I remember as a brand-new youth worker, sitting in a seminar room at a Los Angeles-area church worker training conference back in the mid-1970s, listening to this guy Mac McFarland. He was the presenter; a youth pastor from a big church in Phoenix, and he was teaching us how to help youth grow in their commitment to God through a series of challenges.I was barely 20; he was bigger than life to me then.
He still is, even though he's with the Lord now. Richard "Mac" McFarland died on August 22 at the age of 71. In recent years, I don't know if Mac and Barb (his wife) still ushered people through the "Love God" challenge or other landmarks for their spiritual growth. But I am certain there are hundreds of people of all ages who love the Lord more because of their influence.
On September 8, Mac and Barb would have celebrated their 50th anniversary. Instead, the focus is on celebrating his life, cut short by cancer.
Mac was a pioneer in many ways. He was one of a handful of youth workers who "got" networking in 1981 and signed the original Network Covenant (read it: http://ow.ly/doBEY). He never stopped believing it and living it. He mentored youth workers as he built a successful ministry in Phoenix area. He and Barb raised two sons, Scott and Greg, and they were always proud of their four grandchildren.
Mac served as NNYM's "Pastor at Large" from 2000-2006. He was our field team shepherd on every phone call and in our face-to-face times together, ministering deeply to many of us and our families, and always, always, always calling us to a more intimate walk with Jesus, which he modeled. He and Barb had moved to Eugene, Ore. where they were actively involved in ministry at Springfield Faith Center in Springfield, Ore., serving for a time as their youth pastor while in his 60s.
It was remarkable what kind of impact Mac would have on someone, one-on-one. Many would testify about how his deep caring nature seemed to draw out the core issues of your life when he'd talk to them, and he would gently guide them to life-changing commitment to Christ. He and Barb mentored hundreds of young adults out of Bible studies they held in their home, or while fishing. He was a "man's man" who could crush your hand with his grip if he wanted to, played a mean game of racquetball with guys half his age, yet had a tenderness and intensity in balance that reflected Jesus in a very unique way.
It seems like they don't make them like that any more.