Pastor Mark Eliason has taken over as interim Pastor at Palisade Lutheran Church & First Lutheran of Valley Springs. Though the process has only begun, he will likely be called by those churches to take over as their new full-time pastor.
“We absolutely love Pastor Mark,” said Doreen Rollag, long-time parishioner and music director. “He sings and plays guitar during every service, he’s a very musical man and a very devotional person, and a great pastor all around. We are so happy to have him and we want to keep him. In person worship services are just starting back up for us, and that’s such a joy for everyone after this terrible year. But Mark has been great, even just using the internet, so we’re off to a great start so far.”
Pastor Eliason said that he was humbled by Rollag’s praise.
“The truth is that Pastors need parishioners more than parishioners need them,” he said. “With COVID-19, and all the challenges it’s presented us, we miss having people in worship to worship with. Services without people all around you can be a little disheartening. You look out at pews and you want to fill them. You want to see families and community members in love and fellowship with each other. For me the hardest thing is not being able to visit people in the hospital or the nursing home. Those people need me, but for their safety I needed to stay away. Also, I know how valuable going to church is for people, not just spiritually, though you should never count that out, but socially. For many, especially among our seniors, it’s one of the biggest social events of their week. It’s how they stay connected to other people and their community. I’ve had to tell them, when they’ve wanted to come to church so badly and I too want more than anything to see them, that they have to stay away. Finally, some of those restrictions are easing, and it’s a real blessing.”
Pastor Eliason said that he viewed COVID-19 and all the difficulties and stay at home orders as a challenge it was his duty to rise to meet.
“This technology we have has helped us in ways we could not have imagined only a few short years ago,” he said. “The bible says that when three gather together in his name that Jesus is with them. There is no stipulation anywhere that says that gathering can’t occur in the home and heart of each person who shares a livestream. He is with us, and we can be together, even though we not in the same building. It’s not perfect, but only God’s love is perfect. This is and has been a difficult time, but we can trust in God through the most difficult times in our lives, and as Paul writes, be guided by faith hope and love.”
Pastor Eliason said he was helped by his own life journey, and developing a particular set of skills that really helped him prepare to broadcast services onto the internet. Once upon a time, and not long ago, he had a desire to be in radio and television casting.
“People said I had a face for radio, and maybe that’s true. I really did enjoy being a part time disc jockey at KCFS radio. Being a radio de-jay is a lot of fun, one of the best jobs in the world, next to being a Pastor I would say. I have a lifelong love of music, so when the pandemic hit and I was uniquely suited to the new reality we found ourselves in, I was happy to put those skills to use. Just further proof, if you needed any, that God helps you find the things you need when you need them.”
As for his lifelong love of music, Pastor Eliason said that started early.
“I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, the youngest of five children. My mother didn’t work outside the home, but that is not to say that she didn’t work as hard as anyone I’ve ever known. She did, and she worked hard as she possibly could to make sure that we had the best of everything possible. While she worked, she always sang, and sang whenever she was doing anything at all. I loved it when she sang, and I learned to sing along. I’ve carried that with me my whole life. Took it to my church choir, my concert choir at USF and then into my ministry. When I worked at a bible camp in the summertime, it was practically a requirement that if you were going to be a councilor you had to sing and play guitar. So I learned. Picked up a used guitar and the next summer I was playing it. I taught myself, learned to play by ear, and never had any real formal training, just tips and tricks I picked up from here and there. It was a good way to add to my service in the church and also playing gigs with a band is a good way to make some extra cash as well. It’s a great way to express your emotions and to share joy with others. I’ve gotten to the point now where I’ve even started a small guitar collection.”
As you can probably tell, his path to ministry was a long and winding road.
“It had always been something that tugged at me,” he said. “I certainly had many Jonah moments. I worked for Pam Oil in Sioux Falls for a number of years, but in 2001 cutbacks came and I was downsized. My wife, who is the most wonderful person in the world by the way, is Sharon Fix, a dentist in Sioux Falls, and we’ve been happily married for 25 years. You might have heard of her. When we got married, I told her that she shouldn’t change her name, because the name Dr. Fix is perfect for a dentist. She didn’t need my last name, that custom isn’t necessary in the world we live in today. When that downsizing happened, she encouraged me and said, maybe it’s time you got serious about seminary studies. I did. In 2002 I enrolled at the Sioux Falls Seminary, graduated by 2007 and served in Harrisburg until 2009 and then I accepted a call to Centerville for the last 10 years. I accepted to fill the role of interim pastor at Valley Springs/Palisades, and though I have not been called to serve here full time as of yet, and I don’t presume anything, I would be in favor of it. I’ve only been here a short time, and I haven’t had the opportunity to meet everyone yet, but I am looking forward to doing just that, especially now that in person services are resuming.”
