Here for Good: The Sacred Art of Staying
A Minister’s Message from Rev. Mark Taylor, Minister of Faith Development 405.341.3544
In a world that celebrates moving fast, moving on, and moving up, there is something sacred about staying. It’s something we've embraced for more than 125 years—a calling to stay. To remain rooted in a particular place, among a particular people, for a particular purpose.
This spring at First Christian, we're reflecting on what it means to be Here for Good—not just right now, but for the long haul. We're exploring the deep connection between place, people, and purpose: three gifts God weaves together when communities choose to put down roots, show up for one another, and build something that lasts.
God calls us to see the sacred in familiar streets, in everyday conversations, and in the holy welcome we offer—like Abraham’s welcome under the oaks of Mamre. Transformation doesn’t usually happen through grand gestures. It happens in small, steady acts of love: shared meals, open tables, caring conversations, serving our neighbors, and welcoming children.
At First Christian Church of Edmond, we embody this calling daily. We are a community for those searching—not for easy answers, but for meaningful connection, real hope, and enduring purpose. We show up for one another in seasons of hurt and happiness. We empower people to form a spacious faith and embody Jesus' love in ways that transform everyday life. We collaborate with community partners, public schools, and city leaders—because God’s love is meant to be shared beyond our own walls.
I see this lived out in the way this church has helped me raise my daughters, Mackenzie and Kylee. Through Children Worship and Wonder, Wednesday night Unite, service projects that show them the importance of loving their neighbors, and countless small moments of encouragement, you have shown them what it looks like to grow up in a church where compassion is practiced, and love is embodied.
But the gift has not only been for them. It’s been for me, too. You have recognized my gifts, encouraged my calling, and allowed me to serve in ways that bring deep purpose and joy to my life. In this community, I’ve found not just support, but a place to live out my passion for helping people grow in faith and love.
On Easter, I experienced one of the greatest joys of my life as I baptized my oldest daughter, Mackenzie, after her journey through our Pastors' Class. Standing with her in the waters of grace, I felt the goodness of having a place and a people who walk alongside you.
Communities like this don't happen accidentally. They are cultivated by people who believe God's love isn't abstract, but embodied—in casseroles and conversations, music and laughter, wide-open doors, and the kind of holy welcome that has always been sacred.
As we launch the next phase of our shared ministry with Here for Good 3.0, we’re not just updating spaces—we’re renewing our commitment to embody God’s love right here in Edmond. We believe creating spaces where people can belong, get curious, and find purpose as they serve their neighbors is how God’s love becomes visible.
This is the story we're part of—a place for curiosity, a people to love, a purpose to serve. In a culture of restless wandering, we practice the revolutionary act of staying—bearing witness that God's steadfast love endures all things.
If you're longing to feel more rooted, more connected, and more hopeful about the good you can help grow in the world, I hope you’ll join us for our Here for Good worship series. Each week, we’re reflecting on the ways God’s story is unfolding in our lives as we remain here—to welcome, love, and serve.
You are an essential part of this story. Your prayers, your gifts, your love in action—they are what make First Christian a home where good things grow. Join us this month as we imagine what’s next, commit to this journey together, and celebrate all the ways God's steadfast love is still being born in our midst.
Come join a bigger story for a better everything. Thanks be to God—we are Here for Good!