Emmaus Spokane pastors Mark and Becky Finney honored during Clergy Appreciation Month
News Story by Nina Culver | FāVS News
Emmaus Spokane, a tiny congregation that meets on Spokane’s South Hill, is led by Mark and Becky Finney. Both have day jobs, but dedicate a significant portion of their time and talent shepherding their small flock.
October was Clergy Appreciation Month and Jonas Hawk, a member of Emmaus, nominated them to FāVS News for commendation.
“They’re doing a small thing for a few people, but they’re doing it earnestly and deeply,” he said. “I think it’s a really great vision for a church to have them be, in essence, volunteers.”
Couple’s diverse gifts enrich 30-member church
In his nomination, Hawk praised their leadership.
“Mark brings wisdom and presence to Emmaus through his narrative style of teaching from scripture, welcoming presence and guidance to our small congregation,” he wrote. “Becky doesn’t consider herself clergy, but we know otherwise. Her gifts of hosting, music and love for children shape the culture of Emmaus significantly.”
Hawk said he appreciates being a part of a small worship community that numbers about 30.
“There’s something really nice about a small community where we all know each other,” he said.
Finney couple’s journey began at Whitworth
The Rev. Mark Finney grew up in the small North Idaho town of Harrison, then came to Spokane to study communications at Whitworth University. Though he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do as a career, he thought studying communications could be useful in whatever field he chose. While he was in college, he found himself leading Bible study classes, something he found that he enjoyed.
“My faith grew a lot while I was in university,” he said.
Whitworth was where he met his future wife, who grew up in Spokane, when they were both freshmen.
“We lived adjacent to one another in the dorms on campus,” she said. “We became good friends for years.”
From friendship to faith
Becky Finney said they were both interested in the outdoors and sports, and their friendship seemed natural. They began dating in their senior year.
After graduating, Mark Finney decided he wanted to explore ministry by working for a church. He began working as the youth director at First Covenant Church (now closed).
“They let me preach sometimes, do music,” he said. “I felt like it was a good fit. They were really affirming.”
A formative year in Thailand’s multicultural ministry
The couple moved to California, where they both earned a master’s of divinity degree from Fuller Seminary. After graduating, they got a fellowship to work in Thailand for a year.
“Both Becky and I had a strong sense that we were supposed to go overseas,” he said.
The couple served a church in Pattaya, Thailand, where the largest industry was sex tourism. Their multilingual and multicultural church included many former sex workers, Mark Finney said.
“For both Becky and me that was a formative experience,” he said. “It was hard, but it was also inspirational.”
When they left Thailand, Becky Finney went back to Fuller Seminary to get a degree in marriage and family therapy.
“I always enjoyed one-on-one conversations,” she said. “I just have a heart for the integration of faith and emotional life.”
Navigating challenges in ministry and academia
Though Mark Finney had quite a few interviews, he was unable to find work as a pastor, so spent more than two years working at Starbucks so he could get health insurance for he and his family. A former professor urged him to get a doctorate, so Mark Finney decided to study homiletics, the art of preaching or writing sermons.
The couple decided to move back to Spokane in 2015 when his Ph.D. classes were complete.
“I figured I could finish my dissertation anywhere,” he said. “At this point, we had three kids, and we were still living in a one bedroom apartment.”
He taught classes at Whitworth and Fuller while looking for a job, but again wasn’t able to find full time pastoral work. He took a position as a resettlement case manager at World Relief.
Stepping up
“We joined Emmaus Church at that point,” he said.
The pastor of Emmaus soon offered him the chance to preach occasionally as an unpaid associate pastor. He became director of World Relief in 2017 and in the fall of 2018, when the pastor of Emmaus stepped down, he was asked to become the lead pastor on a part-time basis. Finney said he was initially concerned about juggling pastoral work with his full time job, but decided to give it a try.
“We agreed I would try it six months as an interim,” he said. “It’s been six years since that happened and we’re still going.”
Supporting refugees and leading together
He launched the non-profit organization Thrive International in 2022, working to provide housing for refugees. The organization also offers classes and programs for refugees, including driving classes for women and summer camps for children.
“The mission is to empower multicultural communities to thrive,” he said.
Becky Finney helps keep the church running by heading up the children’s program and music program while working as a family counselor full-time during the day.
“I’ve always loved music,” she said. “I grew up playing piano. It’s always been part of my heart.”
Mark Finney said he appreciates everything she does to help serve their small congregation.
“We couldn’t do the church if she wasn’t a skilled, passionate visionary on her own,” he said. “As a very part-time person, I couldn’t do it without her.”
Finding grace in changing paths
Though both initially intended to work full-time as pastors, it didn’t work out that way in the end, Becky Finney said, but they are still serving God.
“We started on that path,” she said. “The specifics of that has shifted over the years.”
“I really love seeing things that are beautiful and good,” Mark Finney said. “I love seeing what I believe is God’s work in the world. I get to be there in sacred moments. Sometimes it’s a time of grief and loss, sometimes it’s amazing joy. When the divine shines through, it’s incredible.”
