Rev. Dr Mark Bender – June 1

“Dr. Mark Bender has served as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church, Wichita Falls, since 2018. Mark is an enthusiastic preacher, compassionate pastor, and skilled leader who works to help FCC fulfill its mission of “shepherding every person to encounter the abundant peace of Christ.” 

Mark received his call to ministry at a youth conference in Estes Park, Colorado, and remains passionate about the spiritual formation of young people and the camping program. He has been a regular summer counselor, director, or keynoter, as well as serving on various Youth Ministry Councils, on the Logos Systems Associates (now Gen On Ministries) Conference Board and as the President of the Board of Disciples Crossing, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) campground in Athens, Texas. He holds a Masters of Divinity from TCU’s Brite Divinity School, and a Doctorate of Ministry from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. Yet, when it comes to collegiate loyalty, he is a member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 1996. 

Prior to his ordination, Mark served Texas congregations in Lubbock, Amarillo, and Dallas, as well as at the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest Regional Office in Fort Worth. Ordained to the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of 

Christ) in 2004 at Northway Christian Church in Dallas, Texas, Mark continued to serve that congregation another 14 years. 

If you were to ask Mark what his favorite scripture passage is, he would tell you: “Romans 5:3-5.” And, when Mark isn’t at the church, he enjoys working in the yard, playing a musical instrument (piano, organ, violin, and guitar), and spending time with his wife, Jodi, and their two adult children, Chelsea (and husband, Nathan) and Abby, and their granddaughter, Clara.” 

Mark will be preaching on June 1. The sermon title will be “Creative Simplicity” and the scripture will be Ecclesiastes 4:1-12.