When Marten Spena came to Village Baptist Church in 1994 as director of all music ministries, it was at a time in his life when he felt God's calling to make a move.
Today, similar circumstances are leading him away from Village after 17 years to a new church undertaking in Enid, Okla., a little closer to his native Missouri.
Spena's last official Sunday at Village will be June 12, but he'll be around a little while after that, leading his final children's choir summer music camp at the church June 20-24 before packing up and reporting for work in Enid on July 1.
"If God has anything else for me to do, this is the time to do it," Spena said. "The position at the church in Enid is music and missions. It's a chance to help plan and direct mission activities for the church, something that has been near and dear to me for some time."
Spena also feels the move is timed right for his family. His daughter, Amy, just graduated from Village Christian Academy. His wife, Ronda, teaches music at the academy and felt she had completed the work God had called her to do at the school.
"The natural things in our lives that were occurring said this was great," Spena said. "It was time to see what God has for you someplace else."
He will leave behind strong, positive memories of his years at Village. One of the biggest was the physical move of the church in 1996 from its previous location on Village Drive, where it was known as Village Drive Baptist Church, to today's complex that includes Village Christian Academy on McPherson Church Road.
For years since the move, Village pastor Dr. Bruce Martin has jokingly referred to Village as "the church that lost its drive."
But Spena said it only takes a quick look at the facilities, programs and ministry at Village to know that is just a play on words and anything but fact.
"It was a privilege working with Bruce over the last 17 years and being part of the growth here at Village," Spena said, "the things we were able to accomplish."
Martin said Spena is unlike many church music ministers, who often approach music in worship as art. "For Marty, worship is heart first, then it's art," he said. "Worship was not just a service, but an experience of God. He led us to worship in spirit and in truth.
"For Marty, worship is a verb. It's something you do all the time. He truly saw his leadership as a ministry to souls, and he did an excellent job."
Martin said the church's personnel committee is looking for Spena's replacement and hopes to have someone in place before school starts in the fall.
"I don't know if that's possible," Martin said. Whoever it is, Martin said he'll have some large shoes to fill.
"When he (Spena) came here, we had about 300 in worship," Martin said. "Since then, we've started three churches and we have 1,300 in worship. He has been a dynamic part of all the ministries of this church and will be sorely missed."
Spena offered some advice for the person who will take his position at Village. "Dream big," he said. "Love these people and love the Lord. I think there's such a great opportunity for ministry here.
"Even though God is calling me away, he has somebody awesome to fill my shoes, and he's not leaving this church high and dry. I look for God to do amazing things at Village in the years to come."
