How We Got Our Name
The Word "HARVEST"
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Matthew 9:37-38
This scripture has continued to affirm Pastor Mark's own call to ministry for many years. While serving as a youth pastor in a local church years ago, he had been discerning God’s call upon his life and felt led to attend seminary for further training and equipping to be a disciple of Christ wherever the Lord would send him. The summer before he started seminary, he was led to serve as a student pastor at two small rural churches and as the chaplain of a summer camp near the Outer Banks in N.C.. That summer, the Lord revealed, not only to him, but to his wife, Jill, and to his entire family, that the Lord had great plans for them and was sending them out as workers in His harvest field.
(click here to read his journal entry from the summer of 2005)
Ever since then, at nearly every appointment, there has been a wheat field close by, gently reminding he and his family of such a calling.
From the wheat fields at the summer camp at the beginning of his ministry, to a church member’s property on top of a mountain for a youth retreat, the reminder of the harvest has continued. From large churches and small churches, to camp and retreat settings, wheat fields have adorned each property close by their home. They have lived next to wheat fields, and have been literally surrounded by them in just about every setting they've served. Again, God’s call upon their lives is to join Christ in the work of the harvest, knowing that the workers are few with plenty of work still to be done.
Serving Christ is costly work. It’s important work. The Lord’s calling upon their lives is so clear that they have committed themselves to it. Through the work of Harvest Stone Ministries, they feel led to encourage, equip, and nurture pastors and their families to continue such work together … that is … but not without a firm Biblical foundation for life and ministry.... hence ... the word "stone".
The Word "STONE"
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. - Matthew 16:13-18
Being a witness for Christ is as tough today as it was back in the time of Jesus. The world in which we live continues to invite us to conform to it, rather than being transformed into the likeness of Christ. It is gravely important for the leaders of Christ's Church today to embrace and stand upon a firm Biblical foundation for life and ministry. The symbol of the rock, and cornerstone, has been an ongoing theme for the Muckler family for over 25 years.
From serving as an assistant headmaster in a Christian school being challenged to introduce Biblical literacy as a foundation for life and faith formation … to sitting at "the Table of Peter" (Rock) on the Walk to Emmaus spiritual retreat weekend, and later being affirmed in a call to seminary while kneeling on the hard stone floor of a large divinity school chapel, the imagery of a firm, rock-solid, Biblical foundation has been deeply significant.
From serving in churches that include the word "mount" or "rock" in their names … to living in a community with the name "Rocky" or "Mountain" or with a geographic feature such as a huge rock, a stone face, or literally living at the base of a mountain out their backdoor, or experiencing the love of God out in the Colorado "Rocky" Mountains, each sign and symbol has been an ongoing affirmation to build their lives and ministry upon a firm, rock solid, Biblical foundation.
Having traveled to the Holy Lands on several occasions and having literally stood in the vicinity at Caesarea Philippi where Jesus shared in holy conversation with Peter saying, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church”, has again been a tremendous affirmation to uphold the Word of God as their primary source of theology for life and ministry. Together, as leaders of Christ's Church, we must contend for the faith by upholding a Biblical worldview and inviting other ministerial professionals to do the same.
The themes of both the Harvest (wheat) and the Stone (rock) have been an affirmation to strengthen the witness of Christ’s Church by serving its pastors and their families while maintaining a firm, rock-solid, Biblical foundation.
If you’d like to learn more about “What We Believe”, please click here.