The GREAT DATE NIGHT A fun and encouraging evening of music and laughter!!
The Great Date Night is a fun-filled, marriage building event and an effective tool to help your members make an impact in the lives of their friends, neighbors and co-workers. Transform your fellowship hall into a casual cafe, prepare some tasty homemade desserts and have your folks fill a table.
Mark has performed in this setting for over 15 years. His insightful, everyday-life songs along with his off the wall sense of humor make him an instant hit.
Typically the evening will consist of a 50 minute set of music and comedy, a relaxed 30 minute break when folks can grab some dessert and interact,
followed by another 30 minute set. Your couples will laugh, reconnect and be encouraged to make and keep their relationship a top priority - truly have a "great date"!!
CHOICE OF DIRECTION: ENCOURAGEMENT or OUTREACH
Churches have used the Great Date Night for either of the following intentional purposes (though often, both occur!):
“Encouragement: A Night for Strengthening Marriages" This event is centered around strengthening the marriages within your church. Your couples are provided a "night out" with their sweetheart, a fun time of fellowship with friends and plenty of encouragement and inspiration to keep their marriage a top priority and Christ's love as their example.
"Outreach: A Night of Cultivation and Planting" Couples are encouraged to invite another couple as their guests. The evening is filled with lots of songs and stories that are humorous and talk about family. Mark will "plant some seeds " along the way by sharing casually what God has been doing in his life. A fun/positive experience is one of the main goals. What this event does is help your guests to see that perhaps God is still doing things in people's lives today and prepares them to come back to another event at the church because they now feel more positive towards your church.
HOW IT WORKS:
PROMOTE - Mark will supply full color posters, bulletin inserts, photos, and a promo video to help you get the word out. |
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ANNOUNCE - Make tickets available the 3-4 Sundays leading up to the date. (Suggested ticket price: $15-$25 per couple) |
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PREPARE - Line up desserts for the break. Two suggestions: 1) Have each couple bring a dessert item to share. 2) Have your Hospitality Committee (or those in your church who love to bake) organize and prepare. |
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TRANSFORM - Turn your fellowship hall into a casual cafe. Be creative! Tables with tablecloths, candles, pretzels, popcorn, etc. |
SERVE - Have various beverages available as folks arrive: coffee, teas, hot cider, sodas, punch, etc. |
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WELCOME - Have your emcee welcome everyone and give them a “5 minute warning”, encouraging them to get something to drink and start finding a seat. |
ENJOY - Mark will do his first set of music and comedy (50 minutes), which includes songs and stories that deal with marriage, family, parenting, etc. |
INTERACT - There is an intentional 30 minute break for people to go through a dessert buffet line and to have the chance to interact with their spouse and friends around their tables. |
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REFLECT - Mark will do another 30 minute set to close out the evening, challenging and encouraging the couples to think about the things in life that matter most! |
Approximate length – 2 hours
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WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING:
Mark,
What a fabulous Great Date Night event! Our couples had no
idea what to expect and walked out of there with a smile on their face, a little pep in their step,
and a little tug at their hearts – PERFECT! Exactly what we were hoping for!
You were so fun – so honest – so relatable…and talented, too!
Would love to have you back for sure!
Beth Shaha
Director of Couples Ministry
Leesburg Community Church
Leesburg, VA - May 8, 2010
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Dear Mark,
Thanks so much for the Great Date Night at our church last night. You were so awesome! You have no idea how much your stories, songs and humor totally capped off our whole weekend of celebrating marriage and family. Thanks for being part of our lives for one night. And you play so well, too!
Peter HammWorship Arts Pastor
Tri-County Church
Dubois, PA - May 23, 2010
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Dear Mark,
Your music and personality were perfect for our first Great Date Night at Meadow Park Church! Your excellent musicianship and humor were much appreciated by all the couples who came for this special night. Thanks for being a part of this unique event. We look forward to having you back with us again in the near future.
Dear Mark,
Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank-you for the great time had by all at the "Great Date Night". The people of my congregation are still talking about it and we are looking forward to having you again. The message you brought through your stories and music were truly inspiring. It was a wonderful time of fellowship for our congregation and a great opportunity to reach out to the unchurched friends and community around us. The Lord has truly blessed you and your ministry and I look forward to having you back in the future. Rev. Jeff DwyerSenior Pastor
Indian Head Baptist Church
Indian Head, MD - March 20, 2010
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Mark,
We had a great time at our Great Date Night! Your songs and stories were just the right mix of serious and fun. I've heard lots of great feedback from our folks and I'm sure we would be interested in doing this again!David Smitley
Associate Pastor
Second Cape May Baptist Church
Marmora, NJ - April 24, 2010
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Mark,
Missions, Outreach & Evangelism
Christ Wesleyan Church
Milton, PA - May 19, 2007
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If you have any further questions in regard to this type of event or if
you are interested in setting one up at your church, feel free to contact Mark
at 717-792-4654 or via email.