Mark Umfleet, the 2021 Country Gospel Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, will be in concert Friday Evening, June 21, at 7:00 pm at the Big Paul Williams Memorial Park. In Box Elder at the Joe Rosette Memorial Park on Sat, June 22, at 2:00 pm, and in Havre at Pepin Park, 520 4yh Street, Sunday, June 23, at 12:00 noon. The concert is free, but donations are accepted. Consider bringing your own chairs.
Mark was born in South Dakota but grew up in Montana. He attended grade school in Miles City but moved to Helena at Capitol High during his junior high and high school years.
Mark is married and has four children. He is a pastor at The Point, a Forsyth Wesleyan Church, and he and his wife run a daycare.
Mark went to college at Indiana Wesleyan University. “I got a degree in Christian ministry and became an ordained pastor 29 years ago. I’ve been preaching in Montana since 1999, so that would be 25 years.
In 2021, he was the National Male Vocalist of the Year for the Country Gospel Music Association. “They have conventions where you come in and showcase. I won the Western Regional regional, which makes you a finalist in Branson in October. I’m again a finalist for Male Vocalist of the Year this year.”
He believes God has called him to sing to small communities. “That’s what God has called me to. I want to try to reach every Montana zip code
within the next five to seven years, beginning with all the communities with populations of 1000 or less.” He started right before COVID hit, and COVID delayed things. “We’ve been trying for the last two years and not quite getting the ball rolling yet. I think the ball will slowly get moving, and there’ll be more and more concerts as we go on. Please don’t ask me how many communities I’ve been in. I don’t know, but it’s not enough.”
He also sings songs that people will know off the radio and old hymns. “I’ve got a bunch of songs that I’ve written myself. I send them off to a studio, tell them what I hear, and have them produce the music for me.”
“The concert is a description of faith in God as many have never heard. So whether people have faith in God or don’t, it will hopefully appeal to everyone.”
