The purpose of the Santa Cruz Valley United Methodist Church is to be a multi-generational church making genuinely committed disciples of Jesus Christ.

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NAME: Mark Conrad

FAMILY:  I’m married to Nina, and have one daughter, Amanda, who is a senior in college.

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES INCLUDE: Classic cars; raising African Violets; photography; dogs; collecting antiques (especially clocks and radios); collecting artwork; and reading.

TUNES IN MY CD/MP3 PLAYER INCLUDE: I have to confess that I don’t have an MP3 player or a CD player (there actually is one in my car, but I haven’t used it yet).  I like to listen to a lot of different styles of music, and tend to flip around  to different radio stations when I’m in a music mood.

BOOKS ON MY SHELF INCLUDE:  Most of my books I read once, and then move on to new books.  Some of my old favorites that I re-read on a regular basis are Corrie Ten Boom’s “The Hiding Place” and Brother Andrew’s “God’s Smuggler”.  Of course I also have several Bibles!

FAVORITE MOVIES: Movies are a weakness for me.  I tend to buy them as opposed to going to the theatre, and after I’ve seen them the first time I usually watch them at about 20 minutes a sitting.  It can take me days to watch an entire movie.  My favorites include: A Knights Tale; Cars; Take  the Lead; Shanghai Knights; Walking Across Egypt; and Wild Hogs.

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE(S): This is a moving target for me.  My favorite verses can change by the week.  Right now I would say that they include: 1 John 3:18 (“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action”);  Psalm 46:10a (“Be still, and know that I am God!”);  Matthew 6:34 (“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of it’s own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”); Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33); and the whole story of Joseph in the Old Testament (Genesis 37-50).

ORIGINS (and Education): I was born and raised in Midland, Michigan, the world HQ for the Dow Chemical Company.  I was raised with the thought that if I was lucky, someday I would get to work for Uncle Dow (which I did for awhile).  I even graduated from H.H. Dow High School!

After graduation from high school I left Michigan and moved to Texas to attend college.  I have a B.B.A. (Bachelors of Business Admin.)  from  Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and a M.Div. (Masters of Divinity) from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
I was ordained a Deacon, and then an Elder, in the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.  I have been a commissioned missionary to Alaska through the GBGM (General Board of Global Ministry), and in 2004 I transferred my membership to the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church.

HOW PEOPLE DESCRIBE ME: Funny; analytical; frustrating, caring.

I AM MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT: Living life, and not just surviving, and developing healthy relationships.  I believe that Christ is the key to doing these things.  Not only do I want to practice this myself, but I want to teach what I have learned to others who are seeking answers.