Born and raised in North Carolina, Mark trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of five.  Christian school teachers mentored him in the faith and poured their lives into him pointing him to seek Christ.

Upon graduating high school, Mark served one year with Encounter Revival Ministries traveling the country ministering through revival meetings.  After hearing God’s call, he entered Piedmont Baptist College in 1999. 

In May, 2002, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies with a pastoral training emphasis.  While in college, he served as an Associate Pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, his home church, in Denton, North Carolina, for five years.  Mark was introduced to Valerie at Piedmont.  They decided to begin a lifetime together and the two were married in August, 2002.