Father Mark's Biography 

I was born in Texas, but proudly consider South Dakota to be my home. When I was a sophomore in high school, I felt called to be an architect. However, by the time I was a senior that desire had been replaced by a call to ordained ministry. Looking back, I see “design” as a common theme. My interest shifted from “designing buildings” to “designing souls.” I ran track in high school, finishing second in the state finals of the 440 yard dash my senior year.

I went to college on a partial track scholarship at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I departed Augie with a BA in business administration and Susan as my fiancée. We were married two years later and then moved to Evanston, IL so that I could pursue my theological education at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Before coming to St. Mary’s, I served congregations in both Kalamazoo and Traverse City, Michigan and Irving, Texas.

A couple of years ago, I attended a Clear Vision Conference at Camp Allen, Texas. The conference juxtaposed maintenance and mission as styles of ministry. I learned that maintenance is all about staying alive. While a maintenance church may be involved in many useful and needed ministries, a close inspection of its life will reveal that these ministries are predominately inwardly focused. Over time, the pressures of simply maintaining will become overwhelming and a congregation will show symptoms of decline.

A congregation that knows why it exists and pursues that mission will radiate vitality. Mission is all about purpose. A congregation that lives mission lives for others. A congregation that is caught in a maintenance mentality may welcome visitors, but a congregation that lives mission invites people to become part of the fellowship of Christ. Mission minded congregations are involved in ministries that draw them outside of themselves. Their ministries impact their local community and the world. They are mindful of the Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples.

The Lord spoke to me at that conference. Although I loved the Lord and was faithful liturgist, teacher and pastor, I realized that I had become a maintenance priest. I was not provoking, preparing, or enabling the congregations that I served for mission. The Holy Spirit convinced me that I needed to change the way I served the church. For me, this was a renewal experience, not a conversion.

Before I went to seminary, my life and my ministry was much more mission-minded. In January 1976, a friend and I rode our bicycles from Tacoma, Washington to Los Angeles, California. During the summer of 1978, I rode with three other friends from Ocean Shores, Washington to Virginia Beach, Virginia. In both cases, our purpose was to share our faith in Jesus Christ with the people we met along the way. Like the disciples, we departed on these two missionary journeys without food or money. Obviously, I survived the experience. The truth, however, is that we thrived. We thrived because we lived for a purpose that was worth the risk. I’m doing that again. Thanks be to God.