Mark Mounts

Mark Mounts, pastor of Community Christian Fellowship in Houston Texas, grew up in Quinter, Kansas, population 900. He became interested in WCG at age 17 and then attended Ambassador College where he met his wife, Debra. They celebrated their 29th anniversary in May. “We have been blessed with two children, Ryan and Courtney. They are adopted and are biological brother and sister. That’s rare and their story would be a book in itself. They have been a light in our lives; I can’t imagine them not being around.”

Mark’s life story centers around several key events. “I have one sister named Tamara. She was born with moderate cerebral palsy. Because of this we had to travel over an hour to a specialist for her weekly treatments until I was around nine years old. I believe this made me somewhat sensitive to the needs of others. I saw how my sister struggled and in spite of her physical deficits made the best of what life dealt her.”

Another event that transformed Mark was the separation of his parents when he was in seventh grade. “My parents had been having trouble for some time, but due to my age and the fact that we didn’t talk much, this was a traumatic shock. It was then that I unfortunately became familiar with emotions such as fear, hatred, anger and resentment. I felt that if my parents didn’t care (which wasn’t true), neither did I. So, I went off ‘the deep end’ at age 11. That lifestyle lasted until I was 14 when I realized that the only one I was hurting was myself, so I came clean. A few months later my parents got back together and we moved to a different town.”

During this time of turmoil, Mark’s sister started “living a lifestyle that was disruptive to our family. Because of this, I withdrew, feeling I had to take care of myself in the middle of all this chaos. She spent 35 years in that lifestyle and has been sober for six years. It’s a miracle that she’s alive and it’s great to have her back. Through all of this I knew that I wanted to work with people. So at 14 I decided I’d become a therapist. But God had a different idea.”

Mark’s life wasn’t all turmoil. During his young years, he became interested in shooting. “My father had lost his left eye at a young age in a tragic incident. Because of this he never played catch with me. But there was one thing he could do well: shoot. So, at the age of five he placed a single-shot 22 in my hands. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Mark’s father had been reading WCG/GCI literature for years. “When we moved closer to a town with a WCG church, he and my mother started attending but didn’t force me to. One day I asked my dad what this new church’s idea was regarding heaven and hell. My reason for asking was because of things I had done during my teenage years, I honestly didn’t have much confidence that I had any chance of making it to heaven. He explained to me that there was more than one resurrection (according to our old beliefs). Ironically, that changed my life. For the first time I perceived God as merciful and the rest is history. I’ve been attending ever since.”

After graduating from Ambassador College in 1984, Mark took a job in business. “I am so glad I had a chance to see the heart and core of the business world; it was eye-opening to say the least. Everyone thought that I would be hired into the ministry straight out of college. I’m glad I wasn’t. God’s timing is perfect.”

Mark was hired as an associate pastor in 1987. “Full-time pastoral ministry has given me the opportunity to work with thousands of people and to pursue the desires of my heart. Later I had the opportunity to obtain a graduate degree in professional counseling. I have been given the opportunity to do what I truly wanted to do since my teenage years: work with people. I am constantly blown away as I see God work in deeply intimate ways in people’s lives. Through the experience he has given me, I feel I now am able to appreciate even the smallest of things and no longer take anything for granted.”

Mark credits GCI for changing his life and soul at its core. “When we changed our doctrines, it forced me to ask myself why I would affiliate myself with a legalistic religious organization that was known as a cult by most of the world. That depth of soul-searching has been going on ever since. God has used his process of change to help me understand that change truly is my reality. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, not even in the next hour. But no matter what life may bring, I know to the depths of my soul that his will is being done for something much greater than just the way I feel about it. Grace set me free and continues to do so every day.”

When asked what he enjoys doing apart from pastoring, Mark said he loves to cook and exercise. “There is just something about food!!! First I love to eat it, and I really love to see how it can bring people together—it’s just cool.” He and Deb work out and cycle at a health club and ride bikes together fairly regularly.

Mark shared his most memorable moment as a pastor: “When I had been employed less than a year, I received a call from a member whose 16-year-old daughter had given birth to a profoundly premature little boy. I had to scrub up and put on gloves and a mask to enter the neonatal ICU. When I saw that incredibly small and frail little boy, I couldn’t believe it. I prayed for him and placed my fingers on two parts of his little body that weren’t covered with tubes or medical tape. That child died and the grandmother, who was a member, basically tore up the waiting room in grief. It was then I knew I could not do this job without relying totally on God. I would learn that even more deeply in the years to come.” As a result of learning that lesson, Mark shares that his passion has become developing a relationship with Father, Son and Spirit. “There is nothing else that matters.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Mark said, “Honestly, when I’m at my worst. I have had to learn to trust that God shows me that side of myself on his timeline. Not so that I can shame or discredit myself, but so I can be thankful that he shows me that characteristic that I know I must surrender. It brings me closer to him. It has taken me years to finally understand this principle.”

Mark shared that he and Deb will be empty-nesters this fall. Deb is looking forward to getting even more involved with the congregation and their outreach.