2009: A Year In Review
Dear Supporter,
Thank you for your demonstration of confidence and financial support for Lamplighter Ministries. Though 2010 brings many challenges, I have never before sensed a greater calling to pour myself out completely for this great cause. To think that in less than nine months, the Word of God is now going forth in eleven countries, being broadcast on over nine hundred radio stations, in an unforgettable dramatic format!
Not only are lives being changed through the dramas, but the Lord continues to help us find compelling stories to publish that are filled with Biblical insights and His powerful Word. I wish you could be here to read the encouraging letters we receive daily. This ministry has been filled with so many rich rewards it sometimes scares me, but I believe that is largely due to our network of prayer partners. There is strength in numbers.
As we move forward in 2010, I need to be sure that each step is carefully, prayerfully, and strategically planned. If Lamplighter Theatre is to produce enough dramas to complete season two, then I will need to raise a million dollars before October, 2010. The only way I know how to achieve this goal is to network with those who already believe in what we are doing.
So here are my thoughts; I am certainly open to any advice you would like to give. I propose that you first listen to the enclosed dramas (if you have not already done so) as well as view our first film, Defy the Darkness. Next, please consider with whom you could share these dramas—people in your sphere of influence who might be potential supporters of this unique endeavor. Our mission is simple: “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord, by building Christ-like character, one story at a time.” Also, feel free to give one or more of the dramas to a single mom or a family in need who would be blessed by them.
I am reminded of what Paul shared with the Philippians when he said, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” Your partnership with me in this great endeavor is one that I hold in the highest regard. I realize that this calling that the Lord has laid upon me cannot be fulfilled without the strategic partnership of God’s people.
It is my hope that 2010 will be a year of collaborating for Christ. I will try to communicate with you more regularly so that you can sense a truer partnership and become an active participant in the ministry through prayer. Seeing that God has allowed Lamplighter Theatre and Lamplighter Moments to be broadcast on over 900 radio stations in eleven countries excites me beyond words! And yet I realize that along with great blessing comes great responsibility. This is why I seek your help, your partnership, and most of all, your prayers.
(In case you are unfamiliar with Lamplighter Moments, you can find the podcast on iTunes here... I think you will be pleasantly surprised to hear about this new door God has opened.)
Lastly I would like to give you an overview of 2009 and the blessings that came as a result of prayer, hard work, faith, and friends like you.
2009:A Year in Review
Before I begin, I would like to preface this by sharing that a year and a half ago, I spent four months in ICU with my dad. Just a few months prior to his hospitalization, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior after reading the Lamplighter book, Christie’s Old Organ. This experience did two things for me: First, as I look back, I realize that God’s timing is completely providential. He knew that I could not possibly have been involved in the Lamplighter Theatre endeavor when carrying such a great burden. Secondly, I learned that the power of God’s Word to save is unstoppable! As Paul said in Romans, “It is the power of God unto salvation.” So, what I am about to share comes to you with the acknowledgement that an all-wise and powerful God is truly the Author and Finisher of it all:
January 2- 5: The calm before the storm. After meeting with the former producer, director, and writer of Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey, we prayerfully plead with the Lord for wisdom to know if it is God’s timing for us to venture out and launch Lamplighter Theatre.
January 7: A donor accepts my request to be considered as a board member. My wife and I fly to Florida to speak at a conference and are able to stay at his home. While enjoying the hospitality of our new prospective board member and friend, we are introduced to a woman who invites my wife and me to attend an important political/philanthropic/cultural meeting in California in early March.
January 9: The decision is made to move forward with Lamplighter Theatre. The producer is willing to donate a large portion of his time to help start this project. An unusual set of circumstances (most of the Odyssey team from Focus has been laid off) indicates that this is the time to launch Lamplighter Theatre.
January 17: The decision is made to produce a film to promote Lamplighter Theatre Audio Dramas. A contract is signed with Vidano Studios. The film needs to be in hand by March 1.
January 19: Meeting with Impact Studios and writer/producer for Disney World Productions to help with script for Defy the Darkness film.
February 12-14: Filming of Defy the Darkness in the Black Forest of Colorado. Actors and crew work non-stop for 48 hours in twelve degree temperatures.
February 21: Mark speaks at a men’s conference in Idaho and presents the film, Defy the Darkness, though still in rough draft form. The response is further confirmation.
February 27: Publishing and Graphics Team releases Glaucia, The Greek Slave.
March 1: Two hundred copies of Defy the Darkness is shipped to California to be presented by Mark and Debbie at an important political/philanthropic/cultural meeting.
March 3-4: Two hundred copies of the film are distributed. The film is presented to several philanthropists and cultural leaders (I am unable to mention names as that was a prerequisite of attending the meeting).
March 14: Hartford CT: Mark speaks at a men’s conference, Iron Sharpens Iron.
March 21: Script writing begins for first audio drama, Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince! Marshal Younger, former Odyssey writer and director, writes our first drama, with John Fornof (former Odyssey writer and producer) as producer, Mark and Debbie as executive producers. Cost: $32,000 per thirty-minute episode; 4 episodes for The Missing Prince drama.
April 3: Family Life Network adds Lamplighter Theatre to their programming with several million listeners. Mark is interviewed.
April 7: Publishing and Graphics Team releases The Passage: From Darkness to Light.
April 12: Mark speaks at Letchworth State Park Sunrise Easter Service and later leads hike through the Grand Canyon of the East. This will be the first of four explorative meetings for a church plant in western NY.
April 13: Publishing and Graphics Team releases The White Gypsy.
April 16-18: Mark speaks in Cincinnati. Topic: The Harmful Effects of the Media and the Life-Changing Power of Reading God’s Word.
April 23–25: Mark and Debbie travel to El Paso for a parenting conference.
May 1: Contract is signed with Westar Media to promote Lamplighter Theatre Audio Dramas to radio stations. $8500. per month.
May 11: NBC Nashville hears about Lamplighter Theatre and interviews Mark live.
May 12: Script writing begins for second audio drama, Charlie’s Choice. Cost: $32,000. per thirty-minute episode; 5 episodes for Charlie’s Choice. Written by former Odyssey writer, Kathy Buchannan, produced by John Fornof.
May 15-16: Mark and Debbie travel to Montana to speak at a parenting conference.
May 20-21: Orlando, Florida homeschool convention. Mark presents his research: The Effects of the Media on the Mind and Moral Imagination.
June 1: Script writing begins for third drama, The Basket of Flowers. Written by Marshal Younger, directed by Marshal Younger and produced by John Fornof. Cost: $32,000. per thirty-minute episode; 4 episodes for The Basket of Flowers.
June 4-6: Hilton Head, SC. Mark presents Lamplighter Theatre and speaks on redemptive hope for families at Grace Bible Church, Central Church, a men’s conference, and a parenting convention.
June 12-14: Mark speaks on redemptive hope for families in CT.
June 19-20: Mark speaks on redemptive hope for families in PA.
July 2: Publishing and Graphics Team releases Dialogues of Fenelon, Vol. II.
July 25: Mark speaks at Open Air Service in Western NY. This is the second of four explorative meetings for a church plant in western NY.
June 21-July 5: Post production of Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince. The Lamplighter Theatre team is working day and night to make The Missing Prince available for families and radio promotionals for summer.
July 7: Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince is now available on MP3! The response from listeners makes the long hours worth the effort. The team rejoices but knows there is a long road ahead.
July 8: Lamplighter Theatre faces a possible end because of a lack of cash flow and financial support. A decision to postpone the season for a year needs to be made within twenty four hours, before Mark and the team fly to London to record The Basket of Flowers and Charlie’s Choice. Time is running out…prayer team notified.
July 9: Twelve hours before the flight leaves from Philly to London we learn that two national ministries are going to air a previous interview they had with Mark related to reading. In forty minutes, $150,000. was generated through book sales due to this radio broadcast from Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey. This is the exact amount needed to record the sessions in London. We praise God for his timing and intervention.
July 9-19: Mark and the Lamplighter production team fly to London to record The Basket of Flowers and Charlie’s Choice. Both recordings reach beyond expectations. Actors from Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Chronicles of Narnia, Bonheoffer and others are among our lead actors. A very successful week!
July 22: Westar Media announces that over 600 radio stations in 5 countries sign up to broadcast Lamplighter Theatre! This is an unprecedented response.
July 25-Aug. 6: Post production for The Basket of Flowers and Charlie’s Choice. Three teams are working 12- to 16-hour days to meet broadcasting and duplicating schedules.
August 8: Mark and Walter travel to Nebraska to speak at a homeschool convention.
