A bit about Pastor Mark and Sandy! 

         Our lives have been quite full and extensive.  So, I am going to give to you the nuts and bolts now…it will take years to share our experiences with you.

         I was born on Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX in 1961 to my parents, Tommy and Martha Brock.

         When I was 3 years old, we moved to my mom’s home town (just a few miles from my dad’s home town) of Gadsden, Alabama.  I spent my formative years in the Gadsden/Glencoe area until college in 1979.  And, yes, I am a diehard Alabama Crimson Tide fan – Roll Tide!

Sandy was born in Hammond, Indiana, in 1962 to her parents, Daniel and Helen Mercer.  Sandy spent her formative years in Griffith, Indiana, until college in 1981.

After 2 years of college, I joined the Air National Guard and 2 years later went on active duty in the Air Force.

After 2 years of college, Sandy joined the Air Force.  We met at Sheppard Air Force Base in 1984 and were sent to Lindsey Air Station in Wiesbaden, Germany, the next year.

Our older son, Ryan, was born 2 months before we returned stateside in 1988 and 2 ½ years later our younger son, Nathan, was born in Hammond.  Then we were done having children.

Sandy and I are both graduates of the University of Maryland, European Division.  I majored in Computer Science and she majored in Business and Management.

Upon returning to (well, my first time to live in Indiana), I worked for Amoco Corporation in Chicago as a telecommunications transmission engineer in both R& D and field work beginning in 1988.

For the next twelve years, I was a corporate manager of IT services and engineering for several companies until one day in 2001…the day that I finally answered God’s calling on my life to be a pastor.

I was called to be a pastor the first time the day that I was baptized on Easter when I was 12.  As you can see, it took 29 years for me to answer God’s calling:  that is answer with a yes!

Two years later, I began Master of Divinity studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.  I graduated 4 years later and the rest…as they say…is history…

In ministry, I have served 3 churches and have served the North District of the Indiana Annual Conference as an Associate District Superintendent.

Now, all roads have led Sandy and me to Good Shepherd UMC.  We are both so excited to be in Indy.  Our sons, Ryan and Nathan and their families live in Indianapolis and our Norwegian Elkhound is named Indy Anna Brock.  For the cat lovers, we do have two cats, too – Sajak and Moonie.

See you soon!  Can’t wait!

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Mark