By: Ikenna Nwokeji

Elon, NC
St. Marks church in Burlington, North Carolina started going through drastic changes 38 years
ago which increased the congregation, made the church a more comfortable environment and
spoke to people who may not have already known about Christianity.
These changes can be largely attributed to Pastor Bob
Disher. Disher, 63, holds a congregation of more than
2,000 people, and has been developing St. Marks
Church since he arrived there.
Pastor Bob Disher finished divinity school at Duke
University and came to St. Marks in March of 1978.
St. Marks Church in Burlington, NC was established
on January 13, 1855. It started with 31 Germanspeaking people who met on Saturday to discuss the
possibility of opening up a church. The next day,
these people signed a document that founded the
church.
He was a 25-year-old pastor that took over a church with around 150 people. The church grew
steadily over the next ten years.
Pastor Bob Disher also has a passion for sports, and has worked with various athletic
associations in his time as a pastor.
Disher was born and raised in the small town of Lexington, North Carolina. He was the oldest of
three children. His parents raised him and his siblings as Christians, but Disher sought after a
stronger relationship with God.
I dont really remember not going to church, but I did not have a relationship with Christ until I
was seventeen, Disher said.
Hes referring to an experience that he had with one of his baseball coaches. Pastor Bob Disher
grew up playing football and baseball.
During Dishers junior year at high school in Lexington, segregation had just ended and his town
was integrating the all-white school with the school for people of color.
An African American coach from the school for people of color became the head coach in
baseball, and an assistant coach in football at Dishers school. His name was Coach Charles

England. England believed in Disher and said to him, I think Gods got a plan for your life, but
you need to pursue it a little harder.
Disher is a white male, so it was powerful that England believed in him so much.
England convinced Disher to go to a summer camp that was run by the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes. Through this program, Dishers passion for God had been started, and he started
building a relationship with Christ that he did not have before.
When Disher started his career at St. Marks church, he kept the church formal and rigid. He
used to wear a robe. The parishioners used to wear suits and neckties. Dishers preaching was
directed towards the audience of Christians that attended his church.
It wasnt until Disher met a man at the local YMCA in the late 80s that the church started
making drastic changes. This man and Disher had met through basketball and became friends.
They both had completely different lives off the court. Dishers friend was using drugs and living
a sexually immoral life. It was hard for Disher to break through to him.
At the time, Pastor Bob believed that his teachings and the style of Saint Marks Church would
scare his friend away from being a Christian. This is what sparked a change in the way his
church operated.
Our tradition was a good tradition, but it only worked for people who had been believers for a
long time, Disher said.
Disher stopped wearing a robe and encouraged people to dress less formally. The music and
hymns that were played and sung changed to a contemporary gospel rock with influences in
Country music.
He changed his preaching so that it would be relatable to anyone who walked in his church, and
not just people who already identify as Christians. He may tell a story or add a little humor, and
this makes people more comfortable.
A lot of technology is used during the service. Videos and sounds are used during services, and
people dont have to bring bibles because the verses are projected onto screens.
We wanted to be the kind of church that my buddy can come to and be comfortable, Disher
said. Now when you come here, thats the result of 25 years of making adjustments and
changes.
St. Marks has since flourished and now provides a message suitable for all people.
Tim Riddle, the executive pastor for St. Marks Church, has seen the church grow, and believes
that Disher is able to connect with his audience well.

For a long time, hes built a lot of personal relationships with people, and helped them grow,
said Riddle.
When Disher isnt preaching, he enjoys working with different sports programs.
It doesnt have as much to do with the game, as its got to do with the people, Disher said.
Over the years, he has worked with the Western Alamance football team in Burlington, the Green
Bay Packers, and he currently works with Elon University.
The first team he started working with was the Elon University football team in 1993. Head
coach and St. Marks member, Leon Hart, had approached Disher and asked him to be team
pastor of the Elon football team.
Since then, Dishers love for football and the players has grown.
Its not so much getting the W, said Disher. I dont want the people that I care about to lose.
Ive hung on because the relationships mean everything to me.
Similarly in 1997, Western Alamance football coach, Hal Capps, asked Disher to hang out with
the team and to get to know them. From there hes built relationships and worked with the team
for 18 years.
He stopped working with Western Alamance this past year, because he wanted to devote more
time to Elon football.
The downside was when you guys were on the road, I cant travel because I was committed to
being here on Friday, Disher said.
A memorable moment in athletics for Disher was when he was asked by his friend, Troy Murphy,
who is a pastor for the Green Bay Packers to speak to the team as they traveled to North Carolina
to play the Panthers.
The coolest thing about that weekend was Friday night I was at Western Alamance speaking.
Saturday, Elon was playing North Carolina Central so I spoke to the Elon football team at 11.
Saturday afternoon after the football game, I drove to Charlotte, and at 8:30 I spoke to the Green
Bay Packers, Disher said. In 48 hours I spoke to a high school team, a college team, and a
professional team.
Currently, Disher only gives support to the Elon football program. He prays for the team before
games, and connects with players on a spiritual level.
Elon head football coach Rich Skrosky believes that Disher is a great asset within the football
program.

Hes really become part of the support staff. I think hes been good for the players and hes
certainly been good for me, said Skrosky. I think hes connected with our players on a very
personal level in some cases and I think thats helpful.
Disher is always hoping to make connections and influence other people. St. Marks church has
many programs and locations to serve Burlington and Alamance County, such as hospice care, a
soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, an adoption program, and a womens resource center.
George Ross, an elder at St. Marks has seen Disher spread his influence to his mass and
throughout Burlington.
He has a very strong focus on evangelism. By that, I mean to go out and build relationships with
people who may not understand the Christian faith, Ross said.
Disher has helped develop St. Marks into the popular church that it is.
Many people can attest to the fact that Disher is inspirational in their lives, and that his influence
provides comfort to many.