Alumni Spotlight

MARK MEYERS ’79

Mark, share a little about yourself!

I attended PC, and graduated in 1979. I transferred as a sophomore when we moved from Tucson. I played baseball, was involved in student council, and I am still in touch with my two best friends Ken and Mike from that era. Looking back, I’m amazed at how faithful God is and how challenging life can be. I have been married for 36 1/2 years. We met at Wheaton College. We have two amazing children, Allie and Bethany (18-year-old twins adopted from China). They attend Timothy Christian. Bethany is planning to study Music Ed. and signed to play at Taylor. Allie has signed to play VB at Bethel University. We want our girls to have a Christian education—to have friends and potentially a spouse from a Christ-centered environment. I sell commercial real estate for senior care, assisted living, and hospitals. This has been interesting in this COVID environment. It has been a faith builder! COVID has drawn me closer to God and my spouse. It is a pressure point—it either pushes you closer together or pulls you further apart.

Tell us a little about the inner-city ministry you have been involved in.

When I was at Christian High, race was not really an issue. My daughters’ school is very diverse, and we love that they have that opportunity. When everything happened with George Floyd, I am not sure what it was about that incident, it just really got to me. I felt an urging, “I must do more.” I have tried mentoring guys with drug abuse issues, but I didn’t feel like I made a difference. The director of the drug abuse program, Stanely, is an amazing man. I decided to call him and

asked him to get together. We have been having breakfast with about 15 African American guys. I like to call it “Ethnic Adventure Breakfast”, but they call it “Iron Sharpens Iron.” We do this once a month, split the cost of the breakfast, and have no agenda. It is just a time to share and to listen.

Last month, our breakfast group went to a Christian Camp for a workday. It was a life changing time for me. I was the only white male with 11 others. It was a picture of heaven, different skin colors and age groups, serving the Lord together. On the way to the camp, I had an eye-opening experience. We needed to stop for gas. A late 30-year-old woman was driving away, rolled down her window and screamed expletives along with the “n” word—saying that they did not belong in her town. We must do something.

I am not where I want to be BUT I am headed in the right direction. We just need to start with one person, getting to know him or her for who they are in Christ. There is one thing I would like people to hear, please don’t wait to be a part of a formal ministry to do something for the Kingdom. For those who are handy mechanically or can bake well—you can be just as much a minister for the gospel as your pastor. Find a way to serve, bring the gospel to the lost— just help people. It opens the door to the Gospel.

Let’s go backwards in time. Are there some coaches or teachers who impacted you or a special experience you’d like to share?

Mr. Hovda, my Bible teacher, was such a wonderful example. He loved his wife very much. Mr. Wolfe had quite the sense of humor. Mr. Kelly was a wonderful English teacher. I even won an English award! Mike, Ken and I would meet regularly for prayer. I loved lunch time and enjoyed that time with friends.

Please don’t wait to be a part of a formal “ ministry to do something for the Kingdom. ”

Mark and his beautiful family

Mark and his brothers

A note from Teresa Bateman, Class of 1971

Mark & Teresa Bateman

Teresa and her husband Mark run a prison outreach to prisoners and their families. For more information or to see how you can support this ministry, visit batemanministry.webs.com.

“You asked what you can do for us. Today. Start with prayer. It is important that our letters to inmates remain Christ filled. We want to show the way of salvation to the lost inmates and encourage those who have made life changing decisions.”