Member of the Month 

December 2005

Mary Koster

UPDATE:  In April 2007, Mary became a member of another church in the area. 

by: Tom Whitener

December gives us a good time during the holiday season to celebrate the significance of our Savior, our families, and others in our lives.  After talking with Mary Koster, our December 2005 Member of the Month, I realized that her story touches upon on all three elements  - her Savior, her family and others.   

Mary has seen parts of the world that many of us have only read about. She was born in Australia and spent the first 10 years of her childhood in the “land down under”. She admits that she regrets losing her “cool Aussie accent”. Mary also remembers what she did as a child. “I was 5 or 6 years old when I realized I needed Christ. I asked a lot of questions and finally asked my dad if it was okay to accept Jesus in my heart.”

One of Mary’s highlights is the trip that she took with her father (John) to Budapest, Hungary during June and July 2005. As part of a missionary team, the Kosters taught English as a second language to the Hungarian people and used the opportunity to also present the Gospel. “There were all kinds of people there - kids, moms, lawyers, and professional people - eager to learn our language. It was interesting to see how they were drawn to my dad and wanted to learn from him. I respected my dad a lot more after seeing him in this light.”

Before heading off to Hungary, the Kosters spent several days in London, England. “I have a tendency to say stupid things at the wrong time,” Mary confesses. While she was watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, one of the guards came out and unrolled a scroll to read to another guard. “I asked if that was their lunch menu,” Mary said, “but I was promptly told by someone in the crowd that that was their work schedule.”

Mary currently lives in Cross Lanes with her parents (John and Cindy) and works part-time at Bible Center Christian School, helping with children in their after-care program. She recently had a birthday on November 9. When I asked her how it felt to turn “21”, she smiled and answered, “No big deal. I just told myself that I have only 9 more years until I’m 30.”

Her favorite book in the Bible is Romans because as she puts it, “It deals with every issue in a Christian’s life.” Mary is unsure what lies ahead for her future. She points out that it is important to recognize that everyone has special talents for the Lord. Mary explains, “So many people want to label Christians and say that we all have to act a certain way. I believe God uses our differences as we serve Him.”  

No matter where Mary is headed next, she can be assured that God will point her in the right direction.

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