Quotes

Dear Mark,

Let me express my sincere appreciation to your for a job well done at the Great Date Night. Your humor and your music connected with so many of our people. About a third of our audience was guests from outside the church. They really appreciated your joyful spirit and kind heart that shows through in all your say and sing! Thanks for blessing us with your servants heart. We look forward to working with you again in the future.

Rev. Joseph Burchill
Pastor For Adult Ministries
Lancaster Alliance Church
January 21, 2011

- - - - - - - -



Dear Mark,

It was great to have you with us for the 2009 couples’ conference. It is great to have a musician that marries great ministry on and off stage with great talent. Thank you for your willingness to serve, and serving so well. I look forward to serving again and often. Please thank Dodi for being with us as well.

Stephen J. Weaver, Director of Program Ministries
Sandy Cove Conference Center
Northeast, MD

- - - - - - - -



Mark,

This is just a late thank you for making time to come out to Virginia last November (2009). I just wanted to let you know that we were all blessed in having you make your debut at CCoM in Virginia. I wanted to thank you for coming out on behalf of myself and leadership. You are still the talk of our church to date. Your music and stories were funny, convicting, and enlightening to us all. We will be in touch for a good time for you to come out this year. Thanks again for blessing our congregation and we look forward to another fun time.

Blessings--

Ricky Irving, Deacon/Concert Organizer
Calvary Chapel of Manassas
Manassas, VA

- - - - - - - -



Mark,

Once again you hit a home run! Your balance between humor, openness, spiritual insight and wonderful ability made our time together truly unique. The people of Grace absolutely love you and certainly appreciate the path you take us on every time you are with us. It is refreshing to have an individual minister from his heart and allow us to sense Jesus being in the room speaking to each of us.

With thanks and gratitude,

Ed Short
Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship
York, PA

- - - - - - - - -

Mark,

Thanks so much for being with us at Christ Wesleyan last night. You are really a true instrument of God's grace and humor!! We felt like we were on a spirited roller coaster ride with your songs that brought on conviction, laughter and tears. This is exactly the kind of Outreach Event we had pictured, and you made it happen! Keep on serving this way and we can't wait to have you back! God bless you and your family!

Pastor Bill Miller
Missions, Outreach & Evangelism
Christ Wesleyan Church
Milton, PA


- - - - - - - -

Mark,

I want to thank you again for a great concert Sunday evening! It's obvious you've been at this a while; you're a real pro! I especially appreciated the honesty in your songs and comments. Very refreshing.
One of our elders was inquiring about your date-night outreach. He'll probably be in touch with you. In the meantime, thanks for being a great part of a special day for our church family! Our folks
loved your humor, too!

Because of Grace,

Ken Stewart
Pastor of Worship and Compassion Ministries
Calvary Monument Bible Church
Paradise, PA

- - - - - - - -


Mark,

Just a note of gratitude for giving our church family a wonderful night. You have not lost your touch, or on a spiritual note, the annointing of God as I witnessed so long ago. Thanks, my friend! Few musicians have the flavor that you bring to a gathering. Your music reminds the listener of what is important in life. Keep writing, keep singing! I am so glad we connected again.

Robert Ingram, Pastor
First Baptist Church
Mt. Holly, NJ

- - - - - - -

Mark,

Thanks for such an incredible night of worship and humor last night here at First Baptist! I can't tell you how blessed we were - myself, included! - by your ministry. You have a great way with folks! In fact, everyone was commenting on how funny you were, and how great you were to be around! Mark, we're praising God for you and for your ministry. Your music is awesome, and the heart which guides your lips is precious. Thanks for being so much more than a guy with a voice and a guitar - thanks for being a true servant of God, willing to share the gifts He's given you with all of us. As soon as we got into the car last night, we opened the CDs right up - something I'm sure everyone else did, too! My only disappointment is the fact that you don't live closer! We'd have you coming back over and over and over again!! If you're ever in Massachusetts again, let us know. Having you back would be a 'no-brainer!'

Jason Genest, Pastor
First Baptist Church
N. Middleboro, MA

- - - - - - -

Mark,

Thank you for being so good at what you do - you exceeded all expectations. The congregation loved your ministry, and I heard several people say that your words between the songs were as powerful as the music itself. Perhaps I can ride this wave of excitement into another booking in a year or two. You truly are a disciple and a blessing. Thanks again.

Jim Gill, Youth Director
Shells Lutheran Church
Grantville, PA

- - - - - - -

Mark,

Thank you for opening God's Word to us in a very plain-spoken, practical manner. I appreciated the way in which you communicated with our students. It was obvious that you love the Lord and that you want to live to please Him.

Many faculty and students have referred to specific verses and illustrations that you presented throughout the week. (They were listening!) Both groups, students and faculty, indicated the many ways in which they were personally challenged (convicted!) by the messages. A few people even re-arranged their schedules so as not to miss your presentations.

Thanks for your ministry to us as a community. Every reference to your ministry was extremely positive. Truly God used your talent, spirit, and insight for His purposes that week. We are only beginning to see the effect. My prayer is that your ministry always be as effective as it was during that week at LCS.

