Mark Penick began serving Lenexa Baptist Church as Associate Senior Pastor in June, 2011.  His role is to expand the reach of LBC and prepare the church for the future. Coming to LBC is a fulfillment of the calling he received during his teen years to pastor and to spend his life connecting people to Jesus Christ, to one another, and to the world that God loves.

Mark earned dual degrees in Religion and Business Administration at East Texas Baptist University and a Masters in Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dallas Baptist University is where he is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Leadership Studies.

Prior to Lenexa Baptist Church, Mark served on the ministerial team of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas for six years after doing a year-long mentorship with Pastor Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia. First Baptist Church Longview, Texas, was the first church Mark served after college and is where he was ordained into ministry and married his college sweetheart.

Mark’s wife Starrla is the National Director of Programs for Mothers Against Drunk Driving where she develops and oversees MADD’s underage drinking prevention programs nationally. She is passionate about equipping the family for healthy relationships.

Mark enjoys traveling, reading, hunting, fishing, running, and his Vizsla pup, Lincoln. To Mark and Starrla, ministry is joy; ministry is life. They truly enjoy loving and serving the church together.