Many were caught off guard with Dr Mark’s sudden passing, you don’t know what you have until they are gone.
If you are like me, you are missing the consistent feedback and affirmation he gave on our articles.
We miss the fatherly figure who went through the good and bad of life and continued to say, ‘Joy of the Lord.”
And most all the comfort and sense of courage it brings to have people like Mark standing with us.
Seeing his life opened up the sense of possibility and hope to do greater things as we saw how God worked through his life and legacy.
Of course, he was never short in reminding us all of his legacy. His emails and videos, that came almost daily, despite rain, hail or covid, meant you could hardly miss it. But weren’t we all so enriched by him?!
He went up fiery!
Behind every reminder, every quirky dad joke and his striking articles infused with God’s wisdom and compassion, God was doing something.
I can’t help but think of fiery Elijah passing his mantle to Elisha in 2 Kings chapter 2.
Elisha followed Elijah from place to place. We too have followed Mark. Elisha watched carefully as he followed. Elisha followed purposely, to receive a double portion of his anointing, to make him the first sign of Elijah’s strength, to carry on God’s ministry, after he left!
Elijah wanted to pass on his mantle to his spiritual son, Elisha. He said, if you see me go up it will be yours; a double portion of what enabled me to do what I did for God, will be given.
Elijah didn’t say I can give it, he just said if you see me; it is something only God can give, by his grace, amen. Elisha followed, and then suddenly, he was taken in a fiery, heavenly chariot.
Surely, Mark wanted to pass on his faith and a double portion of what he carried to us all. He went up fiery too. I recall getting text messages, probably like you, as usual coordinating, busy doing God’s will, in hospital, even days prior to going home!
“My father, my father, the chariots and the horsemen.” Elisha called him father.
Friends, I believe the spirit of God is saying, receive that anointing, that double portion, given to sons, to multiply the Lord’s work in this hour. See Christ has gone up to the heavens and the fire of the spirit has been given to all those who have their eyes opened, especially to those who see and value the spiritual fathers he raises up, in this case Mark Tronson.
A final word from Mark before he was taken up
We’d like Mark to speak again, and he will at the resurrection.
We see a sneak preview of our blessed reunion when Jesus was transfigured and spoke to Elijah, and Moses who died at mount Nebo, about his grand exodus of souls.
We will all be gathered, but the question is why are we still here, not yet in heaven?
Mark showed us how to live, as Jesus said in John chapter 9, “As long as it is day we must do the works of him who sent, night is coming when no man can work.”
Mark has a word for us today, his anointed words speak, though he sleeps for now.
He sent me an SMS text on Wednesday the 20th of October, 2021 in response to my query, ‘Mark, how could my art and videos improve?’
I admit, deep down, I was looking to a father, with a deep longing for affirmation, a greater recognition of my gift, my personhood. Can anyone see the more in me? I am still trying to find myself.
Maybe you can relate to that? We all want to go from caterpillar to butterfly!
Maybe at times you were drawn to Mark for the same reason?
Well to this Mark unloaded! Here’s what Mark said, word for word, and direct from the text, no pampering, straight to the heart of it, an emphatic ‘get serious with God’ message to empower my quest:
We have lived by faith finance for 44 years.
Support has been limited.
The rest is haphazard.
We never know.
Translate that faith aspect into my ministry - I have an idea - test it - people follow - becomes a reality.
Turn that into stats:
Holy Spirit 95%
Me 5%
I am a vessel.
That is how I have seen it happen over 44 years.
As to art and video
The same principle.
Test it.
Put it out there.
If it doesn't ring true you will soon ascertain.
The issue in all this
We ignore any naysayers in the way we function
It makes other leaders
Frustrated
Cautionary around you
Frightened by you
A threat to everyone
I ignore all that
Mark T
Did you see him go up?
Well, there you have it. That was his response to my longing. What did he actually say to me? Essentially he said, when you find yourself, and you have experimented and step out to do so, don’t be petered, life is not to be about man pleasing, but all about God pleasing, just keep going.
Anyway, that word blessed me. I hope it does to you also.
I saw a father taken up like Elijah, I saw a man go up not down, not just due to his words, but his deeds.
Indeed, the Lord will have good company with Mark being around… A dad joke of my own.
So, importantly, did you see him go up, did you catch something today, a portion or so for your ministry?
Now you go and impact many lives as Mark has done.
Deepest condolences on Mark’s family, God bless you all.
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.