On Sunday, July 2, Pastor Mark Felber celebrated, with his family and church family, 40 years as pastor of Victory Baptist Church of Whiteland, Indiana. It was a day of thanksgiving, praise, rejoicing, and lifting of hands and hearts in recognition of God’s unspeakable goodness, grace, and faithfulness through these past four decades.
Ellen and I were privileged to attend this special day, along with more than 200 church members and other guests. Most of Pastor Felber’s family was in attendance, including his brother Mike Felber (a pastor in North Dakota) and nephews and nieces.
The Felber family has always loved good music, and they joined their voices in beautiful songs of praise to their great God. One special that eight of the Felber men sang was “Be Strong in the Lord,” a song that Pastor Felber’s mother had requested for the 10th anniversary of her son’s ministry in this church in south-central Indiana, not more that 30 miles from where the Felber sons grew up in the great church their father, DeWayne Felber, pastored for many years, Burge Terrace Baptist Church. The Felber men who sang were, to a man, all “tenors.” They were somehow able to blend those trained voices into an ensemble that would have brought tears to Lena Felber’s eyes had she been present to hear her sons and grandsons sing that favorite song.
Pastor Felber, in the morning hour, shared some of the history of Victory Baptist Church, and how he had received a call 40 years ago—as a 24-year-old, single staff member of his Dad’s church—to accept the church’s invitation to be their pastor.
Meeting in a 100-plus years-old, 40 x 60 ft. building, it had declared itself an “independent” Baptist Church. Over the years it had benefited from the ministry of several pastors, but most of them were short-term ministers. Some served on an “interim” basis, and in 1983 one of those interims suggested the church leadership contact Burge Terrace Baptist Church in Indianapolis to ask if someone there could help out as a pulpit supply until they found someone to serve on a more permanent basis. They took that advice and contacted the senior Pastor Felber. After some discussion, father and son agreed that Mark could help the Whiteland church as a supply for a few weeks.
This arrangement was extended a couple of times until, lo and behold, the church asked Mark if he would consider “candidating” for the pastorate. The young, fresh-from-grad school church staffer was a bit taken aback by the invitation, but as the idea began to “gel,” Pastor Felber sought counsel from older men in the ministry, including his father. To a man, they counseled him that he should give it prayerful consideration and, as the Lord would lead, proceed until the door closed. It never did. Forty years ago, the church voted in the young Felber as its pastor—a choice that has proven to be a very wise move on their part!
Mark faithfully served that flock for another 12 years—in a building that might have the furnace cut off and on in the winter, as the cold air gushed through decades-old cracks in the little (but really quite quaint and beautiful) white-framed church building, with a steeple stretching heavenward—before God gifted him with a beautiful wife whose life had been one of surrender and service to her Lord and Savior. Caryn Moody was living in Greenville, SC, and she and Mark had been acquaintances from their student years at Bob Jones University, but there was no romance between them during those years. That all changed sometime during late 1994, and by May of the following year they were married. Pastor Felber testifies that Caryn has been not only a perfect wife but a God-given complement to his ministry. Her eyes saw many things that would enhance the ministry of the little Baptist Church, which was soon cramped for space and desperately in need of a larger facility.
Not to worry. God had that covered, too. In time, they were able to purchase an excellent piece of property on which they built a stunning, attractive facility that continues to serve its congregation in a more than adequate way. Over the years, Pastor Felber’s humility, compassion, love of his people, skilled exposition of God’s Word, and steady hand at the helm have attracted like-minded people, who have worked together to cultivate a culture and an assembly of Christ-ones that have been a beacon of gospel truth in their community, carrying on the heritage of faith and faithfulness that Pastor Mark inherited when, with the trepidation of youth, he assumed the mantle of spiritual leadership bestowed upon him by the call of the church and the direction its Head, Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Sunday’s victory service was a testimony to the faithfulness, goodness, and blessings of our Heavenly Father upon a work and workers committed to Him, His Word, and each other.
Yes, Sunday, July 2, was a celebration of praise for Victory Baptist Church, its pastor and people, and for all of us who got to share in that memorable day. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
YOU and GOD 