CHICAGO, IL (January 23, 2018) – Mark Novak, former executive minister of Develop Leaders, was honored Tuesday night with the 2018 North Park Theological Seminary Alumni Award for Distinguished Service at the Midwinter Conference.
Dave Kersten, dean of the seminary, made the announcement during the evening worship service.
Novak graduated from the seminary in 1979, and subsequently served several local congregations and as superintendent of the Pacific Northwest Conference, before being elected to be executive minister of Develop Leaders in 2012. He stepped away from the position in 2016 to attend to family health issues. He currently serves as interim director of Cascades Camp in Yelm, Washington.
Kersten described Novak as “a pastor’s pastor, a leader’s leader, and a friend’s friend.” He added that in every community Novak had served, he involved himself in ministries that focused on helping people in recovery as well as assisting people who had been incarcerated to re-enter society.
“Serving this church that I love is a gift and a privilege,” Novak said. “It’s not always easy, at times it’s extremely challenging, but it’s always rewarding. This call to ministry and life’s circumstances have demanded a trust in God that I could not have imagined decades ago. I am convinced that our character is informed in the crucible of relationships, so thank you; thank you to all of you who in one way or another have helped shape me as a follower of Jesus, as a friend, and as a leader.”
