Rev. Rob Schenck (right) with Pastor Parks (left) at Faith and Action's 2004 Winter Conference in Washington, DC.

There is a rapport forged in spiritual trenches that is deep, lasting, and formidable. Stan Parks, pastor of Mt. Zion Christian Assembly forged such a relationship with Paul Schenck years ago during the landmark pro-life protests in Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1980’s, and Rob Schenck soon after.

Born and raised in Olean, New York, Stanley Parks was raised by a single mother and deeply impacted by his grandfather who was a credentialed minister. The clergyman’s influence was so profound that as a youth, Stanley reflected, "If Heaven was filled with people like him, then I wanted to be there."

Sadly, his world seemed to fall apart during his senior year in high school when his grandfather passed away and left a gaping void in his life. The tragedy eventually led him to relocate to New Jersey where he lived with his aunt and uncle, who were also very strong believers.

Then came New Year’s Eve and as 1973 passed into 1974, 23 year-old Stanley Parks passed from death to life as he personally discovered the love that had filled his grandfather during a service at his aunt and uncle’s church. "I went to the service to make them happy," he recalled. "But when I walked into the church I perceived something I knew I didn’t have to work for. I answered the altar call and left that night knowing God was my best friend."

Without trying and almost unconsciously Stan instantly quit smoking and stopped swearing as he realized whatever reoccurring itch the two vices scratched was gone. The awareness of God’s love for him created a love for God that caused him to hit the ground running and he quickly became a Jr. Deacon in his church. As he served in that capacity the young convert found himself pondering a desire to pursue full time Christian service, a call that had been repeatedly confirmed by other people.

Moving back to Olean, Stan eventually settled at Mt. Zion Christian Assembly a growing fellowship then led by Rev. Van Gayton. During the next decade, he made a living as a UPS driver, but made a life as an assistant pastor leading worship and serving the church wherever he was needed.

Married with four children, Rev. Parks became the senior pastor of Mt. Zion some 14 years ago and continues to guide his flock governed by the belief that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Instead of reinventing the wheel, he has strengthened several time-tested ministries such as an outreach to a local nursing home, the commissioning and support of foreign missionaries, and a full roster of prayer, youth, single parent, adult, and children’s ministries.

Additionally the church has explored practical yet deeply spiritual innovations such as Hope’s Kitchen, a meals ministry that piggybacks on the efforts of other soup kitchens covering the one day of the week left open. The effort goes a step further and actually delivers fresh, healthy meals to shut-ins and anyone else in the community that needs a meal every Saturday. A runaway success, the program has provided a remarkable 30,000 meals in just 3.5 years.

Mt. Zion also sends worship teams to various churches that have a need for the ministry and holds a daily prayer meeting for area pastors that lays hold of God, fosters unity, and nurtures a strong local networking matrix among church leaders.

Moreover, the group has a strong pro-life program and is greatly burdened over the moral trends in the nation. So much so that they donated $25,000 to help Rob Schenck relocate from Buffalo, New York, and begin the National Community Church on Capitol Hill in the mid-1990s.

Mt. Zion is also a solid supporter of Rob’s ministry and Pastor Stan Parks has a deep-seated faith in his colleague’s character and work. Thus, he makes certain Rob fills the pulpit at least once each year, and recently hosted him to conduct a Passover Seder.

"I appreciate his (Rev. Rob Schenck), commentary," he explains. "I have known him a long time and he has not deviated from his call and gone Hollywood on us. In fact I saw him give a man with his hand out money and then lead him to the Lord right there on the street in front of me."