Mission: Youthnet links youth workers for encouragement, spiritual growth, and sharing resources in order to expose every teenager to the gospel of Jesus Christ, establish those who respond in a local church, and disciple them to help reach their world.Vision: Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that believers would be known for their unity “that the world may believe…” Motivated by Jesus’ value for unity, the vision of the Network is to unite youth leaders, local community leaders and para-church ministries in order to reach teenagers for Christ. Mark Whittaker is charged with overseeing and expanding the Networks in Texas, with the short term goal of developing Metro Networks in Houston, San Antonio and Austin/Waco and the long term goal of seeing a network in every County in Texas by the year 2020.He recruits, trains and coaches network leaders who mobilize their churches, students and communities to reach and equip teenagers throughout the Lone Star State.Mark has been in full-time youth ministry for more than 25 years, both as a youth pastor and a para-church ministry leader. During that time, he also served as local network coordinator and as area coordinator for Metro Dallas/Ft. Worth/North Texas with the National Network of Youth Ministries.Mark lives in Arlington with Teri, his wife of 30+ years. They have three adult children, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

Mark Whittaker is a 30 year veteran of ministry having served in almost every facet of youth ministry both as a local Church youth pastor and in Para-church youth ministry as the director of Youth for Christ for the DFW Metroplex.He has served as the Director of the Youth Outreach Network (Youth-Net) since its inception 25 years ago. In that role he facilitated the networking of Church and Para-church youth workers in their local communities for prayer, fellowship, mutual encouragement and the sharing of resources as a basis for cooperative outreach to the youth of the Metroplex. During this time he has also served as the DFW/N.TX Coordinator for the National Network of Youth Ministries. (NNYM)The DFW/N. TX Youth-Net is made up of local community networks of youth workers from over 30 Denominations & 12 Para-Church organizations ( i.e. FCA, Young Life, Youth for Christ, and Campus Crusades’ Student Venture). It is lead by some of the top veteran Youth Workers in the Metroplex.These networks were used of God in 1990 to help birth the “See You at the Pole” prayer movement which is now an event with over 2 million youth gathering at their school flag poles to pray in September of each fall. Mark also served as the Youth Chairman for the Billy Graham “Mission Metroplex” crusade which broke the Texas Stadium attendance record when 82,000 youth showed up for Youth Night. In addition about 10,000 youth were trained and mobilized through Youth-Net to reach their friends and schools during the campaign and over 4,500 young people received Christ that night for more info go to: www.youthoutreachnetwork.org .Most recently Mark has been hired by the by the NNYM to serve on their National Staff as the Texas State Coordinator. He is charged with overseeing and expanding the Networks in Texas, with the short term goal of developing Metro Networks in Houston, San Antonio and Austin/Waco and the long term goal of seeing a network in every County in Texas by the year 2020.

For 25 years we have published a quarterly newsletter and an annual Group Leaders Resource Guide that go to 4000 churches & Youth Ministries in the DFW / N,TX area.For more info or to purchase an ad go to www.youthnetonline.com To see a sample of the Online Youth Group Leaders Resource Guide go to www.youthgroupguide.com

I pioneered a new type of a local chapter that had no Clubs, no Youth Guidance and no staff.Created under National & International YFC Board Member Ralph Hixson, sanctioned by President Dick Wynn, V.P.Bill Muir, and Regional Don Murdock..The over arching goal was to execute the strategy statement of the ministry: To mobilize the Body of Christ, to reach lost kids wherever they are, and by ALL possible means. This was accomplished by Networking the Church & Para-Church youth workers in the DFW/N.TX area.And challenging them to cooperatively fulfill the Mission of YFC:To present the life changing message of Jesus Christ to every young person in the area.

Trained Regional, Distric & Location staff in Group Sales, Marketing and self motivation in our 350 Family Entertainment Centers in 46 states. I worked directly for the President of the Company who personally hired me to Increase all form of sales and revenue generation for the whole Coin – OP Division. This included, but was not limited to :Working closely with the V.P. of Marketing and his staff in Marketing, Advertising, Sales and PR strategy development.Working closely with the V.P. of Opreations and his staff in implementation of the Marketing Strategies in our locations in Shopping Malls through out the country by training store staff in retail, point of purchase and suggestive selling.Working closely with the V.P. of Equipment and Game Purchasing on the Selection, Allocation and Display of our Video Game, Pinball, Skeeball & Novelty ( ie Crane, Skill and Ticket dispensing machines)