie Damon
Jason Pohl
 

MARK Centre Advisory Council Members

Mark Dumerton
Dan Ratzlaff 
Randy Friesen
Chris Douglas
Steve Berg
Brent Bishop
Levi Giesbrecht

Donations

Donations toward the ongoing ministry of the MARK Centre are needed and appreciated.

In Canada, cheques can be made payable to MARK Centre, and sent to:

31605 Old Yale Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 2B4
VISA, MasterCard and electronic debit are also gratefully accepted.

In the US, cheques can be made payable to MBMS International, and sent to:
4867 E. Townsend Avenue Fresno, CA 93727-5006

May 2008– July 2008