A native of Pulaski, Virginia, Pastor Mark experienced God’s calling into pastoral ministry as a teenager through the nurturing of his parents, his home Lutheran congregation, and the influences of the Holy Spirit in a youth led Bible study. By the time he matriculated at the College of William & Mary, he knew he needed to head in that direction. Mark graduated from the College in 1979 with a B.A. in Greek and a month later married an alumna of William & Mary and his wife of now over 25 years, Rena Pope Graham. God has blessed them with two daughters, Emily and Katelyn. Both are now students at the University of Virginia.

In 1983, Mark graduated from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He accepted the call to serve as pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Luray, Virginia. A little over four years later, he received a call from St. John, Roanoke where he began service in August of 1987. In May, 2003, Mark was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary (a Presbyterian school).

Mark has been a leader in Lutheran and ecumenical ministries. These endeavors include evangelism, peer mentoring and leadership, and local outreach efforts toward the homeless. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Faith Christian School.

He continues to rejoice in the blessings of serving St. John, especially as he has seen the congregation grow numerically (from about 250 to the current membership of 1,100) and faithfully in worship, discipleship, mission, and stewardship. His passion centers on leading the congregation’s purpose “to worship and serve God in love and obedience,” and he emphasizes the authority of the Scripture in all matters of life and faith.

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