New Building for Mark Ministries

Building in Spring Hill , TN  

If you would like to become one of our "Foundation Partners", click here.

 Dear Friends,

As most of you know, after Hurricane Katrina, we moved our family and ministry from New Orleans to Nashville.  In the aftermath of Katrina, we found it easier to outsource much of the work which previously had been done “in-house” by our ministry staff, at our offices in New Orleans. 

Prior to Katrina, we were renting nearly 5,000 square feet of office space in Louisiana .  After Katrina, by outsourcing all manufacturing, production and fulfillment, as well as many other operations, we were able to function with a much smaller staff, with offices in the basement of our new home in Tennessee . 

Everything else, which was previously done by our staff in New Orleans , is now achieved by utilizing various companies and individuals in different parts of the USA . 

I must admit that Gina and I have enjoyed having a smaller staff, for the past 2 years.  There are fewer people to manage, and we can send instructions to other companies, letting them manage the detailed aspects of various projects.

But recently, I realized that I’ve been hoping that our ministry wouldn’t get bigger than our 1,500 sq. ft. basement.  HA!

The ministry is growing.  We are getting more and more activity on our website, more phone calls, more orders, more invitations for me to speak.  What are we going to do?  We have to get a bigger basement!

Or, just maybe, what if God wants our ministry to be bigger than our basement?

I guess I should be listening to some of my own teachings, on Vision, Dreams and Focus!

I’ve been trying to figure out how we could squeeze more people into our basement – more desks.  But in my heart, I know that we need to move the ministry into its own place.  To reach its full potential, the ministry must have its own office building.  And the building should be large enough for the ministry to continue to grow.

I have been dreading the thought of having to search for land, then work with an architect to draw the plans, hire a contractor to erect a building from the ground up, inspectors, permits, sub-contractors, etc. 

Then, as I was praying, God led me to a building in Spring Hill , Tennessee , just 15 minutes from our home.  It is actually a sort of “ Business Park ”, where they have these large buildings which are subdivided into business “units”.  Basically, it’s an “office condominium” facility.  You buy as much space as you need, and then build the interior offices to suit your needs.

The buildings are 60 feet deep, and the units are sold in 25 foot wide sections, so each section is 25’ x 60’. 

In order for us to have room for all of our offices, plus “growth offices” for new staff, plus a conference room, work areas for duplicating, packaging, etc, plus warehouse space for storage, we’ve determined that we need 3 of the 25’ sections.  That would give us one large space, 75 feet wide, by 60 feet deep. 

The front of the building has a business look, with full-height glass on the first floor, and smaller office windows for the second floor.  Then, in the rear, there is a large garage door for each 25’ wide section.  (We have photos of this on a special page on our website, if you’d like to see what it looks like.)

And, since all of it is tall enough to build 2-story offices, we can use the front half for 2 floors of office space, and the rear half for warehouse space, and a small television studio.  We can have it set up so that I can record, not only television programs, but also, teaching videos – DVDs, to create a video teaching series for each of my books.  Many pastors have asked us to create DVD teachings which they could use in midweek services, or in home-groups, to teach my books, “God’s Plan For Prosperity”, and “The 3 Heavens” on Spiritual Warfare.

As I prayed about this, and sought the counsel of my spiritual fathers, I felt that God has given me a plan.  I’m asking God for 300 “Foundation Partners”, who will each sow a seed of $2,500.  This would total $750,000, which should cover the cost of purchasing the 3 office/warehouse units, the interior construction of all the offices, conference room, etc, plus the small video studio and TV equipment, so I can record anytime I need to.

A plaque will hang in the lobby of our offices, listing the names of all the Foundation Partners, who sow $2,500 or more for this project.  I will commit to the Foundation Partners, to pray for them and their family, each day for one year from the date that you sow your seed.  But also, your names will be on this plaque in our office lobby from now on, to remind all of us to pray for you and your families each time we see it.  And, everyone who visits our offices will see the list of the Foundation Partners who made it possible to provide these offices and facilities for our ministry team.

In addition, we will give each Foundation Partner a new Video iPod, preloaded with my entire catalog of teaching, singing, motivational speaking, and comedy with Boudreaux and Thibodeaux.  This will include the audio and video of everything we sell, plus an entire year of MP3 of the Month as well.  (Upon the completion of your $2,500 seed, one-time or monthly, you will receive your Video iPod with all data disks and a full-color instruction manual.)

A few days ago, at our first Nashville Leadership Seminar, we shared the vision for this new office and television studio.  Several of our friends in attendance that day pledged to be Foundation Partners, sowing a seed of $2,500.  Some committed to sow a seed of $210 per month for the next 12 months.  Others gave the full $2,500 that day, and received their iPods that week. 

One couple said that they will be receiving money in the first part of next year, and they intend to sow a $5,000 seed for the building at that time.

At another recent event, some friends told me that they had just recently learned of a new contract for their company, which will enable them to sow a seed of $25,000.  Isn’t that wonderful?  That’s the equivalent of 10 Foundation Partners!

We Praise God for what has already been committed, and for those who will join with us in this cause, as they learn of the vision that God has given us.

If you feel led to participate as a Foundation Partner, please let us know.  You can call our office during business hours at (615) 591-5900, or use the special “New Building Page” in our secure online store at www.markgorman.com. 

If you are unable to sow a $2,500 seed, as a Foundation Partner, but would like to be a part of this vision, we appreciate whatever seed you may sow.  We have provided a special option for you to sow a seed of any amount, on the “New Building Page” in our secure online store at www.markgorman.com. 

Please join us in praying for God’s wisdom and favor as we look to this new chapter in our ministry.  I am convinced that God is leading us forward into bigger and better things, and that we will touch more people than ever before, as we pursue His vision for us!

Blessings,

Mark & Gina Gorman

PS: Some of you, who have been with us for many years, may recall that when we were in New Orleans , we tried on more than one occasion, to purchase office facilities for our ministry.  But, each time, God allowed the door to close, before we “locked in” on a purchase.  Now, after Hurricane Katrina, we can see how God’s hand was protecting us from buying a building in that area.  And now God has brought us to Tennessee, to take our ministry to a new level – to grow it here, in a more central location.

       If you would like to become one of our "Foundation Partners", click here.                          

Here are 2 pictures of our friend's finished unit: