He may wear a white collar on Sundays, but the rest of the week Mark Garavaglia is just an average blue collar guy who works construction and maintenance.
‘I don’t have any great gifts,? said the 37-year-old Port Sanilac resident. ‘I’m a decent speaker, but I don’t bring a lot of flash to the pan. I just preach from the Bible.?
On Jan.1, Garavaglia, a 1987 graduate of Fraser High School, took over as the new pastor of the historic Lakeville United Methodist Church in Addison.
‘It’s a neat little church. I’m real happy to be here,? he said. ‘The congregation has been wonderful. Very open to me, very loving.?
This is Garavaglia’s first appointment since graduating the UMC’s ‘License to Preach School? in November, the culmination of three years of hard work and a rigorous screening process.
‘I’m what’s called a local pastor,? Garavaglia said. ‘I’m not an ordained elder.?
Being an ordained elder requires higher education, which Garavaglia does not possess, and as a result, commands a higher salary from churches.
‘I was called to serve small church ministry, which is why I never went to get my master’s of divinity,? he explained. ‘I didn’t want to put that (financial) burden on any church.?
Garavaglia said ‘a majority of churches? in the UMC’s Port Huron district, which includes Lakeville, are served by local pastors because they can’t afford the salary of an ordained elder.
‘There’s a need in the small churches and the small communities, and that’s where I’ll always serve,? he said.
A modest and humble man, Garavaglia established an instant rapport with his congregation.
Over breakfast one Sunday, a church member told him, ‘You know why I like you? You’re one of us. You are who we are.?
‘I never want to not be that,? Garavaglia said.
One of the reasons the congregation relates to Garavaglia so well is because he works with his hands for a living.
Outside of his pastoral duties, which currently bring him to Lakeville three days a week, he owns his own construction company in Port Sanilac, Maximus Construction, and does maintenance work for Sanilac County Mental Health in Sandusky.
‘I’ve been in construction on and off for 20-something years ? ever since high school,? Garavaglia said.
He’s also a family man who has a wife of 10 years, Deborah, and two daughters, Lauren, 10, and Jenna, 12. His daughters come with him to church on Sundays.
It was Garavaglia’s family, specifically his wife’s parents, which started him down the path toward becoming a pastor five years ago. That’s when his in-laws? house burned down and they moved in with him.
One morning, Garavaglia’s in-laws invited him to a benefit breakfast at their church, Port Sanilac UMC. He liked the people there and quickly got involved. Garavaglia’s leadership skills soon caught the pastor’s attention.
‘The pastor saw something in me that I didn’t realize was there and helped nurture that,? he said.
Within the first six months of the exploratory process to see if he felt the call to the ministry, Garvaglia said he was ‘really sure this is where I was headed.?
However, he often jokes ‘it took a house to burn to the ground to get me back to church.?
Garavaglia’s status as a ‘regular Joe? prevents him from putting on airs or believing he’s better than anyone else when he wears his pastor’s hat.
‘I don’t hold myself above the congregation,? Garavaglia said. ‘I don’t like to preach from above. I spend most of my time out in the congregation. I’m not a pulpit preacher. I don’t have the knowledge. I never found myself worthy to be here.?
‘Too many pastors think they are the be all and end all. I don’t ever want to think I’m that person,? he noted.
Often times, pastors are referred to as shepherds and congregations as their flocks. But that’s not the way Garavaglia views the relationship.
‘I’m not the shepherd. We only have one shepherd,? he said. ‘I’ve found myself to be a sheep dog ? someone who comes alongside, listens to the master’s voice and helps move and guide the congregation in that direction.?
Garavaglia believes it’s his job to ‘help this church grow in whatever direction they decide.?
‘I’m one person and they are many,? he said. ‘It’s easier for me to change a little than for them to conform to me.?
The 150-year-old church does wish to increase its connection with the community by doing things like entering a float in this year’s Strawberry Festival parade in Leonard and holding a vacation bible school, ‘something this church hasn’t done in years.?
‘Community involvement I think is going to be a big thing for this church,? Garavaglia said. ‘These people have a lot to give.?
One thing that will continue at Lakeville under Garavaglia’s pastorship is the church’s desire to welcome and accept others.
‘We’re an open door church. We always have been,? he said. ‘Our motto is open doors, open hearts, open minds. I believe Lakeville is true to that in every fashion. We welcome anybody here on Sunday.?
‘We’re all one people. We need to remember we don’t have to be segregated in different places.?
Services are held at Lakeville UMC every Sunday starting at 9 a.m. followed by coffee and fellowship.
‘We have a good time on Sunday,? Garavaglia said. ‘Sundays are very casual. It’s a wonderful worship.?