The Harris Family
In 1992, Mark left behind dreams of working for NASA to begin his missionary career in Mali, West Africa. For six years, he worked to develop student ministries on university and high school campuses in the capitol city, Bamako. During that time, Mark began to notice the lack of opportunities for national believers to be equipped for ministry. Feeling a call to help meet that need, Mark returned to the US for more training. He enrolled at Columbia International University where he met Marcie.
They married on May 26, 2001. In May of 2002, Marcie completed her M.A. in Intercultural Studies, and Mark received his M.Div. in Christian Education. Then, in 2003, they returned to West Africa to serve among the Malinke, casting vision for God’s work and equipping leaders to guide the church into that work. They left Mali in 2013 and now serve in Stellenbosch South Africa at East Mountain.
East Mountain is a biblical community that exists to develop Christian leaders for global, missional service. We long to see leaders transformed by the gospel and living in authentic community who inspire churches and organizations to join God in His mission across Africa.
We believe in developing leaders holistically. In addition to seeing them grow in Bible knowledge and practical leadership skills, we desire to help them grow in intimacy with Christ and to become more like Him.
Mark serves on the East Mountain leadership team as the Director of Spiritual Life and Formation. He helps to create spaces where people connect with God and with one another, spaces where people encounter the power of the Gospel and move forward in the direction of Christ-likeness. As a result, they become better suited for the ministry that God entrusts to them. Mark and Marcie both mentor and invest in leaders, including the East Mountain staff they supervise.
Mark and Marcie have two boys, Dylan (3/04), and Caleb (6/07). In addition to his M.Div., Mark also holds an M.A. in Spiritual Formation from George Fox Evangelical Seminary