Momentum Ministry Partners is thrilled to announce the opening night speaker for Momentum Youth Conference 2023 is our long-standing and valued partner, Pastor Mark Artrip.
Growing up in Rittman, Ohio, Mark got started in ministry by watching his father lead youth in the church. 1998 at Momentum Youth Conference, he responded to the invitation to commit to praying about a career in ministry. The following year, he participated in Momentum Travel Teams (then known as Operation Barnabas) and saw how God could use his gifting in ministry. It was at that time that he made the decision to be a pastor. Mark is a graduate of Momentum EDU, having received both his BA in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry and his MA in Family and Youth Ministry from Grace College and Seminary. After 7 years as a student ministries pastor, Mark planted Movement Church in 2012 in Hilliard (Columbus), Ohio, where he continues to serve as the lead pastor (when not cutting hair in his garage barber shop!). Movement Church has a vision to continue to plant life-giving churches by sending church planters and launch teams. You can hear Mark share his own story of Momentum in his life, glance some old school pictures of him as a drama student, and find out what he thinks real success is here.
Throughout his career Mark has been an active and passionate partner of Momentum, not only as a program participant, but also as a volunteer, often serving as one of our high-energy youth conference emcees, a role he’s faithfully returned to every year for nearly 15 years. Mark told us that he continues to come back to Momentum Youth Conference because God has consistently used it each year of his life as a formative experience. He says God invested in Him through Momentum Youth Conference, and now he loves getting to reinvest in others who attend. But this year, he is most excited about his role speaking in the opening night’s main session! What an honor to see how God started this journey at the Momentum stage and will now use Mark on that same stage to share His message to a new generation.
During Mark’s message, he’ll set the stage for the theme we’ll concentrate on throughout the week: Known. This year our main session speakers will walk us through the passage of 1 John 4:9–16, each one taking a verse that builds on the one before it. Step-by-step these incredible speakers will take students on a deep dive into this scripture, revealing that God knows us, loves us, and wants to be known by us. Mark will begin that journey on the first night of conference by telling students that God knows each one of them and that He has a plan and purpose just for them. He will also challenge them to find that plan by knowing God.
We know God is going to use Mark’s heart for the Gospel, genuine care for students, and unmatched energy as an incredible kick-off experience to the #BESTWEEKOFSUMMER! But that’s just the beginning! To see the full speaker line-up, get a glimpse of fun activities offered, learn about the how we incorporate hands-on missional ministry experiences, and all the other details about Momentum Youth Conference 2023, be sure to visit BuildMomentum.org/Conference!
A version of this story originally appeared in a newsletter from Momentum. Find out more about their ministry on their website here.