Bing Bong. It comes from the movie Inside Out, and I’m not sure what initially prompted Mark to call me Bing Bong, but we both get a kick out of it because pretty much nobody else around here has any idea what it’s in reference to.

Mark has been so encouraging to me with my particular wiring in my position at Buckhead. He is a true developer, sharing what he knows and challenging me to get better and see the bigger picture. Mark gives honest feedback and sincere encouragement. His clarity on his vision and strategy help re-feul my gas tank when I’m discouraged or lost. He has quiet confidence, not looking to get attention but owning his “I got this” mentality. So so so grateful for you Mark.

Mark is personally invested in what’s most important: people. His legacy is multiplicative (is that a word?). By that I mean that because of his intention and touch on so many people individually, he’s been a catalyst to them impacting people. His impact on men will be felt for, literally, generations. Because he has such clarity on what he wants to do with his life, he’s done a deep dive to make a profound impact on the lives of the people he encounters. Every man I talk to at Buckhead who knows Mark speaks with words and emotion that communicate: this guy is changing me from the inside out.

Happy Birthday Mark – excited to continue getting to know you. You may not always see the impact of what you’re doing, but from the office next door it’s so clear that you are right in step where God has you and can best leverage who you are. Thanks for being attentive and thoughtful, I hope you experience even a small dose of what you give other people every day.

I’m not sure that Mark has settled in on a nickname for me. I feel like he tried a new one out each time he sees me. I have no idea where he gets any of the names, but each one makes me smile.

I’m not sure if I recall a specific funny memory as my times with Mark are just always good times. Even though we don’t see each other as often as I would like (due to my travel schedule), I always leave our meetings inspired and grateful for his friendship.

Right after my father died was when I first met Mark. He gave me an opportunity to be a Small Group Leader which allowed me to invest and get to know a group of guys that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Mark was also one of the first people I called when my brother unexpectedly passed a year and a half ago. The past 5 years have been the hardest and most challenging in my life. I have no doubt that God intentionally placed Mark in my life as He knew the storms that I would face.

There is no doubt that Mark’s legacy is multi-faceted and far reaching well beyond what I’ve seen. From my limited exposure, his legacy and his last impact is connecting .He connects people to people and, most importantly, connecting people to God.

I wish you the happiest of birthday’s and I’m hoping you’ll allow and enjoy others serving you for once on your special day. Thank you for being there during the two toughest times of my life. I truly appreciate and treasure your friendship.. Happy 50th Birthday – Love you Brother!

‘Haeck of a smile’

Too many from Hs yl… Mark made me laugh endlessly

Mark saw something in me that I didn’t in myself. Mark was one of the first people to see something in me and found a way to inspire me to lean into that and live that fully. One day mark was taking me home from something w YL and wanted me to share my testimony at our Sr. Club but told me that I had to let my walls down and let others in. And that he wanted me to share w him and my leaders before I could up front. So I shared w him, and then proceeded to share at our Sr. Club. And I haven’t stopped letting those walls down and sharing my life with others.

Mark’s legacy speaks for itself. It is already huge. The way he has inspired and lead others over the last 30+ years is incredible. He used to tell us to ‘have each other’s back’ and has to this day demonstrated that. It’s been a honor to have shared a piece of life with Mark. Without Shull I wouldn’t have thought YL only existed in OHio ???? And I wouldn’t have stayed at BG and led YO, gone on staff, seen the country, leaned into my life instead of away, and let others in. A lot of this started with a guy seeing a freshman girl who had something special and inviting her to learn to live life to the fullest. Without Marks pursuit of God and winning the right to be heard I wouldn’t have grown and experienced the life I have. So Mark thank you!

Happy birthday Mark! I wish you the best! Thank you for your loyalty, love, inspiration and pursuit of God over your life! You’re amazing!
-Sarah ‘ what the Haeck’ Roper & Chad roper

Stevie G – From Mark (don’t let him know that others have called me that before him.)

Mark walking through the office on Wednesdays saying, “What day is it? HUMP Day!”
Mark constantly quoting one scene from Gladiator….”My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North…”
Our entire trip to Dallas for a conference. Mark brings fun wherever he is.
There are so many fun memories in working with Mark.

Mark makes me want to be a better leader. Having a leader of his caliber on our Buckhead Church Groups team, makes me want to leverage the gifts he has and provide challenges for him and our team. He’s a man who isn’t content with the status quo. His tenacity to address and solve problems has motivated me to action many times as a leader. More than that, he is a true friend. As much as Mark is wired to achieve, he always puts the person above the project or goal. That makes me want to be a better friend to those around me.

A leader of men who calls men to leadership in all areas of their lives. First, I think Mark’s greatest legacy will be the influence he has had and is having on his two boys. Mark is an intentional, encouraging and present dad. Second, through his ministry to men, I think he is having a tremendous impact on his leaders who are then impacting other men. I think the rippling effects of Mark’s influence in his leaders’ lives will not only benefit them but their wives/future wives and children/future children for years and years to come.

Mark, You are an exceptionally talented man. As you are reflecting on your life at this particular birthday, I pray that God will allow you to see the MANY ways He has used and is using you. I know there are other career paths you could have chosen…paths that could have brought you more money or fame. From my perspective, you’ve chosen the better path. It’s a narrower path that few men choose but it’s a path of influence over riches. I truly believe that the best years of your leadership are yet to come. I’m grateful to call you a true friend and to have a ringside seat to watch God work in and through you! Happy Birthday!

AJ – I believe Mark watched Armageddon several times per week.

All memories are funny with Mark.

Mark relentlessly pursued me for Jesus. I could tell he thought about me (later realized it was prayer) when I wasn’t around. First time I truly felt cared for, as I could recognize it. Haven’t spoken with Mark in years yet he continues to be influential in my life.

Legacy = his fruit. Not a person I know personally who will have more souls behind him in Heaven.

Mark, you are the one person in my life that needed to be there when they were – and showed up. The other day, when reminiscing with my parents about Fred Tashenberg quitting our JV team, my mom said “…but if that didn’t happen, maybe you wouldn’t have met Mark…” I was thankful that it came from my mom – you ministered to her. Thanks for making the selfless decision to leave law and do YL full-time. If you didn’t lay down your pride for Jesus, God may have called me later in life which would have been painful. May that be a lesson to us both to continue to choose humility. You continue to be one of the most influential people in my life even though we haven’t spoken in some time. Your life is no doubt filled with moments in time when you stepped up in others lives’. I love you.

Athletic Mark decided to take our two pit bulls for a jog on the horse trails of Greenwich. He put on leashes, otherwise they would be long gone, never to return. He went out the back gate and returned and realized that he had “shocked” our loving dogs because he forgot that we had an “electric dog fence”. The dogs were never the same. One developed a drooling problem and the other constantly flinched preparing to be shocked again at any minute. Thanks Mark. Has the ASPCA contacted you yet?

Second story involved Bonnie and I inviting Mark for dinner to meet our daughter, Jessie. Every thing started off well until Mark pulled out his “Young Life skit false teeth” while talking with Jess. He even put them by her dinner plate. I think that was a “deal breaker.”

Negatively!!!!

His legacy has to be right up there with Michael Vick, who was convicted of animal cruelty. Vick was able to catch on with another professional football team, so no problem. He still might be hired by another church as well.

Obviously Mark will not be the poster boy for Match.com. I wonder why?

Mark you are getting old! Pretty soon you will be able to collect Social Security. All kidding aside, I love you heart for people, your wit, your energy and your willingness to advance the Kingdom of God through your work with Young Life and now working within the church discipling parishioners through small groups. You have a special gifts that are impacting multitudes. Never lose your passion for sharing and showing the Good News.

Referring to the photo below is the 50th Celebration of Greenwich Young Life. All former YL Area Directors are in the picture except for Mark. He is all the way to the left, but was cut off when downloading it to this website. Sorry Mark.

Singing Call Me by Blondie at Halloween party with neighbor Steve Boveri. I’m thinking it was at The Lighthouse but could be wrong as it was a long night!!

Too many ways to share here but he was my landlord for a few years in Toledo. He always provided me with good council including when I first me my wife Trish.

Such an incredible influence on young people including helping find Christ!

Happy birthday Mark! Kinda scary how quickly time has flown by since our days on Penrose Ave. You’d be proud to know that our 15 yr old is enjoying Young Life. Let me know when you might be in the Columbus area.

Some overly exuberant form of my name….”A. Hire!!!” “Hiresir!!!”

Fall weekend….him giving a braveheartesque speech to “fire up the troops” pre-naval destroyer, from the top of my shoulders.

In more ways than I can count. Shull always loved me right where I was at and showed me how to truly walk with Jesus. He seemingly was always available when “life” hit.

Shull will have a long line standing behind him in heaven. He has shared the love of Jesus with so many people and spent so much of himself in the process. He has been an amazing model of giving up what the world says is best to find true life in Christ.

Shull, I love you, and am so greatful for your investment into my life. Wish I was there to give ya a big bear hug! Happy birthday brother!

Chao Baby. Well, it’s my name.

I remember the first time that Mark went with my buddies Andrew Taborda and Brian Barreto to go see one of the Matrix movies on a Friday night. He saw me doing cartwheels and being pushed around in a shopping cart in the middle of the street. We then went to Pat’s Hubba Hubba in Stamford where I ordered my usual Steak and Cheese wedge with fries and a glass bottled Sprite. It was there that Shull asked if I wanted to come to Young Life and to just check it out. The rest is history.

I remember that whenever I was invited over to his place, I was always put to work. Moving furniture, cutting wood for his apartment and painting that freaking dining room.

Mark was one of the first people to open my eyes to see Jesus for who He is. Mark showed me what a walk of faith looks like. He showed me that life with Jesus is meant to be full of life and joy and not all about following some set of rules or a boring lifestyle. The way that Mark has lived his life has impacted me more than the words that he has spoken to me. I have seen Christ in Mark in the way that he loved my friends, my town, his wife, his family and me. We talk a lot about how relational Young Life is and how as leaders we want to be friends for life with the kids that we are spending time with, Mark made that true and has modeled to me incarnational ministry.

I think many people will remember Mark for being a wacky, funny and jokester kind of guy. He lasting impact will be seen in Heaven. For those lucky enough to spend quality time with Mark and be touched by the Holy Spirit through Mark, know what I am talking about. Because of Mark, I am allowing God to lead others to Him. Because of Mark’s guidance in following Jesus, I am leading others to the feet of Jesus. Because of Mark, a LOT of people are living life for the first time with God.

Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for supporting me and inviting me into your life. You have been so important to my life and I am glad to have been apart of your life. Keep following God’s call on your life and see you soon. Love ya!

Souly Dude

Mark’s wisdom, insight, and heart for men, including me, has had a significant impact on me personally and by extension, hundreds of men through Souly Business.

Men are, and will be, walking more intimately with Jesus. Their families and communities will be sources or light to the world.

Love you, Mark. Thank you for investing in me over the years!!