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Mark started attending Whittington Church in 1974. Before coming on staff as Pastor at Whittington, he had traveled with an evangelistic music ministry called the Good News Circle.  The music group traveled the country-- from Los Angeles to the East coast, working with Billy Graham, Nicki Cruz, Bill Gaither and many others. In 1977, he experienced a direct call from God to 'come home to southern Illinois'.  Leaving the music ministry, he returned to southern Illinois and served as Managing Editor of a magazine and worked in the coal industry before accepting the position as Pastor. 

After he left the Good news Circle music group in 1977, he began working as a youth leader.  In June of 1978, the then-current pastor of Whittington left to pastor another church.  Mark began to preach on Sunday's until a replacement was found. In November of that year, the church asked him to serve as Pastor.

Mark has served as a school board member for Ewing Grade School and currently has been elected 7 times to the board of Benton Consolidated High School, serving as President for 20 of those years.  He also serves as President of the Franklin Jefferson Special Education Board,  and is an instructor for Rend Lake College.  Mark was an IHSA umpire for 14 years and ran for the elected office of State Senator in 2012.

Mark states, “The heart of the people of this church is amazing.  I am honored to be a small part of the decades of ministry to our Lord and community.  The love the church family has shown to me and my family-- as well as their willingness to risk to try new things-- is, to me, the greatest attribute of the Whittington Church family.”

Mark married Pam on June 30, 1973. They have 5 children: Brian (and wife April) Minor; Nathan (and wife Amy) Minor; Emily (and husband Ryan) Skibo; Erin (and husband Casey) McCommons; Elizabeth (and husband Rex) Roberts.  Grandchildren are Brendan and Bryli Minor; Ava and Eli Minor; Holden and Houston Skibo; Laney and Ethan McCommons; Hunter, Ryder and Roper Roberts. He has one Great Grand Daughter names Blakelynn.

You might not know that Mark enjoys flying a private plane (but doesn’t currently have a license), has traveled in 9 countries, really enjoys visiting Israel and has a deep love for Southern Illinois.