These are some additional answers The Internal Revenue Service required of CRM when we applied to become a 501 (c) (3) Non Profit Organization. Once we were granted this status those who financially support us receive a required receipt for the amount donated which they can legally deduct from their income, since this is a Registered Charitable Organization. The first two questions the IRS asked can be found on the "About" page right under our STATEMENT OF BELIEFS.

Are you a part of churches with similar beliefs and structures?

As one peruses the backgrounds of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, the leadership of CRM is intentionally ecumenical at its foundation. In this work, they share with each other “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:5-6) CRM is not officially connected with any group of churches, but it does share a common bond with any one who embraces "paleo-orthodox Christianity," that is, “the orthodoxy that holds steadfast . . . to the ancient consensus of faith,” as Dr. Thomas Oden defines it in his book, The Rebirth of Orthodoxy. Although there are clearly theological differences between us, we have not allowed those differences to effect our relationship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. As a result, CRM has set aside those things that divide us and have joined in unity and mission to care for those in crisis and transition. John Wesley embodies the ecumenical spirit that we share in a sermon entitled "The Catholic Spirit." Although he readily admitted that he had some real theological differences with some of the beliefs in which other denominations held, he asserted that those differences should never preclude anyone from "joining in common witness." Regardless of any differences within this ancient and orthodox faith, ecumenically, it is our commitment to accomplish what we sense God wants us to do, helping others, one person at a time. E. Stanley Jones, whom many consider the most influential missionary of the 20th century summarizes the unity we share and the task to which God has called each of us: "Here we enter into a fellowship; sometimes we will agree to differ; always we will resolve to love, and unite to serve."

Do you have a distinct religious history?

After almost ten years in the pastoral ministry, our Executive Director felt called to leave the local Church full-time to begin “working the fields.” Ever since he was young, Mark has always had a special affinity for those who live and work in the community, particularly with those on the fringes of society and those who suffer most deeply. You can find a summary of his life on the Leadership Page. To paraphrase the familiar words of John Wesley, Dr. Dennis F. Kinlaw, a member of our Board of Advisors, said to Mark when this ministry was initiated that "the world has now become your parish.”

Technically, this type of ministry is called “indigenous,” where one works, for example, among the people, rather than being in the pastoral ministry within the local Church, where one is financially supported by a local congregation. It is by no means a novel approach the ministries of para-Church organizations. For, as most of us know, this is the type of work the apostle Paul did. Not only did he work among the people as a tent maker, identifying with them in their labors, but he also was led to do this, since he didn't want to burden the churches financially that he had helped initiate, organize and plants. (Acts 18:3; I Thessalonians 2:7-9)

With no financial assistance, Mark started washing dishes at Three Mile Island, cleaning tractor-trailers at Harrisburg International Airport, stocking stores in malls, working at Pizza Hut and a variety of other jobs. An account of this history can be found in his personal testimony on the Leadership page, in addition to a recent testimony you can find a link on the NEWS section of our web site.

Do you own property where there's an established place of worship?

CRM doesn't own property, but for sixteen years our Executive Director has owned the home where many Bible Studies, prayer meetings and and informal worship was held. Inexpensive property was also purchased by Mark and his wife personally five years ago in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to facilitate a ministry that may emerge in the Maritimes region. Click the Vision page to learn more about this.

Do you have an established congregation or membership group?

Our Executive Director, for example, has been teaching one Bible Study in the central PA area for 15 years. He has taught many subjects to this group. Throughout this time, various people, including a number of members of the Board of Directors at times participated at times in these over the years.

Through these years, other have come to some of the other Bible Studies Mark has taught in the local Church. Those who have participated have appreciated his commitment in his preparation and the methodology he uses. Although this is a testament to his ability, Mark credits his parents, who were both professors at Asbury College for teaching him the intrinsic value of education. He was very privileged to study under the first generation of Dr. Dennis F. Kinlaw's proteges as a Bible major at Asbury College, mostly ancient Near Eastern scholars, who are deeply committed to Christ, and has also been thankful for the contributions Asbury Theological Seminary made in his life. Cumulatively, both provided the tools to study independently after graduating, particularly as the isolating word of CRM. Mark has done his best throughout these years to follow Paul's encouragement to Timothy "to fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6) that has been given to him by those who have "received from the Lord and passed down to [him]" (1 Corinthians 11:23).

Mark also taught an ecumenical Bible Study for three years in Carlisle, Pennsylvania about an hour away from Hershey. Throughout this time, Baptists, Catholics, Evangelical Methodists, Presbyterians, United Methodists and a few other denominations have attended. He also had created another study for for young people at his home for almost ten years. The specifics of this Bible Study are addressed in the next question.

Do you have a school for the religious instruction of the young?

