Dr. Mark Hamby (MS, MDiv, ThM, DMin) is the founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries International, a ministry comprised of Lamplighter Publishing, Lamplighter Theatre, Lamplighter Guild, Lamplighter Life-Transforming Seminars, Lamplighter Moments Daily Radio Broadcast, and Fastened Like Nails weekly podcast. Mark and his wife Debbie have devoted themselves to making ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).

If you have ever heard Mark speak, you know that he loves to tell stories that make the truths of the Word of God come alive. Now more than ever, he is ready to tell the unforgettable story of Wisdom and Folly and the epic battle for our children’s souls. Through the Art of Storytelling, Mark explains how to Develop Discernment in an Age of Distraction by closely examining and dramatically communicating the twelve lessons of Wisdom from the book of Proverbs. He reveals Folly’s false promises of peer-pressured prosperity, promotion, protection, power, and pleasure and Wisdom’s eternal promises of freedom, joy, and entrepreneurial success.

Dr. Hamby’s Sessions

Raise Them Up, Don’t Crush Them Down

Children need to hear the beating of our hearts rather than the beating of our voices. Listen to their words and you will discover their heart. Rules can change behavior, but they can’t change the heart. Discipline is necessary for purposeful disobedience, but irritating character flaws are transformed by mercy. As each day begins with new compassions, only then will children feel safe to admit their faults and seek help from those they love. It is love, not fear, and grace, not law, which rescues their hearts. Join Mark as he shares his experience as a shepherd and the unforgettable lesson that you don’t become a shepherd just because you own sheep. 

Let Me Go! Resolved Conflicts and Restored Relationships

Based on the manipulative life of Jacob, his rival relationship with his brother, the lack of relationship between his mother and father, and his constant marital conflicts, the stage is set for a life of deception and self-deception. Believing that holding on to a better inheritance, more children, a better wife, and a better job, will bring fulfillment, Jacob learns the hard way that he was holding on to all the wrong things in life. Join our journey with Jacob as we find unconditional acceptance in all the right places; but be prepared to fight because once you’ve found what you are looking for, you will need to hold on for your life! This seminar is based on Mark’s two years of research for his thesis and will cover sibling rivalry, marital conflict, parenting insights, and much more.

The Art of Storytelling: Developing Discernment in an Age of Distraction

In an age of amusement, we must guard against influences that excite the senses, circumvent reason, and foster gullibility. Through the art of storytelling and the prodding of the mysterious ancient Shepherd of Ecclesiastes 12, learn how to test the worthiness of stories—a collection of words that represent an author’s worldview. Discover how discernment is developed through stories that inspire godly character that is costly, compelling, and heroic. As absolute truth guides and new eyes discern, a child’s faith, endurance, and hope will open new doors to experience God’s faithfulness and love (Rom. 5, Eccles. 3, Song. 8). 

The Epic Battle between Wisdom and Folly

Travel through Proverbs 1-9, and learn why the “fear of God” is a prerequisite to His love and how the “fear of the LORD” can turn careless children into cautious thought-full decision-makers. Learning to love what God loves and hate what God hates is foundational for a child’s worldview to develop properly. As the story of Wisdom unfolds, experience the unforgettable lessons of Wisdom’s ways and Folly’s entrapments. Both Wisdom and Folly promise prosperity, prestige, protection, and pleasure. Learning how to distinguish between Folly’s false promises and Wisdom’s guiding truths will help children develop discernment to avoid false flatterers, beguiling beauty, and enticing touches, especially with their peers and the culture at large. The choreography that Solomon has created in these chapters provides an unforgettable dramatic unfolding of the truth of epic proportions. One lesson among many is that when one follows Pleasure, she will bind, restrict, and addict, but when one follows Wisdom, Pleasure will follow, bringing freedom, restoration, and rewards. Through the knowledge gained in this seminar, you can lead children to the house of wisdom to enjoy the enduring benefits of favor with God and man. 

Learn more about Dr. Hamby’s company here: