What “separates them from the rest” of the consultant world, in my opinion, is that the LISTEN to the needs of the ministry first and then they customize a way to move forward calling upon their extensive network of resource persons. In other words they do not bring a “canned program” and try to “sell it”, they know one size does not fit all.

I give them my highest recommendation as being worthy of serious consideration by any ministry.

—Rev. Dr. Arlo R. Reichter
Executive Minister
American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin

*****

It is with deep gratitude that I acknowledge and celebrate your devoted service to Prairieview Mennonite
Church. Your careful and faithful naming of what required attention allowed the PMC congregation to come
to a good place — a place in which its increased health could be claimed and proclaimed. I am particularly
thankful for the way in which you prepared them for choosing new leadership. Please know how eagerly
your skills and wisdom were received. Your work has indeed benefitted the Prairieview Mennonite Church.
That being so, it has also benefitted the wider IMC community. I am honored that we can claim each other as
“coworkers in God’s service.”

—Rev. Chuck Neufeld
Conference Minister
Illinois Mennonite Conference

*****

Just wanted to thank you for posting the webinar with Mark Vincent! It was excellent, and I think I almost like watching the prerecorded version more than live because I could back up and listen again to things that went too fast first time around. I’ll likely do that with the next two sessions, too! Just wanted to let you know that more than the “live group” are appreciating it!

I also think I’m going to recommend it to some of the congregations that I work with in our middle judicatory!

—(Ms.) Gay Brunt Miller
LEADership Minister
Franconia Mennonite Conference

*****

When Calvin Theological Seminary partnered with the Barnabas Foundation last October to present the third annual Christians and Money Conference, it did so in a creative way -with a speaker and a singer/composer.

Those attending not only listened and learned, they also sang. One wrote of gaining “a fresh vision of God-centered stewardship.”

This fresh vision came through the partnership of well-known musician and composer Ken Medema and Mark L. Vincent, lead partner with Design for Ministry, a network of consultants that helps ministries, nonprofits, and service-minded businesses increase their capacity for service.

The combo was a hit. One church leader said, “I loved the pairing of Ken and Mark. It was surprising and showed how giving can be a form of worship!” Another commented that “the melding of the two different approaches to the message really worked.” The combination of “the intellectual and the emotional” made for “a deeper presentation,” said another participant.

—Kathy Smith
Director of Continuing Education
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at
Calvin Theological Seminary

*****

Mark L. Vincent was one of the main conference speakers in our Congress of Fundraising and Sustainability in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Mark Vincent’s lectures were extremely helpful in establishing a grounded basis for fundraising on biblical principles, giving a core where other presentations could find context and meaning. We are thankful for his willingness to be with us and for the experience, competence and depth displayed in the preparation and presentation of his material.

—Custodio Felipe de J. Pereira
President
Mackenzie University
Sao Paulo, Brazil

*****

On behalf of the Christian Health Care Center and all the ministers who benefited from you presentation on “pastoring Through the Pain of Financial Hardship”, I want to express our sincere appreciation for the excellent program you provided.

The evaluation forms filled out by the attendees clearly showed that they found the day meaningful and informative. We particularly got rave reviews about the afternoon session. People valued the concrete examples and Biblical references – and the different approach to handling budgetary challenges. One pastor in particular stated that his church treasurer profited immensely from the presentation.

On a personal note, this was the first Clergy Day that I had full responsibility for since my job began in January and you made me look good. The knowledge and professionalism you exhibited will go a long way toward setting a high standard and impression of quality programming for the ministers we serve and those colleagues they invite to join them in the future.

—Carol L. Mutch
Church Relations Coordinator
Christian Health Care Center

*****

I have worked with thousands of consultants, advisors, financial coaches in the church and Parachurch ministry world. One of the best resources I have seen developed to its full potential to help these leaders continues to be Design Group International. From Design Group International resources, training, coaching, and large, kingdom-driven perspective, Mark and team are perfectly positioned to assist any ministry with where they want to go.

—Scott Preissler, Ph.D.
Professor of Stewardship
Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary

*****

I have found Mark to be one of the best analytical thinkers I have ever worked with in regard to strategic planning. His ability to process and acquire a quick and in-depth understanding of Kids Alive was incredible. His style and methods of consensus building are effective and the ROI for Kids Alive was way beyond what we anticipated.

—Alfred R. Lackey
President
Kids Alive International USA

*****

I have worked with Mark Vincent as a colleague, a lay member of our pastoral team. I have found him to be:

• a highly principled person, a man of integrity
• purpose- and goal driven, and self-motivated
• a strong, responsible organizer who gets things done to schedules and deadlines
• a "turn-round" and "transition" specialist
• competent in setting up and improving governance procedures for organizations
• a leader in bringing about and maintaining teamwork
• willing and able to confront conflict and bring it to clarity and decisions
• a man of strong Christian faith that is readily expressed and demonstrated.

—Linda Wiens
Senior Associate, Special Projects
Liberty Prairie Foundation

 

*****

It was an incredible privilege to have Mark Vincent, one of the finest speakers I’ve ever heard, present for our regional conference for seven area churches. As a meeting planner who hires more than 100 professional speakers annually for my work, I am jaded and often difficult to please when it comes to speakers. I’ve seen and heard so many. Yet, Mark delivered the goods not only with his presentation style, tremendous content and storytelling but also his incredible spiritual understanding and depth of the pink elephant in the room — money and church finances. The attendees thoroughly enjoyed Mark and gave him a 98% favorable for his presentation style and a 99% favorable for his content and knowledge. I strongly recommend Mark and hope to hire him again and again.

—Jeff Hurt
PPAI Manager Education and
Certification/Meeting Planner