TKM Road Trip Tik!!!
(July 11th - July 25th)
Co-Founder Mark Houck takes TKM mission to Catholic
leaders on the east, southeast and midwest regions of US.

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Summary of TKM Missionary Road Trip
July 11-24, 2008

After nine states, sixteen cities, thirteen meetings, 5200 miles and nine hotels, Mark Houck and his wife Ryan-Marie returned triumphantly to Quakertown, PA at 2AM on Friday July 25th. Here are a few of the highlights from The King’s Men first missionary road trip.

July 12th – TKM’s meeting with Ave Maria Singles (AMS) founder Anthony Buono presented Mark a unique opportunity to discuss the work of TKM with a real leader and pioneer in the Church today. Anthony dialogued with Mark for over four hours on issues ranging from why men are failing to lead in dating/courtship to how TKM effectively provides programming to help men overcome their fears and passivity. The main fruit of this meeting was a mutual desire to partner in providing men in the AMS network formation programming that will effectively lead them towards their vocation as husband/father.

July 14th – Oldsmar, Florida brought Mark the opportunity of meeting the founder of the premier Catholic women’s apostolate in the Church today. Johnnette Benkovic and Father Ed Sylvia generously welcomed TKM to the headquarters of Living His Life Abundantly International. Immediate fruit of the meeting was a pre-recording of a program for Johnnette’s Women of Grace Live which airs on EWTN daily at 11:00 AM EST. Johnnette and Father Ed were open to collaborating with TKM on their upcoming handbook for men. Also, an invitation was extended to have TKM participate in a series on EWTN television on the issue of pornography.

July 17th – Slidell, Louisiana enabled Mark to meet up with TKM benefactor Michael Pergola. Michael arranged for Mark to speak to 30 men at a Regnum Christi gathering in Mandeville, LA. This gathering of men generated much enthusiasm for the work and mission of TKM as the men purchased many TKM materials and offered generous feedback. Rumor has it that TKM will be returning to LA for some more masculine programming—stay tuned!

July 19th – Houston, TX was Mark’s most cherished moment on the trip. On this day Mark participated in the Houston Catholic men’s conference as a men’s resource/vendor. Over 1,000 men turned out for what was a dynamic day for men seeking growth in their identity as Catholic men. This day featured a reunion with Father Phillip Chavez, SOLT (spiritual advisor to TKM) and introduction to long-time Catholic men’s leader and former NFL star Danny Abramowicz. The day was in a word “powerful.” Anytime you can bring that many men together for a common cause it is going to move a man’s heart. TKM was very well received by the men and sold out most of their products for men.

July 21st – Kansas City, MO generated a great opportunity to meet with the “My House” program which grew out of Bishop Robert Finn’s pastoral letter on the issue of pornography entitled “Blessed are the Pure of Heart.” The diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph offers their men a program which has as its primary goal guiding men to freedom from pornography addiction. On July 22nd, Mark and Ryan-Marie met with the Vice Chancellor for the diocese who stated that the diocese will use TKM as a resource in the future.

July 23rd – Milwaukee, WI proved to be a home away from home as Mark and Ryan-Marie met at the home of Men of Christ leader Kevin O’Brien. Kevin’s leadership with Men of Christ has created for the largest men’s conference in the Catholic Church of the United States. Thankfully as a result of this meeting, Kevin desires to use TKM to help the Men of Christ implement strategies for future men’s groups. Mark will be traveling back to Wisconsin in the fall to conduct a workshop on forming men’s groups.

All-in-all, TKM’s first missionary road trip was a great success! No doubt in years to come, both Mark and Damian will look back upon this experience as an important step in enabling TKM to fulfill its mission.