change – Mark Joseph Ministries

Every once in a while, it’s time for a change, a new chapter in our lives. That time has come for me.

Having worked at Franciscan University for 11 years, as part of both its Steubenville Conference Office and Center for Evangelization and Renewal, I’ve decided it’s time to leave. Working at Franciscan has been the greatest single privilege of my professional career. I love the University, I love its mission, and I love the people I’ve been so blessed to work with on campus and around North America.

I’m not retiring…I get bored on a Saturday. I have a lot of fuel left in the tank. Not sure where I’ll land, but I see God’s hand in all of this. Cyndi and I are looking forward to the next chapter, both at peace and filled with gratitude. God is good!!!

It’s also time for a new chapter in my ministry. After blogging for almost 6 years, we’re going to pause…maybe permanently, maybe temporarily. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

In exiting this space, I need to thank two people. First Cyndi, my wife who has supported me in all my endeavors. She’s my best friend and I love her dearly.

Then there’s Mary Kate Cuccari, who has been with me for these 6 years. Whether the blogs, my online course, social media, or general creative genius…she does it all. Thank you Mary Kate for your diligence, outstanding work, support, and friendship. I truly could not have done this without you.

To all those who have followed me, my ministry, and this blog, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Know of my gratitude and prayers for you. Please pray for me, especially as I discern what God has next.

This 2-minute video, which we pulled from the archives, is what my ministry is all about. Feel free to watch.

Couple closing points. Please remember…God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. Lastly, let’s all pray for our country and our world. We are living in crazy, crazy times. My answer to the chaos (in addition to staying well informed) is the Cross. We know the end of the story. We know Jesus won victory for us. We thank him for dying on that Cross and rising so we can live in His glory. I pray that all of us, including our kids and grandkids, truly come to understand that reality. I’m convinced that if those of this world were more Jesus focused, this would be a better world. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph….pray for us!!!

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests. Feel free to reach out now or anytime.

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph

Several weeks ago, I went to see Jesus Revolution, an absolutely wonderful movie that’s based on a true story. It was the cover story of Time Magazine on June 21^st, 1971. You can read the article here.

Greg Laurie, still the Pastor of Harvest Church in Southern California, wrote the book which the movie is based on. It’s the story of a failing Church and a struggling Pastor named Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), who is introduced to a hippie preacher named Lonnie (played by Jonathan Roumie of Chosen), by his daughter. Chuck does the unthinkable by inviting Lonnie into his Church to preach, also inviting his hippie friends and a band to do what wasn’t considered true Church music.

More and more hippies then attended services, with the Church growing so much that they had to build a big tent. Baptisms were done in droves, in the Pacific Ocean. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Pastor Chuck addresses the hippie congregation by saying (paraphrasing), “no matter what sin you’ve committed, no matter what sin you’re currently living, you’re welcome here, where you’ll experience forgiveness and freedom”. WOW!!!!!!!!!! One of many times I teared up…pure joy. You may have heard before, “the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints”. Do yourself a favor…go see Jesus Revolution.

Relate the above to what went on at Asbury University, where a revival was sparked by students spontaneously staying after a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 8, 2023. Following the gathering, Asbury President Kevin Brown sent out a brief two-sentence email: “There’s worship happening at Asbury. You’re welcome to join. An estimated 70,000 visited the campus for the revival through February 19^th.

I don’t know if you see it, but something’s happening. There’s a thirst, a hunger that people have. And they’re acting on it…including our Catholic Church. You may have heard of the launch of the National Eucharistic Congress, that will culminate in a revival in Indianapolis, in July 2024…with 80,000 in attendance. I’m honored to be on the programming team…it’s going to be a great gathering.

I’m also privileged to work at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where we see this enthusiasm for our faith all the time. If you’ve never been, come visit. You’ll see a campus full of students truly on fire for our Lord. Come to one of our Steubenville Conferences and be blown away by what you experience. I guarantee you, you’ve never seen a Liturgy celebrated like at Steubenville. Our conferences are truly life changing, clearly the work of Jesus.

In 1969, then Fr. Joseph Ratzinger said, “From the crisis of today the Church tomorrow will emerge a Church that has lost much. She will become small and have to start afresh, more or less from the beginning”. Prophetic words from our last Pope. The world, including our country, is in crisis. Not unique to all of Christianity, the Catholic Church has suffered significant losses. The statistics show that far fewer have a faith life compared to past generations.

Stipulating to the above, people are seeking. They don’t always know what it is they’re looking for, but they’re looking. They’re yearning to fill the God sized hole they have in their chests. We know there’s only one answer…and that’s JESUS!!!

What to do…love God, love your neighbor, and share the love of Christ. What else? Go see Jesus Revolution. Engage in the National Eucharistic Congress. Come to a Steubenville Conference. All will be life-changing…I guarantee it. Invest in your own faith journey. And then go light up the world.

Btw, you can listen to a brief interview of me by Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio, on all of this here. (from minute 40 thru 47ish)

As always, please email me at [email protected] with questions, concerns, comments, or prayer requests.

God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!

Remember…God made you for Greatness!!!

Mark Joseph