Mark Albrecht Senior Pastor

The Q & A: When you were a child, what was the silliest thing you wanted to be when you grew up? I wanted to be the peanut vendor at Wrigley Field. I love peanuts, especially when you get to crack the shells and throw them on the ground. And I thought this would be a chance to see every Cub game without having to pay for it. What is the best vacation you ever took, and what made it special? I have gone to some great places, but for the last 4 summers, our family has gone to a small cabin on a lake in northern WI. We have fished, swam, seen bald eagles, played games, and made a ton of great memories as a family. We wouldn't trade those trips for anything! If you could possess one super power, what would it be and why? I should probably say I'd love to be able to fly or move really big objects. But I would settle for hitting long irons well or always saying the right words in every situation. These seem like super powers to me. What song reflects your life and why? I love Bebo Norman's "Nothing Without You." It's a great reminder of the grace of God in choosing to save me and in just allowing my life to be used for His glory. What drew you to the position you staff at NorthBridge? There was no question that God called me and Michelle to plant this church. We struggled in prayer over this for a many months, and now as we look back, we just can't believe what a privilege it has been to be part of this great work of God. What is your favorite Bible verse and how has it made its mark on your life? One of my heroes in scripture is Caleb. He and Joshua showed great faith in the Lord in Numbers 13-14, calling Israel to enter the Promised Land. When Israel refused, Caleb and Joshua waited 45 years to lead in the next generation of Israelites. When they finally came back, Caleb was given his choice of any parcel in Israel. He chooses the hill country, the toughest and most fortified piece of land in all Israel. He says in Joshua 14:11-12, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to got out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this HILL COUNTRY tha the Lord promise me that day..." It's a great reminder to me of what it means to have great trust in the Lord and a willingness and even a desire to want the hard things in life, the great challenges, the "Hill Country," because it is there that God often does His greatest work and can be seen most clearly in my life and in the ministry of NorthBridge.