Mark J. L. Mattheiss Music/Ministry

Mark is the youngest of six children from a musically gifted family. His mom was a singer of Irish ballads and his dad had the heart of a poet and a love of percussion. His older brother, Matt, is a talented singer/ songwriter who inspired and gave Mark his first opportunities to perform.  The two of them played together for many years doing both cover and original material. In 1991, they auditioned for Dick Clark's USA Music Challenge. Matt went to L.A. and sang Mark's song "Hard Love" in front of a live prime-time t.v. audience.

In senior year of high school Mark attended a Search Retreat Weekend that changed the course of his life. He had been abusing alcohol and drugs, was immersed in other self-destructive behaviors, and soon found himself daydreaming of suicide. He began reading the Bible daily and opened his heart to God's healing and forgiveness. He has shared his ongoing testimony with thousands of people on retreats, conferences, Bible studies, and even in Dunkin Donuts:) A highlight in this area was leading a thousand or so youth in praise & worship at Six Flags, Great Adventure to kick off a New Jersey Catholic Youth Rally.

2005-Present:

Prompted by God, Mark and his siblings started a weekend retreat for their extended family and friends. He has served as retreat master, music minister, and leader of the planning team. In recent years they have partnered with Kingdom Fire Starters, a Healing Prayer Ministry, and have seen wonderful fruit over the weekends. 

In March of 2009, Mark, as mjlm, (Mark J. L. Mattheiss) recorded his first 3 song cd entitled "Something More" with Dove Award-winning producer, Plink Giglio. He has many other songs he hopes to record in the coming months and years.

In 2010, Mark founded and led a Catholic Lay Community in residence at St. Antoninus Church in Newark, NJ, called Gratia Plena Evangelical Community. In partnership with many people, churches, and supporters, he encountered the people of Newark daily on the street as he swept the sidewalk, facilitated a weekly book study on community, and ran monthly outreaches, and bi-annual missions called Mission Immersions. The Mission Immersions were an opportunity for people to live in community while opening themselves to God for the salvation and blessing of those they encountered. 

During that time Mark was certified as a Catholic Evangelist through St. Paul's Inside the Walls, under Bishop Serratelli. 

In 2014, Mark married a fellow missionary and the next several years were filled with growing and caring for their family. He entered a period of spiritual darkness and struggled to find the faith that had previously been at the center of his life. Through many struggles in his life and marriage, he reconnected with God. 

In 2022, Mark enrolled in the Encounter School of Ministry, New Jersey Campus. He graduated in May of 2024 and continues to serve the School as a worship leader. 

Today he serving the Church through music ministry and is praying about a return to full time ministry, sharing the Gospel in word, song, and, most importantly, day to day living.

During a talk by renowned author and preacher, Raniero Cantalamessa, Mark was given a picture of the grace of God in his life. He envisioned grace as a treasure of billions of dollars in his pockets. He was struck by the fact that those who don't know God go around as if begging for 50 cents. His goal in life is to die with his pockets empty.