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Hello, friends!

A little bit about me. I was born in 1965 in the Philippines. (My Dad was a naval aviator stationed in Subic Bay with my Mom and older sister.) We moved a lot while I was growing up: Florida, Virginia, Newfoundland, California, Georgia, Saudi Arabia… lots of different places. I was raised in the Episcopal Church, where I served, in my youth, as an acolyte (altar boy). I graduated from high school in 1984. Then I went to work as a laborer for almost a year before I joined the Navy and went to basic training in July, 1985. I was on active duty until February, 1991.

Here I am back then:

After I got out, I worked for a few months doing odd jobs (apartment maintenance, book store shipping and receiving…) and then started college in the fall.

This is a picture of some friends and me on Spring break from Haverford College. We were hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia for a few days.

From left, Peter Swarr, me, and Laura Driscoll. Pete is now married and a doctor. Laura is married and writes children’s books. Not picture, because he took the picture, is my friend Ishi Buffam.

I graduated from college in 1995 with a degree in History. During my time in college, I had begun to attend church again. My faith had awakened and I wanted to learn more about God and Jesus Christ. I went on to divinity school. I learned a great deal about God, the church, and video golf. This is a picture of (left to right) me, James Ebert, and Jim Forsyth playing video golf. I think it was during finals week my first year.

After I graduated, I worked part time in a church and part time teaching nursery school for a couple of years while I waited to be ordained. I realized, you see, that God had plans for me beyond “learning more about the church.” In June, 2001, I was ordained a deacon. In December, 2001, I was ordained a priest. And during that year, I also met my (soon-to-be) bride again. Her name was, and is, Jessica. We met originally in college, but didn’t really know one another well back then. Long story short, we got engaged right after I was ordained a priest: Married her in July, 2002.

Jessi and the kids, Fiona, almost four, and Lydia, about a year and a half.

I’ve realized, mostly from people in the church who are wiser than I am, that at the heart of what Christians do is mission. And as I’ve grown in my own faith, this has become more and more important to me. Jesus Christ has called me, and is calling you, to be transformed through faith. And as part of that transformation, we work together to make the world around us more like God would want. Jessi and I moved to this area because we believe that God is at work building his kingdom in this valley, and we want to be a part of that work. I hope you do, too.

Thanks for letting me introduce myself and share a little of my story. I hope that you will give me a chance to get to know you, too!

With all my prayers,
Mark

 

 

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