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Mark Kamil, Service
What do you do at Rooftop?
I am the head of the service committee. The goal of the service committee is to provide meaningful opportunities for the people of Rooftop to serve, whether that be serving each other, serving through work or serving through giving to people in need. In addition to serving in this capacity, you can also find me leading a men's small group on Wednesday nights, mowing the lawn on Saturdays in the summer months, greeting or running sound on Sunday mornings and playing my saxophone with the band periodically. I also coach the co-ed softball team during the summer months.
How did you become a follower of Christ?
The following is the super short version of my story. Basically, I grew in a reform Jewish household, I was Bar Mitzvahed at 13, I was confirmed at 16 and I went to synagogue with my family twice a year after that. I spent the first 2-½ years of college saying that I was a non-practicing Jew and the next year saying I was Agnostic, not knowing who or what God was, but believing God existed. Through a Bible study led by one of the members of my fraternity, I was introduced to Christianity and felt led to a decision to follow Christ. It hasn't been an easy walk so far, but I'm still walking.
How did you get plugged in at Rooftop?
After college, I moved back to St. Louis. I obviously didn't have a church home in St. Louis (see #2), so I attended a couple of churches sporadically over the summer and early fall of 2000. I went to a wedding Labor Day weekend 2000, where the bride (who had been a part of the Bible study in #2) told me she had to introduce me to someone. Little did I know that that someone was Matt Herndon, who invited me to meetings for the St. Louis Initiative. I started attending, and gradually got plugged in more and more.
Goal(s) for your ministry:
The guiding verse behind the service ministry is Matthew 25.35-36, 40, "...I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me ...'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." It is the vision of the service ministry is to instill an attitude of service at Rooftop, and through that attitude to affect Rooftop and the community-at-large. To help reach that vision we help provide opportunities for Rooftoppers to do anything for the "least of these brothers," whether that be through serving at food pantries, building houses for the needy or helping a fellow Rooftopper with a need around their house. We strive to provide ways for people to serve each other and the community regularly.
What do you see God doing at Rooftop that most excites you?
I see an un-met passion for service amongst the people of Rooftop. Most of the events that have been planned over the last 12 months have been met with resounding support, in some cases beyond the capacity of the event. I'm excited to see how God will work through the people of Rooftop with new and different events in the future.
Favorite Rooftop memory:
There are too many good memories of Rooftop to say that I have a definite favorite. My favorite Rooftop service related memory was the Camp David of the Ozarks work day in September 2007. There were about 20 Rooftoppers and friends who caravaned down to Rolla, MO to help however the Camp needed us. While the work was fun and helpful to Ben and Grace Smith, who run the camp, the most memorable part for me was the drive down there and back and the conversations that were had on that trip.
Family stats:
My family consists of my wife Jennifer and our dog, Kami.
Where might you be found when not at Rooftop?
Outside of church I enjoy spending time with my wife, as much as possible. However, I also like spend time playing softball and racquetball, playing random board games and playing in various ensembles, most recently as a drummer for my wife's belly dance troupe. As far as my profession is concerned, I am a Senior Credit Analyst for a mid-sized Bank called Enterprise Bank & Trust.
Book (other than the Bible) most likely to be found on your nightstand / CD in your CD player?
Recently, Star Wars books are the most likely thing to be found on my nightstand. And in my CD player, you never know exactly what you'll find. The last 4 CDs that got much play time in my CD player are Sanctus Real, Avenged Sevenfold, Dragon Force and Dream Theater. However, CDs that regularly get worked into the rotation are anything by Billy Joel and Bruce Hornsby, the Wicked soundtrack and anything by Rush.
TV addiction(s) you suffer from?
The biggest addictions are anything sports, in particular the Cardinals, the Blues and the NCAA tournament. I'm pretty much permanently addicted to Survivor, The Amazing Race, Numb3rs and Lost.
If you could have lunch with 2 people in history (besides Jesus), who would they be and what would you talk about?
I think it would be neat to talk with Jack Buck about all of the experiences he had broadcasting in and outside of St. Louis. I would also be fascinated to talk with George Lucas about how he came up with the ideas, characters, worlds, etc. for the Star Wars movies.
If you could be one place in the world right now (other than a Rooftop service), where would it be and why?
I’d be back on the beach of St. Lucia re-enjoying my honeymoon with my wife. It would great to be with my wife enjoying being on the beach of an all-inclusive resort, with substantially no responsibilities to think about.
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