“…Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” — Mark 10:14
In 1990, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church embarked on a bold and faithful endeavor to launch a Child Development Center. It wasn’t easy, but by God’s call, hard work, faithful service, clear vision, and a few IOU’s, St. Mark’s answered God’s call to serve the community in a new way. Through the “A Gift for God’s Children” campaign in 1994, a dream became a reality, and the ministry of the preschool grew to capacity.
For 33 years, St. Mark’s Ark has been a ministry of this church with a purpose to share the love of Christ in our community by providing loving care, quality education, and support for children and families through an early childhood education center. The profound impact of this ministry upon our community is unquestionable, and we give thanks to God for an entire generation of children and families who have entrusted us with their care.
Managing and operating a successful and viable preschool has never been without its challenges. Although it is a ministry of the church, it is still a small business with many intricacies and day-to-day operational challenges (employment, insurance, inspections, and certifications to name a few). Most recently, our greatest challenge has been to meet the level of staffing necessary to foster growth and thereby viability. These challenges have only been amplified by a post-Covid job market. In the last 2 years, we have been unable to meet the demands of the market and compete with other opportunities.
Therefore, it is with a heavy heart and deep lament, that in a joint emergency meeting of the St. Mark’s Congregation Council and the Ark Advisory Committee on August 30, 2023, a vote was taken to sunset the ministry of St. Mark’s Ark, with a closing date effective at the end of business on November 10, 2023.
Make no mistake, this is not a failure and no one thing or person is at fault. The Ark is a success story. It is a witness to the power of God by the Holy Spirit. It is a testament to bold vision and faithful action. It is a holy story, and we should celebrate it as such. Yes, grief, lament, anger, frustration, and sadness are all appropriate emotions. However, with time and reflection, we invite St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to celebrate the life of a ministry rather than solely grieve its loss.
For 33 years, St. Mark’s Ark has been a ministry of this church with a purpose to share the love of Christ in our community by providing loving care, quality education, and support for children and families through an early childhood education center. The profound impact of this ministry upon our community is unquestionable, and we give thanks to God for an entire generation of children and families who have entrusted us with their care.
Managing and operating a successful and viable preschool has never been without its challenges. Although it is a ministry of the church, it is still a small business with many intricacies and day-to-day operational challenges (employment, insurance, inspections, and certifications to name a few). Most recently, our greatest challenge has been to meet the level of staffing necessary to foster growth and thereby viability. These challenges have only been amplified by a post-Covid job market. In the last 2 years, we have been unable to meet the demands of the market and compete with other opportunities.
Therefore, it is with a heavy heart and deep lament, that in a joint emergency meeting of the St. Mark’s Congregation Council and the Ark Advisory Committee on August 30, 2023, a vote was taken to sunset the ministry of St. Mark’s Ark, with a closing date effective at the end of business on November 10, 2023.
Make no mistake, this is not a failure and no one thing or person is at fault. The Ark is a success story. It is a witness to the power of God by the Holy Spirit. It is a testament to bold vision and faithful action. It is a holy story, and we should celebrate it as such. Yes, grief, lament, anger, frustration, and sadness are all appropriate emotions. However, with time and reflection, we invite St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to celebrate the life of a ministry rather than solely grieve its loss.