19 Aug 2024

Tribute – Pastor Mark Tobias

December 1, 1957 – August 15, 2024

As a CRC Family we convey our deepest condolences to Marks entire family.

Mark was a loving family man – he adored Julie and their two children Alana and James. In my conversations with him over the years he often shared stories of his children and their spouses -and in recent years of his grand-children. Only three years ago the family faced the deep grief of losing Julie. Mark’s deep trust in God through this heart-breaking time was remarkable.

It was an honour and privilege for my wife, Joy, and me to work closely with Mark and Julie in the early 2000’s at Adelaide Christian Centre. They quickly became great friends and colleagues. I greatly valued his ministry, creative input and pastoral heart as we served together.

Mark and Julie had their spiritual roots and early active christian life in Adelaide Christian Centre. Mark and Julie were married by Julie’s father, Pr Alan Bonython, in 1979. Both of them had a clear sense of God’s calling upon their lives which was outworked in several churches in South Australia.

They were well grounded in the Christ centred, word-based ministry philosophy of the CRC as taught by our CRC founder, the late Pr Leo Harris.

Mark was a highly gifted man in many areas of his life. He had an insatiable appetite for the richness of God’s word which he pursued for all of his Christian life. He was competent as a pastor, a teacher, accountant and IT specialist - among many other things. Mark was a highly intelligent person, finely focussed spiritually, with a keen sense of wit, and a genuine heart for people.

While holidaying in New Zealand in 2004 I discussed the future leadership of the CRC in Wellington with the late Pr Bill Burt. Whilst pondering the need and opportunity the idea emerged that Mark and Julie would be a great fit for the Wellington church. The spiritual DNA of the Wellington church and Adelaide Christian Centre had so much in common being the place where the foundations of the CRC were established in 1944 followed a year later in Adelaide, Australia. After talking and praying with Mark and Julie, upon our return to Adelaide, the wheels were put into motion and they accepted an invitation to move to Wellington in 2005. It proved to be a very fruitful move for them, for the Wellington CRC Church and the CRC in New Zealand.

Although their move to Wellington meant less face-to-face time with Mark and Julie we kept in touch on a regular basis and enjoyed our times together either in New Zealand or Australia.

As we know, the recent years have been very difficult, as Mark and then Julie faced serious health challenges. In my many conversations with Mark he always expressed his deep faith in God and his miracle power and at the same time was quietly confident that he was ready for eternity. We had some very meaningful conversations around these difficult real-life realties.

In all of this Mark never lost his heart and passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. In recent years he was actively building strong and genuine friendships with those who had migrated to New Zealand. He excitedly talked about the satisfaction he enjoyed as he got to know people and leaders from other countries and cultures.

Mark was a wonderful example of a person who loved God with a passion, who loved serving God’s people and who adored his family.

Today Mark is rejoicing in heaven, re-united with Julie and among the innumerable saints who have made Jesus Christ their Saviour and Lord.

We all have the honour and privilege to salute and celebrate a wonderful servant of Jesus Christ.

Neil Milne

August, 2024