Pastor Chris Markert is the minister general and founder of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. For the last 8 1/2 years, he has served as Bishop’s Associate for Mission here at the Gulf Coast Synod. The challenge of this work as you take someone with gifts for mission development and/or mission redevelopment, and put them in a position of coaching others, rather than doing the work. During his time in our office, he never lost his hunger for doing the work in the trenches.
There have been many new missions and redevelopments over the last 8 1/2 years. When Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (5700 Lawndale in Houston) voted to embark on a parallel new start, something tugged at Chris’s heart. He applied with the mission table and began his work in June.
Chris is working half time in the news, mission, and still have time with the synod. once we call a new Bishop’s Associate for Mission, he will go full-time at St. Francis.
Many thanks to Evangeline Dai, David Hansen, Chris Markert, and Rozella White for photos.