August 12: A plan is set into action for developing The Masterpiece Study Series – including the in-depth Old Testament study The Story of Joseph and Judah, now available from the distinguished author of The Gospel of Genesis, Dr. Warren Gage.
August 15: Westar Media announces that there are over 750 radio stations signed up for Lamplighter Theatre in 7 countries! Lamplighter Moments has over 100 stations and steadily growing.
August 18: Contract signed with renowned author Michael O’Brien to publish his book A Landscape With Dragons under the new title Friendly Dragons, Moral Nightmares: The Battle for Your Child’s Imagination. Work started on publishing another of O’Brien’s books titled Harry Potter and the Paganization of Children’s Culture, due to be published in 2010.
August 19: Publishing and Graphics Team releases The Battle.
August 23-29: Mark and the Lamplighter production team flies to London to record The Captive—an intense drama that focuses on the Christian-Muslim tensions of the 17th century and how a young man leads a Muslim militant to Christ. The bookends for Lamplighter Theatre are recorded as well as the crowds for the dramas. The bookends for each drama are what makes Lamplighter Theatre unique. Based on the life of Charlie Tremendous Jones, the lead actor in the Lamplighter bookends takes modern-day people and their problems and guides them through a “wisdom journey” that they will never forgot. They will never be the same as a result. Each drama begins and ends with our host, Mr. Finnian Jones—purveyor of fine coffees, teas, antiques, and of course…books!
August 31: Publishing and Graphics Team releases Triumph Over Midian.
September 1: Lamplighter Theatre goes live on over 800 radio stations in 11 countries!
September 1: God answers many prayers with a new area for shipping that meets the needs of our shipping department. The department is able to condense operations into one room located in the same building as our office, increasing efficiency, workflow, and general productivity.
September 3: A partnership with Christian Book Distributors (CBD) is established. CBD makes arrangements to place Lamplighter at the forefront of their homeschool marketing efforts.
September 14-15: Mark speaks at Olivet University.
September 15: Moody Bible Network’s Prime Time America interviews Mark to learn more about Lamplighter Theatre and Lamplighter Publishing.
September 19: Publishing and Graphics Team releases The Crew of the Dolphin.
September 21: Mark and Debbie travel to Georgia for a TV interview on Atlanta Live.
September 29: Publishing and Graphics Team releases Karl Jansen’s Find.
October 3-4: Mark and Debbie are invited to attend the second political/philanthropic/cultural meeting in Austin Texas.
October 16: Mark conducts a parenting and marriage conference at Grace Baptist in Batavia NY.
October 17: Mark speaks at Harvest Service at Letchworth State Park in Western NY. This is the third of four explorative meetings for a church plant in western NY.
October 18: Mark speaks at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia, NY.
October 23: Lamplighter’s local bank, Pennstar, approves a credit line of $350,000 to support the audio drama production. $200,000. is borrowed to record the next two dramas in London.
October 24-30: Mark and the Lamplighter production team fly to London to record The Hedge of Thorns, The Unexpected Return, and bookends.
November 6: Publishing and Graphics Team releases Seven Days Left.
November 8: Publishing and Graphics Team releases The Wanderer in Africa.
November 9: Mark and Jeff Kern fly to Chattanooga to meet with the McClellan Foundation for funding of Lamplighter Theatre. Building relationships with foundations takes time and trust. The groundwork for a good long-term relationship has been established.
December 12: Mark and Lamplighter team prepare to fly to London to record the epic drama, A Peep Behind the Scenes and best-selling story, Teddy’s Button. Mark decides to postpone this trip due to the tight finances and much-needed rest for the team.
A Peep Behind the Scenes will be recorded in London on January 9-17. Teddy’s Button has been canceled due to the lack of finances, but with two program re-airs, Lamplighter Theatre will be able to successfully end the season on May 1, giving radio stations 29 thirty-minute broadcasts for the first year! Twenty-nine broadcasts is a monumental accomplishment, especially when considering that these are world-class dramas.
2010 is a year that I have titled, Collaborating for Christ. Whether or not Lamplighter Theatre will continue to be recorded and broadcast throughout the world depends upon donor support. We need $230,000 by the beginning of March and another $600,000 for the 2010–2011 season.
With funding for the 2010 season, it has been projected that Lamplighter Ministries will be self-supporting for Lamplighter Theatre by the end of the year.
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