Mark Hoogerhyde

Minister to Children

Mark's journey to Centenary has been an incredible one. He and his wife Sara prayed that God would lead them to a church that shares their heart for children, where families are encouraged to worship together and where it is evident by the people's actions that Christ and His love are at the very center of their lives. His passion for children includes a strong desire to teach them who Christ is and what a beautiful gift He offers us in salvation. He also believes that it is crucial that the church and parents work together as a team to raise their children to be 'strong in the Lord.'

Mark is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church, has been a Children's Pastor for ten years and served as a volunteer in Children's Ministry for five years before that. He is married to his bride of twenty years, Sara, and together they have two children, Kate and Joe. Sara has served in just about every area in the church at one time or another, but her passion is working with kids in high school. She also loves to build things and together she and Mark designed and had a hand in building their first two homes.

Kate is a junior at Houghton College in New York studying to be a teacher. She plans on entering the ministry as a missionary and working with children in an orphanage. Joe is a junior in high school and serves as a student leader in his home church. He is a very gifted guitar player, has just released his second CD, and is considering becoming a worship leader someday.

Two thousand years ago Jesus made it clear how much He loved children and that He wanted them to be a part of His kingdom. They were so important to Him that he told their parents and other adults that they had to become just like them in their faith or they would never enter into His kingdom. His heart for kids is just as strong today as it was then. Mark's heart's prayer is that every child would come to know the love that Jesus has for them. Mark believes that together we can do all things through Christ. We will have an even greater impact than any of us could ever imagine. The new journey has begun and Mark is confident that all of us are excited to see where God leads us - together!