LEADERSHIP
TRANSITION
SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS
OUR STORY
In 2017 Mark began to work with his Board at King of Kings on a succession plan and leadership transition, knowing that he planned on retiring in 2022. In January of 2020, Mark passed the baton of Lead Pastor to his successor, Pastor Greg Griffith. Going into all of this Mark and his Board were well aware of
the fact that a large majority of churches do not fare well in this regard. With this in mind, Mark and his team committed themselves to constant prayer while Mark conducted dozens of interviews, listened to podcasts, read books, and in general, learned all that he could about leadership transitions.
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King of Kings has experienced the blessing of God in all of this and has not only survived this leadership transition but is thriving six years later. All of this has prepared Mark for his new ministry to pastors, boards, staffs, and churches that has led him to create Always Forward Ministries.
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During Mark’s 45+ years as a pastor, he has certainly experienced a wide variety of churches. Mark has commented on many occasions that he understands what it’s like to be a pastor of a church of 4 or 4,000. He has served at three very different kinds of churches:
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Small, traditional, country church, Zion, Ulm, AR
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Brand new mission plant that was one of the fastest growing congregations in his denomination, Faith, Collierville, TN
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Large, complex, 100+ staff, $5 million budget, 4,000 members, King of Kings, Omaha, NE
TESTIMONIALS
When I first sat down with Mark at Faith Oakville and learned about Always Forward Ministries, I was genuinely blown away. This isn’t just an organization that helps churches navigate leadership transitions - though it does that with excellence. At its core, Always Forward is about helping churches stay focused on their mission to reach the lost, even in the middle of significant change. That vision immediately set Mark apart.
As the pastor stepping into a transition alongside a long-tenured leader, I had the privilege of working with Mark firsthand. He guided both of us through the process with wisdom, intentionality, and care. Mark helped us navigate conversations we might not have known to initiate, anticipate challenges before they arose, and ultimately walk through the transition with unity and clarity. On a personal level, he also helped me discern how to best honor a pastor who had faithfully served for thirty-five years, which meant more than I can express.
Because of Mark’s leadership, I felt genuinely set up for success. Our church was able to honor the past while stepping confidently into a new season of mission and ministry without losing momentum. Transitions can often feel overwhelming, but with Mark, the process felt smooth and purposeful.
If you are facing a season of transition - especially pastoral succession - I cannot recommend Mark and Always Forward Ministries highly enough. They will help you navigate the complexities with clarity, care, and a relentless focus on what matters most: reaching people in your community.
Rev. Matt Peeples
Senior Pastor at Faith, Oakville - Missouri (incoming pastor)
I have been privileged to know and follow Pastor Mark’s ministry for decades, witnessing how he was used by the Lord to grow His kingdom wherever he was planted. In 2024, I attended a session Mark led about the need for a careful, prayerful, and intentional Lead Pastor succession plan. Turns out, the majority of Lead Pastor successions, especially following a long-tenured pastor, do not go well. This certainly caught my attention. I (and eventually Faith, Oakville) would decide to consult with Mark, leading to a pastoral baton pass in July of 2025, and my retirement celebration the following November after serving Faith since 1990.
During the process Mark visited with lay leaders, staff, and myself, to listen, pray, lay out the process and answer any questions brought up. Through the almost 2-year process, Mark was in constant contact with me, the potential new Lead Pastor, and lay leaders who were to carry out the plan. Personally, I was very grateful to have an advocate in Mark who understood the pastor’s needs as well as the challenges of moving on to a new chapter of life.
It was a wonderful blessing to work with Mark and to see Faith, Oakville continue to thrive under new pastor leadership today and into the future.
Retiring Pastor at Faith, Oakville - Missouri (outgoing pastor)
Rev. John Brunette
Rev. Kevin Austin
Mark brings a deep passion for helping churches navigate the complexities and wide range of emotions that come with a pastoral transition. Throughout every step of the journey, he is a steady, calming presence who continually points those involved back to God and encourages a posture of prayer.
He has a unique gift for asking thoughtful, insightful questions that help congregations understand where they are while discerning where God is leading them next. Rather than simply providing answers, Mark equips both the congregation and its leaders with the tools, wisdom, and perspective needed to move through the transition with clarity and confidence drawing from his own firsthand experience and extensive research.
Risen Savior has been deeply blessed by Mark’s ministry.
Lead Pastor at Risen Savior Lutheran Church - Chandler, AZ (incoming pastor)
Rev. Mark Zehnder has been an exceptional consultant for Risen Savior during our pastoral transition of me from Senior Pastor to part-time service and ultimately toward retirement. His guidance has been invaluable every step of the way.
Mark communicated clearly throughout the entire process and invested significant time with our staff and leadership. He listened well, asked insightful questions, and created an environment for open and honest dialogue-especially as we navigated decisions that carried both strategic and personal weight.
The report he provided was thorough, thoughtful, and highly actionable, giving us clear direction while allowing space for prayerful discernment. Just as importantly, Mark walked alongside us as we implemented the plan. His ongoing support to Pastor Kevin—my successor as Senior Pastor—and me helped turn vision into practical, confident steps.
One of Mark’s greatest strengths is his ability to ask the right questions, even addressing topics that can be difficult for a leader to raise. He does so with wisdom, objectivity, and pastoral sensitivity, helping bring clarity and unity.
Above all, Mark consistently emphasized that our first priority was to pray - pray, pray, pray. His heart is for congregations to be led by God, and that conviction shaped every part of this process. I am deeply grateful for Mark’s partnership and highly recommend him to any church seeking wise, experienced, and Christ-centered guidance through a leadership transition.
Retiring Pastor at Risen Savior Lutheran Church - Chandler, AZ (outgoing pastor)
Rev. Ron Burcham
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mark@alwaysforwardministries.com
402-689-8425