My Books

Lasting Impressions Workshop Debuts March 6, 2009

The first workshop based on the book will be featured among other WiredChurches.com workshops at Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. Benefit from the opportunity to network with others reading and applying the book, hear Mark present live from the book's content, and help shape the value of this experience for future workshop attendees.

Among other topics the day will include this discussion:

• Things you can - and can't - do to help others grow. The difference between being responsible "for" others and responsible "to" them.
• The trouble with assimilation and how to fix it.
• Learning to think like an architect in relational spaces.
• Small groups: discipleship or friendship?
• Involving people sooner than later: the power of volunteering.
• How to develop experiences that encourage people to explore and grow in their personal journeys toward Christ.

I hope you'll join me and the Granger team for one or two days of learning and growing on March 5 and 6, 2009.

Learn more and register here.

And Now a Frank Word from Danny...

Danny Franks, pastor of connections at Summit Church in Durham, NC. He had this to say about Lasting Impressions.

Not too long ago I posted my list of my top five reads of ’08.  Topping the charts was Lasting Impressions, the much-anticipated release by Mark Waltz (you can read about the giddiness here).

I spent some time digging into the book over Christmas vacation, because nothing facilitates reading like egg nog and my mother-in-law’s homemade Chex Mix.  Catching up with Mark after reading his first book a few years back was kind of like crossing paths with someone you knew in junior high.  There’s a hint of familiarity, but it’s obvious that some killer growth has taken place.  Mark’s sophomore effort (I’ve always wanted to use that phrase…please pause whilst I check off my lifetime to do list) carried with it a fresh intensity and fervor for why we do what we do in the realm of guest services.

Going into the read, I was expecting more or less of a play-by-play, this-is-how-we-do-it-at-Granger type synopsis.  After the first chapter, I felt kind of like the monkey that kissed the skunk…

Press Release | January 5, 2009

Group Publishing issued the following press release yesterday:

Pastor Mark Waltz Challenges Churches to Leave "Lasting Impressions"

When new people visit your church, it's a big deal. When they come back, it's an even bigger deal. Author and Pastor Mark Waltz has written a follow up book to his popular book, "First Impressions". His new book, "Lasting Impressions", explains how to create a Church culture of belonging.

(PRWEB) January 5, 2009 -- Group Publishing and Church Volunteer Central are pleased to announce the release of Mark Waltz' transformational new resource for equipping ministry: "Lasting Impressions".

"Lasting Impressions" provides a vision and a blueprint for helping people move from simply visiting a church, to belonging to a church. Or as Waltz puts it, "We want to see people hang around the church long enough to experience how much they matter to God."

We want to see people hang around the church long enough to experience how much they matter to God.

Read this book and remember again why we all got into this thing called church in the first place!

It's a vision that might change you, your church, and people who don't even know God right now. Read it and be impressed.

Tami Frailey on Lasting Impressions

Tami Frailey, staffer at Connection Church in Canton, MI, recently posted about her takeaways from "Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging." She writes:

I was waiting until after the holiday rush to blog my review on Mark Waltz's latest book: Lasting Impressions – from Visiting to Belonging. I wanted to be sure this review didn't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I just finished reading the last page of a good book. “Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging” is the latest book by Mark Waltz (you can follow him here on twitter) the Pastor of Connections at Granger Community Church. This is a meaty read filled with great stories woven into the fabric of connection. I don’t want to give too much

Book 2: Lasting Impressions Available December 8

I'm really not into self-promotion. That's not the point of this post. I do want to help resource local churches though.

This is the cover of my second book due out in early December. Group Publishing has been an empowering partner in this process. My editor, Candace McMahan, has worked tirelessly with me and her team to capture the book's message visually and stylistically. Many thanks to them!

Here are some early thoughts about the book:

• This book picks up where First Impressions left off. When your guests return, how do you help them connect with God and other committed relationships on their life journey?
• With this writing I experienced the author fear I've heard about: "What if my thinking or our practices shift after the book is written?" But the truth is amid some tremendous shifts in our approach to the weekend and midweek gatherings we offer at Granger, our commitment to creating organic process and thoughtfully created environments is firm. The best practices, philosophies, and convictions about ministry and people are as fresh as the ink on the book's pages. I'm excited about how we'll continue to utilize this book in our own local ministry.
• This won't be the final chapter from me or Granger Community Church. The culture continues to shift. We continue to learn, error, find successes and grow some more.
• I'm grateful for the scores of churches who, while trying to learn from us, have shared insightful practices and passion that have served us well.

I'm grateful for a senior pastor and a shared vision that is intent on reaching people who matter to God, creating disciples of Christ, and shouldering the burden with the Church to resource impactful kingdom work throughout the country and around the globe. What an honor!