Category Archives: NewSpring

Feb 17
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Good-bye and Hello

By | Family, NewSpring, Next Step | No Comments

In the morning, Mark will be speaking at the funeral of a dear friend, Dick Walker. Back when Mark was on staff at a church in Houston, TX, we met Dick and his wife, June. While we were in Houston, we faced several tough challenges and the Walkers were like adopted parents to us as we were still young kids in our early twenties and they were about the age of our own parents back home in Fort Worth. Since 1978, we have kept in touch and they have even made that long trip from Houston to visit us a time or two since we’ve been in Kansas. Although it’s difficult to say good-bye to someone we love so much, we look forward to being reunited when we join him in Heaven some day and knowing Dick, he’s already found a fishing boat and I expect to enjoy a fish fry with him when we get there.

In contrast to the sad good-bye, I have once again met some great new friends at NewSpring! I am co-leading one of the new Starting Point groups that began last weekend and as always, it is very exciting to get acquainted with every group member. They each have an incredible story to share and a refreshing point of view. In case you are not familiar with Starting Point, Mark and I talked about it during a recent weekend message entitled, Invite God Into Your Day.

If you are at a point in your life where you have questions about Jesus, faith, or the Bible, if you are brand new in your relationship with Jesus, or if you are returning to your faith after an absence, I hope you will join us in Starting Point! 

Mary Alice

Feb 13
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Adventure Avenue Theater

By | NewSpring | 3 Comments

When NewSpring’s 252 Theater (the main KidzWorld space) opened up, I thought I’d seen the most engaging kids space in the country. By the way, I wasn’t alone. One of the leading Children’s ministry magazines listed the 25 “must see” facilities in the country, and NewSpring was on the list. Much of the reason for what we have is the genius, imagination, and round-the-clock work of Dale Poore and his team.

Even if you’ve never seen any of our kid’s space, you’ve seen his work in the Worship Center for countless series, most recently Holidaze and Success Street. What’s really amazing is his ability to create jaw-dropping sets on a shoestring. I’m reminded that inexpensive materials in the hands of a true artist can result in masterpieces.

Well, get ready to be dazzled. The Adventure Avenue Theater (kids space for preschoolers) opens this weekend. It’s the first phase of the KidzWorld expansion we started raising funds for last Fall. Children’s Pastor, Dan Kubish has been giving me daily tours, and as soon as I think I’ve seen the best, the next day’s installation wows me even more.

This weekend, it’ll be up and running. And no matter how old you are, you can get a peek. Adventure Avenue Theater will be open after each morning service for a brief walk-through. Trust me, it’ll make you wish you were four again!

Mark

Feb 06
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Silence

By | NewSpring | 3 Comments

Have you checked out GodisSilent.com? In case this is the first time you’ve heard of it , it’s a website we’ve launched in preparation for the Silence series which starts this weekend. People have been invited to share their stories about crisis times when it felt like God was silent. I’ve been totally blown away by what I’ve read. No doubt about it, it really rocks our spiritual equilibrium when life collapses, and we can’t seem to locate God.

I’m going to really let down my guard right now, and let you in on something. A month ago I wasn’t looking forward to this series. You know how I’m always saying the next series is the most important one I’ve ever done? I really mean that when I say it, but I wasn’t pumped up about this one. I knew I needed to take the issue head on, but I didn’t really want to. Here’s the part I hate to admit. When I planned the year I just allocated three weekends for it instead of the usual five, because I didn’t want to get trapped in a long treatment of material I knew was needed but wasn’t excited about.

But two things happened. First, I got really engaged and started serious prepping by looking at the topic in the Bible. It blew me away to see how many great men and women felt that God was silent, and made it known in no uncertain terms. I also began to see a clear pattern of how they successfully navigated through their crises. What I learned is HUGE! The second thing that happened, was I read GodisSilent.com every day. Many times what I read drove me back to the Bible again for more clarity.

Bottom line. I now have about ten weekends of material I have to cram into three! I’m more excited about Silence than any series I’ve ever tackled. Here’s my promise to you. No trite answers. No saccharine solutions. No goofy sayings. Just taking on some of life’s toughest questions in total integrity and academic honesty.

This is going to be awesome!

Mark

Jan 31
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What’s this new blog about?

By | Family, NewSpring, Next Step | 4 Comments

I keep running out of time on the weekend. There’s so much exciting stuff going on that I can’t find a way to shoehorn it in an already cram-packed 65 minute worship experience. I go through the same thing every Sunday afternoon when I get in my car to drive home after our third awesome service. I think to myself, “Man, I left out so much incredibly wonderful news. So, here’s the deal. I’m going to put it in this blog.”

But here’s the best part, considering I’m a poster child for ADD, my love interest for the last 35 years is going to help me! Most of you know that Mary Alice leads Next Step Ministries here at NewSpring, and as jazzed as I get about what’s going on here, she’s out there even further.

Hey, what do you think Mary Alice and I talk about when we’re alone? Sure, it’s the stuff people talk about when they’ve been lovers for over three decades, have great kids, and a perfect granddaughter. But most of the time, we wind up telling each other wonderful stories of what God is doing at NewSpring. Since we lead different parts of the ministry, we hear different stories.

Happened just this morning, we were driving up to the campus on snow-packed roads and we began to talk about some individual stories of extraordinary life-change we were seeing, and suddenly the conversation trailed off. Each us had to look out our windows for a moment to regain our composure.

So here, we go. MarkandMaryAlice.com is a window into the life of two people in love with each other, with Jesus, and with the greatest people in the world.

Love you guys,

Mark