Mark Hamby

Lamplighter Ministries International

Mark Hamby (M.S., M.Div., Th.M., D. Min. cand.) is founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries International. He lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Debbie. They have three adult children living in various parts of the country. Jennifer is the graphic arts and illustration director for Lamplighter. David works for Apple and oversees video production for Lamplighter. Jonathan, their eldest, is married, lives in CA as a commercial broker, and functions as his dad's personal counselor!

*As author, speaker, and Bible teacher, what Mark enjoys most is helping his audience to remove the mask in order to expose the heart. Through the genre of storytelling and the life-changing power of God's Word, Mark's audiences learn that when humility is the foundation for authority, conflicts are resolved and relationships restored.

While his children were young, Mark's role as a shepherd taught him many leadership principles: "a shepherd leads, feeds, and protects,"? and "when our lives speak louder than our words, others will follow."? After experiencing an extraordinary redemptive transformation within his family, Mark went on to publish his first book, which gave birth to Lamplighter Publishing and later expanded into Lamplighter Ministries International.

Lamplighter Ministries has begun its largest undertaking with the inception of Lamplighter Theatre, in which the Lamplighter family collection of rare books is adapted for radio drama. Now heard on over 1600 radio stations in 25 countries, listening to Lamplighter Theatre's riveting radio dramas is quickly becoming a favorite "family activity",? enjoyed by both children and adults. In a shifting culture steeped in amusement, Lamplighter dramas present godly role models who inspire a thirst for God. Each breathtaking episode, while keeping listeners on the edge of their seats, is resolved with a solid sense of God's thoughts and God's ways.

Mark hated to read when he was young. In fact, he had never read a book from cover to cover even after receiving a college degree. But Mark's life changed dramatically after meeting Charlie T. Jones, whose words he will never forget: "You will be the same today as you will be five years from now, except for the people you meet and the books you read!"? That statement, along with the twelve biographies that he read soon after, changed the course of Mark's life forever. He is still praying the prayer that he found in that first book, "The world has not yet seen what God can do through one man wholly committed to Christ; I pray I be that man."

Truly, Mark's life and testimony are evidence that there is a God who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think!

Workshops from Mark Hamby ( may vary by event location )

Raise Them Up, Don’t Crush Them Down (formerly The Strong-Willed Parent)

Children need to hear the beating of our hearts rather than the beating of our voices. Listen to their words and you will discover their heart. Rules can change behavior, but they can’t change the heart. Discipline is necessary for purposeful disobedience, but irritating character flaws are transformed by mercy. As each day begins with new compassions, only then will children feel safe to admit their faults and seek help from those they love. It is love, not fear, and grace, not law, which rescues their hearts. Join Mark as he shares his experience as a shepherd and the unforgettable lesson that you don’t become a shepherd just because you own sheep.

The Art of Storytelling: Developing Discernment in an Age of Distraction

In an age of amusement, we must guard against influences that excite the senses, circumvent reason, and foster gullibility. Through the art of storytelling and the prodding of the mysterious ancient Shepherd of Ecclesiastes 12, learn how to test the worthiness of stories—a collection of words that represent an author’s worldview. Discover how discernment is developed through stories that inspire godly character that is costly, compelling, and heroic. As absolute truth guides and new eyes discern, a child’s faith, endurance, and hope will open new doors to experience God’s faithfulness and love (Rom. 5, Eccles. 3, Song. 8).

The Epic Battle between Wisdom and Folly

Travel through Proverbs 1-9, and learn why the “fear of God” is a prerequisite to His love and how the “fear of the LORD” can turn careless children into cautious thought-full decision makers. Learning to love what God loves and hate what God hates is foundational for a child’s worldview to develop properly. As the story of Wisdom unfolds, experience the unforgettable lessons of Wisdom’s ways and Folly’s entrapments. Both Wisdom and Folly promise prosperity, prestige, protection, and pleasure. Learning how to distinguish between Folly’s false promises and Wisdom’s guiding truths will help children develop discernment to avoid false flatterers, beguiling beauty, and enticing touches, especially with their peers and the culture at large. The choreography that Solomon has created in these chapters provides an unforgettable dramatic unfolding of truth of epic proportions.

The Education of a Child - The Wisdom of Solomon and Fenelon

Gleaning from the truths in Wisdom Literature and The Education of a Child by Fenelon, Mark proposes a “radical reversal” of our traditional approach to education. Commissioned to educate and prepare King Louis XIV’s incorrigible grandson to become the next king of France, Francois Fenelon wrote one of the greatest educational treatises ever written. In 1802, nearly 150 years later, Fenelon’s work was revered as the most extraordinary educational study on record, helping parents to examine and prove whether their work was vain or eternal. The weaving together of Fenelon’s insights with Proverbs 1 and 2 will reveal how parents can mentor with gentleness, joy, and patience, leading children to accept correction willingly.

A Great Awakening: The Mind, Media and Imagination

This seminar promises to be a great awakening in an age when images deaden our senses and rob us of creative imagination. Based on the principles of Romans 4–5 and 2 Peter 1, parents will discover the importance of stories with relatable characters who are challenged, who struggle, and who change and grow. According to Charles T. Jones, “You will be the same five years from now as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” This calls for a rebirth of inspiring literature that builds strong character! In this dramatized lecture, be prepared to laugh and cry as Mark Hamby demonstrates the power of literature and exposes the foolishness of Folly’s seduction prevalent in today’s “Christian” literature. All attendees will receive an annotated bibliographical catalog of inspiring Christian literature written during the 17th–19th centuries.