What people are saying

I have known Mark quite well for the past 5+ years. Our relationship got started, and truly blossomed, while our sons were involved in Cub Scouts. Going as far back as when our boys were 7 years old, I remember Mark telling me that he wanted to have an adult support group that surrounded his own son as he grew up. I certainly did not have that kind of long-term vision for my own son at that time. What an eye-opener!

Mark has taught me, and demonstrated to me, the concept of spending deliberate time with my own son. From simple things like reading what Mark talks to his son & his classmates about on the ride home from school, to more advanced examples like the day-long father/son outing he coordinated prior to our boys starting the 6th grade. Mark has shown me that drive time with your child can be a great time to communicate. As a direct result of Mark, I no longer allow the radio to be on when I am alone with my son in the car. I would much rather visit with him, and take advantage of the opportunity to talk, than hear anything that may come from the radio.

One thing that has always stood out to me about Mark is his comfort level in working with youth. During our Cub Scout meetings in particular, it would amaze me how smooth and genuine Mark could be with a group of boys. And the boys respond to that just like you would imagine – with enthusiasm.

One last thing about Mark… He seems to always know the right thing to say, or the right question to ask. He does this, many times, by drawing on his own personal experiences and relating it to the topic at hand. I will tell you this – I feel fortunate that Mark has been, and continues to be, involved in my son’s life.

Steve King – Parent – Oklahoma

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“I know of no better way to describe my experience than the word – Excellence. I believe God used him to unravel gifts, talents, and passions that my life and ministry have already been prewired with. Mark’s discoveries of me mentally, vocationally, and spiritually were astonishing and the results have been incredibly useful.”

Jay Henderson – Lifechurch.tv Campus Pastor – Owasso, OK

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“I met Mark at the National Youth Workers Convention. I was so exasperated by some of the thoughts swarming in my head. I needed someone who could simply help me articulate more clearly why I had been so frustrated in youth ministry for so long. I could never seem to put my finger on whether it was me, or the church, or if I was just in the wrong career. Mark challenged me on how much responsibility I was taking personally for the job that belongs to the church. Regardless of whether the church laid all the burden on my shoulders or whether I took it on, I needed to start sharing a more biblical model of ministering to youth in the church. Since our conversation, and reading Mark’s book I have been able to explain with much more ease how my partnership with the church needs to change. This will be a slow process since we are talking about a cultural shift, but at least now I can lead us into a healthier model and I have a vision to strive for.

Alli Van Roekel – Youth Pastor – Nebraska

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“I have known Mark for over six years on a personal and professional level. He walked me through a personality profile and helped me to understand how I was interacting with peers and subordinates at work. Through that coaching I was able to identify some strengths and weaknesses in my approaches which helped me to improve my relationships with my coworkers and become a more effective manager. I was also able to use some of his coaching techniques with my employees to help them address areas that needed improvement and capitalize on their strengths.
Mark possesses an amazing passion for helping individuals and organizations grow and improve. I always leave our conversations energized and excited.”

Ben Borisch – Borisch Manufacturing Corp. – Michigan

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“…it was a “God thing” that we never found the “right” person to be our youth pastor before we knew Mark Riddle, it is a “God thing” that most of the congregation wants to be involved in youth ministry, and it was a “God thing” when He sent that person to us in October 2006 to be our youth pastor even though we had no Sr. Pastor at the time. Our ministry to youth is healthier than it has ever been and we continue to see God’s amazing impact in the lives of youth and adults!”

Trent Cronk – Youth Leadership Team – Duncan, OK.

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“When one of our ministry staff returned from a conference excited about connecting with Mark Riddle, my hopes for Youth Ministry quickened. Less than 10% of our youth were actively involved in our congregation’s youth ministry. We invited Mark to spend time assessing our situation. His recommendations were challeng-ing, to say the least. “Develop a Turbo Team to rethink your ministry objectives.” “Prepare to move to a new model for youth ministry.” “Start with adult volunteers…decide about staffing later.” Nothing easy about this process! What we had been doing was missing the mark. It was time to make the move. 15 months later we see the blessings of honest assessment, soul-searching sessions about what we’re really trying to accomplish, anxious moments of trying to change our ministry culture…AND…growing numbers of adults volunteering to be in ministry with our youth. Some consultants do analysis and write prescriptions, and move on. Mark invests himself in the people he serves. We’re in a ministry partnership…and like most ministry, results don’t come rapidly, the process sometimes feel messy, but hearts and lives are being transformed. We’re writing a new story together, and we believe the best chapters are yet to be written!”

