There's No Place Like Home

Blessings from 2011

1. Lenexa Baptist ChurchIn June, Mark began as Associate Senior Pastor at LBC, preaching and giving leadership to the staff. LBC is a vibrant body with two campuses in Lenexa, Kansas and Greenwood, Missouri. You can check out the 11a Sunday service live on Bott Radio in the greater Kansas City and Midwest area, as well as live streaming of the 9:30a and 11a services, and archives online.

2. Pastor Steve and Mary Dighton & Lenexa Baptist Staff

Pastor Steve and Mary Dighton--certainly our closest friends at LBC--as founding pastor of Lenexa Baptist, Steve's servant leadership is unparalleled in mega churches today. If ever you can't find us, we are often cited together, eating...or laughing...usually both...

3. Starr Working from KC
Starrla transitioned her job, National Director of Programs for MADD, to Kansas City. In 2011, her team launched a national parent program, re-freshed the MADD brand, and initiated a national annual "PowerTalk 21 day". She recently has been honored with an invitation to speak to the Governors' Spouses in Washington D.C. this coming February. MADD is a phenomenal organization with the mission of saving lives (over 300,000 lives since it began, 31 years ago).
Before leaving Dallas in May, Starrla was also invited to give the invocation for the 2011 graduating class at our alma mater, East Texas Baptist University.

4. Miles and Miles of Running Trails

With multiple access points in parks scattered throughout Johnson County, races every weekend, gorgeous summer, spring and fall running weather, and a number of new running buddies like these, Kansas City has turned out to be a runner's paradise.5. First HomeWe've had the joy of "finally" purchasing our first home!

6. Family, Church Family
We are often asked if we miss our families in Tulsa and Dallas. They are much to credit for the ease of transition because they are wonderfully supportive of Mark's calling to pastor. Much love to our awesome families and adorable nephews...LBC is a special place because of the church family--they have embraced us with open arms, making us quick to call this 'home.'

7. PhD, Approaching the Finish Line
Before leaving Dallas, Mark completed his comprehensive exams for his PhD in Leadership Studies at Dallas Baptist University. 2012-2013, Lord willing, is the home stretch of the dissertation.


8. Kansas City: There's No Place like Home
Kansas City was recently named the only American city on USA Today's "Top 10 World Destinations to Visit in 2012." We've quickly found out why... Country Club Plaza, Jack Stack Barbecue, and Sheridan's Custard (thanks to our dear friends Jerry & Monty Sheridan)... to name a few of our favorite date night stops. We're becoming K-State football fans and of course, we look forward to a Jayhawks basketball game.


We know God will bring blessings in 2012 to you and yours...

Merry Christmas,

Mark & Starrla

@MarkEPenick
@StarrlaRPenick

Thankful

The Penick Thanksgiving day race tradition continued this year in Lawrence, Kansas, along with friends from Lenexa Baptist.

This Thanksgiving, we give thanks for our new church family...

Check out LBC at lenexabaptist.com or Bott Radio

Lenexa Baptist Church

Friends and Family,

I am excited to give you an update about our newest ministry endeavor.

May 22 I accepted the invitation of Lenexa Baptist Church as Associate Senior Pastor. The faith family is a vibrant, gospel-centered church in Johnson County, a suburb of Kansas City, KS. LBC is experiencing exciting days of growth through the leadership of the founding Pastor Steve Dighton, and has recently expanded to multiple campuses. This new opportunity includes leadership to the ministry team, preaching, and continued expansion of the reach of the church as it prepares for the future.

Starrla will continue her job as National Director of Programs for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, working from Lenexa.

We have built sweet, enduring friendships during our 6 years at Prestonwood. I’m deeply grateful for the leadership opportunities experienced during my tenure on the Prestonwood ministerial team and for the overwhelming support of Dr. Jack Graham, church family and friends in this new role.

We covet your prayers for the coming days and years at Lenexa Baptist and invite you to come and visit if you are in the Kansas City area, which is often described as "America's best kept secret."

If you’d like to stay in touch, update our emails and mailing address in your records:

mark@lenexabaptist.com │ starrla@gmail.com │ PO Box 14383, Lenexa KS 66285

Our blog is updated frequently, so check in often. And stay connected with us by following on twitter and facebook.

We deeply love you.

Mark Penick

Associate Senior Pastor

Lenexa Baptist Church

Mark preaching on "Noah"…

Of his many smiles, my favorite... sp

Starr will be the Keynote at ETBU Commencement

Click here for News Release

Great honor...now just 2 weeks away!

Texas Traditions

Lincoln

Associated Press

Story about our launching program hit the Washington Post! More to come, in preparation for the national PowerTalk 21 day, April 21!

Alma Mater

Enjoyed a visit to our alma mater, East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), where Mark preached the chapel service last week.

Top 10 in 2010

Mark & Starrla's "Top 10" highlights from 2010:
(In no particular order)

10. Celebrating Mark's 5-year anniversary at Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Recent Sunday Service Intro

9. Beginning a new job as National Program Director at Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Starrla & Vicki, VP

8. Mark teaching through 1&2 Corinthians, Philemon, The Gospel of John and 1, 2, & 3 John through The Way (Bible Fellowship class) and The Journey (Wednesday night service).

Prestonwood

7. Welcoming good friends, Blake and Karla Edwards (and twins, Annesley and Addison), back to Texas, where Blake is now a Counselor at Hopeworks.

6. Officiating weddings for several good friends:

Timmy & Joyce Wu, Prestonwood

Anthony & Francette Bueno, St. Thomas

5. Entering the last phase of Mark's Ph.D. studies.

Dallas Baptist University

4. Welcoming the birth of our 3rd nephew.

Noah

3. (Starrla) Teaching 80 parenting classes and workshops for schools, churches, and community centers for Parent & Family Life Coaching.
2. Completing our yearly goal of running over 2000 combined miles.

Mount Vernon trail, D.C.

Setting personal records: Mark finished in 21:02, and Starrla in 23:10

Finished our 2nd annual Penick Turkey Trot 8-mile Run on Thanksgiving

1. Celebrating Mark's parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary.

Starrla with Lisa (Mark's sister) and Shirley (Mark's mother) at the party

Merry Christmas!

With love, Mark & Starrla

First Christmas

1st Penick Christmas...
We've had 7 wonderful years together since.

Quick Get-Away

Mark and I love East Texas, particularly because that is where we went to college, met, dated and to this day, still have a number of good friends; Mark was ordained and we were married at FBC Longview (below), where he was the Minister to Young Adults and started/preached a contemporary Saturday night service--It is hard to believe that was over 8 years ago...

R&R - We recently got away for a few days to visit old church friends and friends who are pastoring in east Texas and stayed at Stillwater Inn, a favorite restaurant/bed & breakfast in Jefferson.

MADD - Washington D.C.

Earlier this year, I (Starrla) began working for Mothers Against Drunk Driving as the National Program Director, overseeing the parent initiative to prevent underage drinking. Our mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. To date, MADD's work has saved nearly 300,000 lives...

Mark met up with me in D.C. for MADD's 30th Year Anniversary celebration and National Conference where we held a press conference before lobbying on Capitol Hill.

Fit for Life 5K

So proud of my hubs - we ran in Prestonwood's Fit for Life 5k, and he ran a 21:02 chip time! (That's a 6:44 minute mile!!) Seriously, Penick!

Bryant and Anne Wright

Mark and I had the privilege of hosting a wonderful couple this past weekend, Bryant and Anne Wright, as Bryant came to speak at Prestonwood as the new President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

New lil' Neph'

In January, we welcomed a nephew, Noah Scott, to Mark's sister and brother-in-law--Lisa & Scott McCune!

Timmy & Joyce Wu Wedding

Last weekend Mark married our friends from The Way, Joyce and Timmy. Many friends from our Bible Fellowship came to support them and attended the reception with us at Eldorado Country Club in McKinney.

We love you, Joyce and Timmy!
And to The Way--it's a privilege and joy to "celebrate life's high points" with you!At Reception

Friends and Director of The Way, Caleb & Katie

5 Years at Prestonwood

A few weekends ago we celebrated Mark's 5 year anniversary at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Mark is the Minister to the Open Division which includes Bible Fellowship classes and new member assimilation classes - NextStep , and hot topic Discovery Classes. For much of his time on staff he has also taught a Bible Fellowship called The Way. Recently he has started giving leadership to Prestonwood's adult wed. night programing, Life and Leadership Classes.

He's doing what he loves--leading, teaching, and preaching--and we love doing it at Prestonwood! This all on top of working on his PhD... I am so proud of him. - Starrla

St. Thomas Wedding

Mark and I went to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands last week so Mark could perform the marriage ceremony for good friends, Anthony and Francette (Schuh) Bueno.

The Bueno's

Congratulations!

Nephews, Slade & Carter

Slade, 2 years old

Carter, 7 months old

Dinner with George W.

Mark and I were very honored to attend the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center fundraising dinner on Sunday with former President George W. Bush as the keynote speaker. Beyond down-to-earth tales about life inside the White House, Laura, Prime Ministers such as Vladimir Putin, and his dog Barney, the President won the hearts of every attendee with his love for life, God, and country.

Pictured with good friends, Jon and Gina Lineberger