Mark Matlock

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Short description|American Writer}}

{{distinguish|Mark Matlak}}

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| occupation = Author
Motivational speaker
Youth pastor

| language = English

| nationality = American

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| citizenship = American

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| alma_mater = Biola University

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| genre = Christian literature

| subject = Youth ministry

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| notableworks = Dirty Faith
Freshman: The College Student's Guide to Developing Wisdom
"Living A Life That Matters"
"Real World Parents"
"Raising Wise Children"
"Don't Buy The Lie"
"Smart Faith with JP Moreland"
"Faith For Exiles with David Kinnaman"

| spouse = Jade Matlock

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| website = {{URL|http://www.wisdomworks.com/}}{{URL|www.youthspecialties.com/}}

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Mark Matlock (born 1969) is the former{{cite web |url=http://youthspecialties.com/nywc/speaker/mark-matlock/ |title=Mark Matlock |website=Youth Specialties |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115225446/http://youthspecialties.com/nywc/speaker/mark-matlock/ |archive-date=November 15, 2017}} executive director of youth specialties and the founder of WisdomWorks Ministries.{{Cite book|title=Instant Skits: Using Improv to Create Memorable Moments in Ministry|author=Eddie James|author2=Tommy Woodard|publisher=Zondervan|year=2005|isbn=0310265681}} He is an ordained minister{{Cite journal|journal=The Baptist Standard |title=Many teens dabbling in psychics and the occult, youth study finds |author=John Hall |date=October 28, 2002 |url=http://assets.baptiststandard.com/archived/2002/10_28/print/matlock_occult.html |accessdate=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316050918/http://assets.baptiststandard.com/archived/2002/10_28/print/matlock_occult.html |archivedate=March 16, 2014 }} and youth pastor{{Cite journal|journal=Baptist Press |author=Shannon Baker |date=January 24, 2002 |title=Youth ministers challenged to color outside the lines |url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=12603 |accessdate=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316054243/http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=12603 |archivedate=March 16, 2014 }} who lives in Dallas.{{Cite journal|journal=The Gadsden Times|title=Youth group kid hits it big with Christian pop group|author=Cary McMullen|date=December 28, 2001|page=C7}} He coauthored the book Dirty Faith with Audio Adrenaline.{{Cite journal|journal=Rome News-Tribune|title=Native Roman's article included in publishing ministry's book|page=8A|date=November 19, 2003}} He also wrote Freshman: The College Student's Guide to Developing Wisdom.{{Cite book|title=Freshman: The College Student's Guide to Developing Wisdom|author=Mark Matlock|year=2005|location=Colorado Springs, Colorado|publisher=NavPress|isbn=1576837297|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/freshmancolleges0000matl}} In this book, Matlock gives the following definition for wisdom: "the human capacity to understand life from God's perspective"; in the book Lost in Transition: Becoming Spiritually Prepared for College, Tommy McGregor praised Matlock's definition for recognizing that "true wisdom comes from God."{{Cite book|page=74|title=Lost in Transition: Becoming Spiritually Prepared for College|author=Tommy McGregor|publisher=Tate Publishing & Enterprises|year=2007|isbn=978-1602475229}} Matlock spoke at the 2006 Creation Festival, the world's biggest Christian music festival.{{Cite journal|journal=Christian Today|author=Courtney Lee|title=28th Annual Creation Festival Coming Up|date=February 2, 2006|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/28th.annual.creation.festival.coming.up/5180.htm|accessdate=April 3, 2013}} He also spoke to an audience of 11,000 Christian youth at DCLA that year.{{Cite journal|journal=The Christian Post|author=Pauline J. Chang|title=11,000 Youth Hail 2006 DCLA Celebration|date=July 1, 2006|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/11-000-youth-hail-2006-dcla-celebration-22639/|accessdate=April 3, 2013}} In 2011, he spoke at the Nazarene Youth Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.{{Cite journal|journal=Nazarene Communications Network News|title=Matlock makes his mark at NYC 2011|date=July 10, 2011|url=http://www.ncnnews.org/nphweb/html/ncn/article.jsp?sid=10000011&id=10010495|accessdate=April 3, 2013}} Mark is the main speaker and founder of Planet Wisdom, which has featured Chris Coleman, Mercy Me, The Digital Age, Addison Road The Swift, The Skit Guys (Eddie James & Tommy Woodard), Fred Lynch, Sean McDowell and Heather Flies.{{cite web |url=http://www.planetwisdom.com/ |title=Home |website=planetwisdom.com}}