Jim Martin – Senior Pastor – Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church – North Royalton, OH

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“Working with Mark as a ministry partner is fun, challenging, and transformational. He is a discerning leader, a ‘systems’ thinker who also brings an intuitional awareness of environmental dynamics. As a passionate advocate for creative, integrated, missional forms of youth ministry, Mark serves as a helpful guide in identifying challenges, building on assets, and working through organizational transitions. I am delighted he has chosen to use his gifts and experiences as a mentor-friend to a wide variety of ministry leaders.”

Wayne Squires – Director of Equipping Church Network – Grand Rapids, MI

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“Youth ministry is in such great transition today, with no easy answers. This calls for some rethinking, and Mark is someone who is a “rethinker”. His experience and heart for both youth and the church can help you sort through the bigger questions, as well as day to day issues we face in youth ministry in a post-Christian world.”

Dan Kimball – Pastor, Author – Santa Cruz, CA

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“Riddle’s effectiveness as a youth ministry resource is equivalent to putting on the right glasses at a 3D movie, to adding salt that draws out the flavor, and to trusting the servant sherpa who guides the team on their journey to the summit. This guy skillfully delivers clarity, inspires direction and infuses hope for ministries. He’s the real deal and I’ll tie my line to him any day.”

Steve Argue – Life Development Director – Mar’s Hill Bible Church – Grand Rapids, MI

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“Seth Godin’s Linchpin asks the question, “Are You Indispensable?” In the course of his call to step out of the automated world and into the dynamics and fluidity of an ever changing world Godin gives an illustration of what we don’t need – more cogs in the assembly line. That is, boxing people in to given categories and/or responsibilities that caps creativity and industry.

Mark Riddle is not a cog in the ever growing “coaching/consulting’ market. Instead, Mark is always learning about the current culture and climate of the church, and especially youth culture. Ready to tap his inner creativity and indulge in an industrious project to re-orient church youth ministry around the multi-faceted relational matrix youth, their families and their churches face, Mark brings an affable spirit to any group, pastor, church, or educational setting.

I have had the privilege to work with Mark in the various aspects of his work. If your desire connects with Mark’s life vocation and dream, make him your first contact in the sea of possibilities, not your last. You may find him “indispensable” for your journey to enliven the life of your youth group, youth ministry, parent ministry, or educational goals.”

Todd Littleton, Senior Pastor – Snow Hill Baptist Church – Oklahoma

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“Mark Riddle sees things that most of us miss. He is gifted in assessing systems and environments that are dysfunctional. He knows how to ask hard questions that lead to solutions. If you are trying to figure out how to navigate through change and initiate a better way to “do and be church”, Mark Riddle is someone who has the experience and expertise to help you.”

Mike King – President/CEO Youth Front – Kansas City, MO

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“So many churches would benefit from a good youth ministry consultant – someone who can give an outside critical and thoughtful eye to what works and what doesn’t. But the key is finding someone with the skill and thoughtfulness and insight to really offer something. Mark Riddle really does have something to offer.”

Mark Oestreicher – Youth Ministry Thinker-Speaker – San Diego, CA

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The people who fund youth ministry tend to favor what they know — what was done for them (or to them) when they were young. This approach either works or it doesn’t and either way most folks wouldn’t be able to tell you why. This is not because they’re stupid, and certainly not because they don’t care. It’s because they’re not answering the right questions. I think Mark Riddle knows the questions to ask — and how to ask them — to help leaders design youth ministry that works where kids and families are, and where they’re going, not where they were back in the day.

Jim Hancock – Author, Film maker, Speaker – Encinitas, CA

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“We live in a day and age where youth ministry and its demands are becoming increasingly difficult and complex. Those starting out and/or struggling through the maze of youth ministry do well to seek out and sit under the wisdom of those who have walked the same path. I’m excited that Mark Riddle is answering the call to share what he’s learned over the years with men and women called to minister to the emerging generations.”

Walt Mueller – Center for Parent/Youth Understanding – Lancaster, PA