Pastor Kory’s Page for Sunday, August 3, 2025
St. Matthew member Mark Cavender and his wife Casey are preparing to move to Concordia Seminary St. Louis for Mark to begin studying for the pastoral ministry. In the meantime, Mark will be assisting with leading worship, teaching Bible study, and making visits here at St. Matthew. Mark will also serve on our Church Council for 2025-2026. This Pastor’s Page is an interview with Mark and Casey, giving you and opportunity to get to know them and their story and how the Lord is leading them. Thank you for reading and please keep the Cavenders in your prayers as they prepare for the seminary!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Kory Janneke
Could you begin by introducing yourself and Casey to the readers?
Mark is a retired USAF Master Sergeant, having served 25 years in the communications and training field. He is a veteran of three wars. He is currently working as a Certified Nurses Aid at Conway Regional Health System. He loves model trains, music, guitar, and trombone. He really enjoys singing in the choir. Mark has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCA.
Casey is a retired chemistry professor (one year at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, 35 years at UCA, and a semester at Hendrix College). She loves reading, needlework (knitting, cross-stitch, sewing), music, and playing with/building computers.
How has the Lord used your life experiences to prepare you for pastoral ministry?
Mark was raised in the Church of Christ while being influenced and encouraged by Gary and Mary Tumlinson of Peace Lutheran Church in Conway. After some very negative remarks during his late wife’s funeral, he moved to Conway and through friends was introduced to the Lutheran flavor of Christianity. He completed adult instruction and was confirmed on the 499th Reformation Day (2016). Mark has had service to God at a higher level on his heart for a very long time. His first wife’s passing brought him to a more dependent relationship with God. His wife told him just before she died to not be mad at God and don’t run away from Him. Mark ran to God. He took the aid of a Stephen’s Minister then became one. He then became a Stephen’s Leader when the need arose.
What are you most looking forward to about serving in pastoral ministry?
Mark: I am enthralled by our worship service and its liturgy in the Lutheran Church in accordance with Leviticus 23. I am excited to lead a flock of believers to God’s altar and worship our Almighty God.
Casey: I view my first and most important job to be my husband’s helpmeet in this journey; I will support him every step of the way. I look forward to the opportunities I’ll have for study and music while we are there, both at the Seminary, and in whichever church we end up worshiping.
What are you doing to get ready for life at Concordia Seminary St. Louis?
"Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’" (Matthew 19:21)
We have been selling our things, giving a lot of things to the poor and preparing to leave and follow Him. In the spiritual arena, we have been doing what Mark calls “spiritual house cleaning.” If there are any people who are not at peace with us, we go and offer peace. It has not been refused so far.
God has facilitated ease for us in some of the physical matters. We sold our camper almost by accident in one day. We sold the truck in one day the same week as the camper sold. In both instances, we were blessed financially making it possible to increase our contribution at church.
Are there any ways we can be praying for and supporting you and Casey as you prepare for seminary?
We ask for your prayers for Mark’s studies as he prepares to take the Entry Level Competency Exams (ELCEs). Pray for a quick sale of the house next March, and for continued good health so that we are strong to take on the work of the Lord. We also wish for prayers that as we move from Conway to St. Louis, our housing situation will fall into place as tidily as the sales of our camper and truck.