I was also interested to note that Mark attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri around the same time as my husband! I think Mark was there a year or two earlier, but they still may have briefly crossed paths!!!
It also fascinated me to read that Mark went through an experience very similar to mine where he almost died and had a foot of colon removed! I had 8 inches removed!!! And I almost died, too!
If you haven't read anything by Mark Batterson yet, I would say that beginning with IN A PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY is a great place to start!