STORY OF IMPACT
I reflect often on the joy and privilege God has given me to serve men through this Strong Disciple ministry. It’s all made possible by your generous donations, your love and support, and your prayers. I am truly, forever grateful for each and every one of you. What a tremendous blessing you are to my life. I thank God daily for you. As 2025 draws to a close, I thought you’d be blessed and encouraged to read this Story of Impact a young husband and father sent to me recently.
“I have been listening to Pastor Mark‘s teachings for well over a decade, they have been instrumental in my growth and maturity as a believer, as well as a leader.
When Pastor Mark started writing his weekly Thoughts Provoking articles in September of 2018, even though I’m already on hundreds of email lists, I had to join. I have read every single one of them, and look forward to reading them on Monday mornings as a way to jumpstart the week. I find myself forwarding them frequently to friends and family members, or replying back directly to Pastor Mark to expand on what he’s already saying.
Personally, I have seen great improvement in my marriage and in my ministry leadership as a result of his ministry. I grew up in a broken family, so I have never seen a great picture of a successful marriage up close, but Pastor Mark‘s articles have painted what a biblical marriage could be like. I have put into practice several of the wise, practical lessons he has given, including finances, diet, how to have difficult conversations, conflict resolution, and an overarching sense of taking care of my bride, as Christ takes care of his bride, the church. One of my recent, personal favorites has been thinking about “Getting Your Family to Mars,” Pastor Mark’s series on raising a godly family. My wife and I were not homeschooled, but felt like we wanted to try it out…Pastor Mark‘s continual exhortation to educate our kids, and to have a stay at home wife, have kept me going, when my own extended family throws opposition towards me for our decisions.
We have also had challenging medical trials come into our family, many of them that Pastor Mark and his family could relate to, and he has been such an encouragement in bringing empathy, prayer, and practical tools to help us through. My wife would say that she’s happy to have Pastor Mark part of my life, and giving his weekly input into our marriage! Pastor Mark has also given practical advice and recommended messages to her as it relates to mothering, anxiety, and prayer.
I have been involved with ministry leadership for over a decade, and just like my marriage, Pastor Mark has helped me see what biblical leadership looks like. Boldness, courage, paired with gentleness, and a sense of charity…have been instrumental in how I lead my ministry. It has helped me think through both the macro and micro aspects, and I have seen more fruit in the last few years than in the previous decade combined, thanks to his weekly articles’ practical advice, and the sermon archive suggestions included at the end of many of his Thoughts Provoking articles.
Not long ago, there was a situation in which my ministry leadership was negatively affecting my marriage. Pastor Mark had the wisdom, courage, and the gentleness, during a phone call to help paint a picture and solution that no one else had painted before. In looking back at the advice he gave, it was exactly what was needed for the time, and in many ways, I feel like I dodged a “barrage of bullets” as a result of listening to him. I am eternally grateful for his Strong Disciple ministry.”
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