Years ago, our executive director had a conversation with Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, who was just mentioned. He is a former President of Asbury College. During this conversation, they discussed how one could better assist lay people in understanding The Scriptures. Dr. Kinlaw responded that it would be his desire for every lay person to have the opportunity at the earliest point in their lives to take three courses: An Introduction to The Old Testament, An Introduction to The New Testament and An Introduction to Christian Theology.

When Luke, Peter and Sarah Lynn, Mark and Lynn's three children, were nearing High School, the Lord reminded Mark about this conversation and committed himself to this task. Within a few weeks, their children began to invite their friends. Most were not raised in the Church, much less attended Sunday School or Youth Group. As a result, he began teaching a broad overview of a book of The Old Testament each week. He also began introducing the connection between The Old Testament & The New Testament and summarizes what he did with this group and others by a familiar quote for many by St. Augustine: “The Old Testament is The New Testament concealed and The New Testament is The Old Testament revealed.” After the group finished the Old Testament, they were eager to study The New Testament. During these years, he also integrated some introductory theology and presented an overview of the history of Christianity. This was a foundational time in the interior formation of these young people. As a result, he was led to write The Bible for the Adult Beginner, a 70 page summary of their time together and distributed it to the roughly twenty-five people who had attended this group over those years.

After this very broad introduction to the Bible, Mark concentrated on the book of James to teach these young people how to study a book in the Bible for themselves and also how to apply Christianity to their lives to a world of hurt. During Advent and Lent, he would suspend what the group was studying and focus on the themes of these seasons. Through this time, he also taught other Bible Studies to them.

This was a special decade in time. Although they are all young adults now in their late 20's and early 30's, who, for the most part, live in various parts of the country, whenever they're home, a good number of them still touch base with Lynn and Mark, a surrogate mother and father, who became parents and mentors to many of them.

Do you have a minister or religious leader?

Our Executive Director was a United Methodist pastor for many years before transferring his credential as an ORDAINED ELDER to The Evangelical Methodist Church. Before he transferred, he was amenable to United Methodism and is now to The Evangelical Methodist Church. He majored in Bible and holds a Bachelors’ degree from Asbury College which has a Level III accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Further, he holds a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary accredited by The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. His work has also been recognized.

In 1989, Mark was anonymously nominated and selected into The Who’s Who in American Christian Leadership. He's also received the same recognition from numerous other legitimate Who's Who for the work he has done over the years. He has also been a Charter Member of The American Association of Christian Counselors since 1995. He is credentialed by The International Board of Christian Counselors as a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor. Verification about his credentials can be found in the "News Archive." Further, he is a Charter Member of The Marriage and Family Network, another division of The AACC and also is a member of The Society for Christian Psychology. After working in hospitals as a pastor and an itinerant Chaplain, specifically in the Critical Care Units, for many years, he plans to work as a first responder as a Chaplain and also assist in transportation in this area of assisting those in crisis with Commercial Driver's License he holds. Lynn, his wife, is certified in Emergency Nursing and just recently retired. Once they centralize our headquarters of CRM in the western mountains of NC in June, 2011, they've sensed for some time the Lord wants them to serve in national and international disaster relief as the need arises.

Mark is also working on a PhD in Counseling that is solely based on research and writing. One feature about this program has given him the unique opportunity to design his entire curriculum around the numerous works and ministries that Country Road Ministry provides. The title of his dissertation is called Spiritual Direction in The Carmelite Tradition and Its Relevance for us Today. One of its purposes is to demonstrate the commonalities in one's spiritual formation in which many denomination within traditional ecumenism share. It is based on the ancient consensus of faith and its practice which was outlined for us during the 16th century both by the Teresian Carmel, that is, St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and St. John of the Cross. Many believe that The Ascent to Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul written by him "continues to be today the authoritative criterion for judging authentic spirituality."

(God Speaks in the Night: The Life, Times and Teaching of St. John of the Cross, trans. Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD (Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1991), p 310. Translator's Note: "The authors of this book spent years of research to prepare it in time for the Fourth Centenary Year of [his death]."

Do you have schools to prepare ministers or religious leaders?

Another part of the vision of CRM possesses is to duplicate indigenous ministries elsewhere, assisting others to work within the community where they live like our Executive Director has done. Although ordained ministers can only perform certain ministerial functions, a good part of the work Mark does can be done by anyone who, as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta put it simply have: "hands to serve and hearts to love." If any proper training is necessary or one needs to become credentialed in a particular area to which they have been called, CRM is willing to assist that person in whatever way they can. In fact, one person on our Board of Directors has already been credentialed and another one is pursuing training in the area of hospice, along with two of her friends, who have expressed an interest in joining her. As this ministry continues to grow, however, it is our hope and prayer we'll also have the ability to assist others outside our organization who share the very same passion we possess to help them in their preparation financially and to secure other resources to supplement their income, so they can begin to work bi-vocationally at a deeper level in the communities in which they live. (Matthew 25:34-40).