Lead Pastor
Pastor Mark serves as our Lead Pastor, guiding our church as we discover and follow God’s will—personally, as a church family, and in the world around us. He’s passionate about preaching God’s Word in a way that helps people truly encounter Christ and live out their faith by engaging others with His truth and love.
When he’s not in the pulpit, Mark focuses on shaping a healthy church culture built around four key values: Determined Discipleship, Authentic Community, Attractional Love, and Undeniable Truth. He also has a big heart for building strong families and strengthening the church through intentional discipleship.
Mark has been in ministry for 26 years and has served as Senior Pastor here at Acton Baptist for nearly 13 of them. Before stepping into ministry, he worked in advertising and marketing in the DFW area—until God made it abundantly clear that ignoring His call wasn’t an option. As Mark likes to say, when God calls you into ministry, He has a way of frustrating every other plan until you finally surrender.
Mark has been married to Christine for 38 wonderful years. They have two adult children—Marissa (married to Bruce) and Joshua (married to Molly)—and two grandchildren on the way. Marissa is a band director while Bruce is in seminary pursuing God’s call on their lives. Joshua recently began serving in the Coast Guard.
If you know Mark, you know he drinks coffee basically all day. He loves Mexican food, coconut cream pie, family gatherings, and reading philosophy. He’s also a big fan of the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, and Rangers, and loves playing golf or even picking up his trumpet when he gets the chance. (And for fun—he’s not a fan of long emails, fiction, tall heights, or paperwork.)
What Mark loves most about ministry is seeing people grow, especially when someone experiences God for the very first time through salvation. He loves Acton Baptist because it’s a church full of genuine love—for the Lord, for truth, and for people.
His prayer is that Acton Baptist will continue to grow and influence many generations, and that thousands more will come to know Christ—not only here in Hood County, but across America and around the world.
