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, the inadvertent founder and leader of early Methodism, illustrates 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 certain beliefs that other denominations held, he asserted that those differences should never preclude anyone from "joining in common witness." Regardless of those various differences, it is our ecumenical commitment to accomplish what 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 him Mark when this ministry was initiated that "the world had now become his 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 supported financially by the local congregation itself. It is by no means a novel approach to para-Church organizations. This is the type of work the apostle did. Not only did he work among the people as a tent maker, but he did this since he didn’t want to burden the churches financially that he had helped initiate and plant. (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.

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

CRM doesn't own property, but for twelve years our Executive Director has owned the home where many Bible Studies have been held and informal worship continues. Inexpensive property was also purchased by Mark and his wife personally two years ago in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to facilitate a ministry that may be emerging 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 has been teaching one Bible Study in this area for twelve years. He has taught many subjects to this group. Throughout this time, various people have attended and have supported him in this important part of the ministry of CRM through their presence and prayer. For example, Carl Fasnacht, President of CRM, Thais Gries, our former Administrative Manager, Beth Keller, our Clinical Consultant, and Jackie Neidigh, our new Administrative Manager have attended to name a few.

Through these years, others have attended some additional Bible Studies Mark has taught in the local Church. Those who have participated have appreciated his commitment in his preparation for the study and the methodology in teaching. Although this is a testament to his ability, Mark credits his parents, who were both professors at Asbury College before they retired and a number of other professors that assisted him in his formal training, mentoring him in this area as he allowed the Lord to fan into flame this gift that He has given him. (2 Timothy 1:6)

Mark has also been teaching an ecumenical Bible Study for three years in Carlisle, Pennsylvania about an hour away from Hershey. Throughout this time, Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Evangelical Methodists, United Methodists and a few other denominations have attended. Mark has also taught another Bible Study 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 one could better assist lay people in understanding THE HOLY BIBLE. Dr. Kinlaw indicated that it would be his desire for every lay person to have the opportunity at some time 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 about fifteen years ago, the Lord reminded Mark of this conversation and he committed himself to this task. Within a few weeks, their children began to invite their friends. Most of them were not raised in the Church, much less attended Sunday School or Youth Group. As a result, Mark began teaching a very broad overview of a book of The Old Testament each week. He also began to introduce the connection between The Old Testament and the New Testament which these young people found interesting. Mark has spent a significant amount of time researching the intrinsic relationship between the two and summarizes this relationship to everyone that he teaches this subject with a quote 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 very interested when he introduced 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 spiritual formation of these young men and women. Consequently, Mark was led to write The Bible for the Adult Beginner, a 70 page summary of their time together and 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. The Rains’ house became a magnet for many young people through our children's teenage years and for some of their friends who didn't have any Church affiliation, much less attended Church on a regular basis. Although they are all young adults now, 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 woman and man who truly 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. More information about the purpose behind this transfer can be found on the "Leadership" page about him. Before he transferred, he was amenable to United Methodism and is now amenable 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. Furthermore, he holds a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary which is 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. The identical process occurred when he was selected in the 2006-2007 Edition of Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, the 2007-2008 Edition of Kipling's Who's Who in Leading Business Professionals and the 2008-2009 Edition of Madison's Who's Who of Professionals, "having demonstrated exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to the community." Recently, he was selected as an "honored member" to be included in the 2009-2010 edition of Premiere International: Who's Who Among Outstanding Professionals. All of these memberships include a specific section of other leading Christian professionals and it serves as a national and international registry, but is also a valuable resource with which one can use to dialogue, network and make appropriate referrals. There are also two links in Mark's bio on the "About" that give a summary of his life and his testimony.

Mark has 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. Still further, he is also 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, Mark will soon become certified as a Crisis Response Chaplain. Lynn, his wife, is certified in Emergency Nursing and works at a Level 1 Trauma Center. Once Mark secures his certification and Lynn retires, they've sensed for some time the Lord wants them to assist in national and international disaster relief as the need arises.

Mark is also working on a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling, that is solely based on research and writing. One unique feature about this program gave him the freedom to design his entire curriculum around the ministry of CRM. Spiritual Direction in The Carmelite Tradition and Its Relevance for us Today is the title of his dissertation, an approach to spiritual formation he has been reading devotionally, researching for over a decade and utilizes with a growing number in this area of his ministry.

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 has the proper training and credentialing in the area to where they have called and a compassionate heart. 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. As this ministry continues to grow, however, it is our hope and prayer we'll have the ability to assist others outside our organization who share our same passion to help them financially in their preparation, to secure the additional 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)