In His Service,

Dave Arrell
High School Principal
Lancaster Christian School
Lancaster, PA

- - - - - - -
Dear Mark,

What a great week we had at FCA Sport's Camp at Kutztown! You did an awesome job! One of the coaches wrote me and said the kids on the bus ride home made the bus driver play your C.D.'s! Thank you for a job well done. Wasn't it exciting to see so many kids come to know Christ as Savior?! Keep doing what you are doing, God is definitely using you! We hope to have you again in the future!

Molly Shull
FCA Camp Coordinator/Area Rep


- - - - - - - -

Mark,

WOW!! Thanks so much for an awesome evening of music and fun! You "knocked it out of the park" for our Volunteer Appreciation Banquet! I loved your original songs, musicianship, and great family stories. I hope you'll be booked SOLID in the months to come as you continue to travel and sing. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!! - Our people absoluely LOVED you!!!

God Bless,

Steve Keyes
Senior Pastor
CrossRoads Community Church
Greenville, SC

- - - - - - -

Dear Mark,

THANK YOU for coming to Middle Octorara in March. Everyone told me how much they enjoyed the coffeehouse. I especially love hearing your stories about the children. The one about the two boys ( who are close in age) "hiding" from you with their heads down at the dining room table is precious. I had 3 boys and the memories are so great. Also, I know everyone appreciates your personal testimony about your walk with Christ - helps us all to remember our walk - and helps those who haven't gotten there yet to consider what they're missing.

I'm sure we will ask you back again - probably in a year or so.

Fondly and In Christ,

Boni Phipps
Event Coordinator
Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church
Quarryville, PA

- - - - - - -

Dear Mark,

What an absolute joy it was to have you with us again for The Great Escape. Your music, your witness, your personality are powerful testimonies to the love of God in your life.

It is not surprising that in the evaluations year after year, you are the one person that consistently gets excellent ratings. And, you are the one person that the youth (and adults) ask to keep coming back. I'm glad we have become a part of your schedule each year. I have a feeling if you didn't come back we'd have a bunch of unhappy youth and adults.

As I observed your interaction with the youth and adults this year, I was impressed by your availability. No matter how late in the evening, or no matter how many songs you had just sang, you always had time to talk with the youth and adults. I'm not sure how you keep your energy going!

I also am grateful for your musical selections. They cover a wide spectrum of styles. In addition, I find the lyrics--especially in the songs you write--to be convey a balanced and appropriate theological and Biblical message. They are also helpful in that they speak to common experiences.

I'm so glad that you have been a part of The Great Escape for these past several years. And, we are excited that you care coming back to Central PA next year! We don't want to "ruin a good thing."

Blessings in your ministry and your life.

Tom Salsgiver
Director of Connectional Ministries
Central PA Conference, UMC
Mechanicsburg, PA

- - - - - - -

Hey Mark,

Faith Bible was blessed to have you be apart our music ministry. You have an ability to bring all ages together with "fun" songs that get people laughing and smiling and help us think about our life and how we need to be living. We appreciate your worshipful attitude and look forward to seeing you again at our Labor Day picnic.
God Bless

Jason Parmer
Minister of Music and Worship
Faith Bible Church
Vineland, NJ

- - - - - - - - - -

Mark,

Thank you so much for your ministry through music to us at Young Harris College. You have an amazing gift for communicating the Gospel to people of all ages in such an engaging and personal way. Many generations of YHC students have been blessed through you. I look forward to your return next fall!

SHALOM,

Fred Whitley
Campus Minister/Professor of Religion
Young Harris College
Young Harris, GA

- - - - - - - -

Dear Mark,

Greetings, joy and peace be with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! A hearty thank you Mark, for another job well-done, as our music leader for our recent synod senior high event, Winterfest.

The churches of our region have benefited enormously from your many gifts of leadership these past few years, as you have served our youth and our communities at our junior high event, Alive, Alive, under very adverse conditions of no electricity. We were fortunate to have you participate in our annual youth workers leadership and networking event, Gathering In The East, and twice now at Winterfest.

The comment was made backstage this year, that it was hard to remember anyone being better suited for our events than yourself, as your personal stories are always insightful and timely and your lyrics poignant. You relate well to our youth and make yourself available, something that can’t be said for every music leader that travels the youth event circuit. I especially appreciated that you have reached out to our youth as a prayer partner and have carried that responsibility out beyond our event(s).

We will indeed keep you on our short list of music and worship leaders, Mark and will continue to look for ways to integrate your many gifts for music and ministry into one of our future events. Thank you again for adding so much to our youth events by your faithful witness!

In Christ’s service,

Charlie Roberts
Director for Youth Ministry
Lower Susquehanna Synod/ELCA
Harrisburg, PA


- - - - - - - - - -
Mark,

Thanks for coming and using your God given abilities and gifts. Worship was engaging, fun, challenging, and most of all God focused and directed! Your mix of original songs and congregational praise singing was perfect. You provided our music staff a needed break while providing an exceptional and inspiring time of worship. I look forward to having you back some time in the near future.
God Bless!!

Brian Clark
Senior Pastor
Riverside Presbyterian Church
Potomac Falls, VA