“For most people, feeling heard is so close to feeling loved that the two are indistinguishable.”
~ David Augsburger
With more than thirty years in pastoral ministry, Pastor Mark is known for compassionate listening and meeting people where they are, helping open hearts and minds to God’s grace, love, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Since 2023, Pastor Mark has been developing a discernment process for congregations navigating vitality challenges and future direction, working with congregations, pastors, and leaders to seek God’s leading.
He brings broad experience in pastoral care, youth ministry, local and global missions, team leadership, and preaching, having served congregations of many sizes in rural, urban, and suburban settings.
Pastor Mark is trained in coaching with mission development and congregational vitality, as well as individual and group coaching. He is certified in Transition Ministry through the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association, called by the Northern Illinois Synod to intentional interim ministry, and serves as an on-call chaplain at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora.
He earned a B.A. from Augustana College and an M.Div. from Luther Seminary. He enjoys travel, hiking, board games, music and meeting friends for a flight at local breweries. He and his wife, Lori, lived in Brazil during his internship and now live in Naperville, Illinois, and strive to see their two grown sons and their wife and fiancée as much as possible.
