Mark Fisher grew up in Minnesota’s Northwoods, just a few miles south of the Canadian border. During his mid-teens, like many in his community he chose the life of a rebel. But in 1983, at the age of 21, while employed for the US Forest Service as an engineering tech, he was surprising led to a saving faith in Jesus Christ by his supervisor. He then became involved with his local Bible Church, serving in evangelism, youth ministry and various helps ministries. Since his unexpected conversion Mark has always had a passion to share the love of Christ with those who did not know Him and those who do.
In December of 1986 while living in Babbitt, MN Mark met his future wife Renee, and they were married a year later. They now have four adult committed Bible believing children, and three young grandsons whom they love to spend time with. Mark considers Renee his best friend and ministry partner. They both are very thankful to have such a blessed family!
In 1991, the Fishers moved to Castle Danger, MN and continued a ministry on the North Shore of Lake Superior which they began three years earlier. There they spent the next eight years in an outreach ministry laboring to establish a local Church on the North Shore. During this time Mark was a self-supporting church planter, working as a Civil Engineering Tech for the Lake County Highway Department, while Renee was a stay-at-home, home schooling mom raising their four energetic children.
After much prayer, the Lord led them to Cornerstone Bible Institute, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, for three years, where Mark completed his Pastoral Training. During these three years Mark and Renee were very involved in the local church. From there it was on to Kansas City, Missouri, where Mark earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Advanced Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College and began his Master of Arts degree with Trinity Theological Seminary. While in K.C., Mark committed to two years of a church recovery at Antioch Baptist Church, of Spring Hill, Kansas. From there the Fishers moved to western Colorado, where Mark became the Associate Pastor of Grace Bible Church of Parachute for 2 ½ years. During this time he led the youth and men's discipleship programs while finishing his M.A. in Biblical Studies and beginning his PhD studies.
In December of 2008, the Lord moved the Fishers once again; it was to Fruita, CO where Mark was called to the Senior Pastor position in Fruita, CO. Mark spent 10 ½ years serving as the Senior Pastor. During these years of shepherding Mark developed a number of in-depth Bible studies which he taught and now uses with the men of MLI. Through the years Mark has had a passion for mentoring men and as a pastor he has trained deacons and elders for ministry. It is also for this reason that Mark is now putting greater energy into discipleship and the MLI ministry.
In 2010 Mark made his first trip to Uganda and immediately recognized the need for leader training for the African pastors. In 2013 he made his first trip to Kenya which involved leadership training. In 2014 and 2015 Mark went back and did further leader training. In 2014 he completed his PhD in Apologetics and Theology, and it was in the following months that the Lord brought to fruition the passion that was on Mark’s heart and encouraged him (through Peter Lukoye) to begin the MLI program to aid the local African churches in training servant-leaders that do not have access or the means for Bible School training. MLI first began in 2015 in Eldoret, Kenya then spread to Northern Uganda, and now Eastern Uganda under the direction Fredrick Musungu of Uganda. Mark was welcomed to join Go Give Hope, a church planting mission, in which the MLI now operates under.
Through the years, besides being involved in church leadership, the Fishers have also been involved in numerous church camps, missions and outreach related ministries, and consider it a blessing to be able to serve others in these various ways.
Mark has especially been involved in discipling men for years. Not only does Mark give praise to God for his experiences and education, he recognizes that the Lord has brought godly men into his life who have invested in him; his first pastor, other fellow pastors, Bible school and seminary teachers. Of the these men, there are six men who he credits with heavily impacting him regarding his pastoral education and ministry. Together these six men have a combined total of over 160 years of ministry experience. And yet, Mark knows that he is still growing and learning, and much of that has come from the people that he is now serving, both here in America and in Africa.
Mark recognizes his God gifted call to pastoring, discipleship and mentoring. In the fall and winter of 2019 he completed a 40 hour Life Coaching class which adds another dimension to his skill set in which to help men live up to their potential as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
First Baptist Church of Palisade, CO, is where Mark is now currently pastoring, where he continues to teach, preach & disciple men in the faith.
“According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21
In December of 1986 while living in Babbitt, MN Mark met his future wife Renee, and they were married a year later. They now have four adult committed Bible believing children, and three young grandsons whom they love to spend time with. Mark considers Renee his best friend and ministry partner. They both are very thankful to have such a blessed family!
In 1991, the Fishers moved to Castle Danger, MN and continued a ministry on the North Shore of Lake Superior which they began three years earlier. There they spent the next eight years in an outreach ministry laboring to establish a local Church on the North Shore. During this time Mark was a self-supporting church planter, working as a Civil Engineering Tech for the Lake County Highway Department, while Renee was a stay-at-home, home schooling mom raising their four energetic children.
After much prayer, the Lord led them to Cornerstone Bible Institute, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, for three years, where Mark completed his Pastoral Training. During these three years Mark and Renee were very involved in the local church. From there it was on to Kansas City, Missouri, where Mark earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Advanced Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College and began his Master of Arts degree with Trinity Theological Seminary. While in K.C., Mark committed to two years of a church recovery at Antioch Baptist Church, of Spring Hill, Kansas. From there the Fishers moved to western Colorado, where Mark became the Associate Pastor of Grace Bible Church of Parachute for 2 ½ years. During this time he led the youth and men's discipleship programs while finishing his M.A. in Biblical Studies and beginning his PhD studies.
In December of 2008, the Lord moved the Fishers once again; it was to Fruita, CO where Mark was called to the Senior Pastor position in Fruita, CO. Mark spent 10 ½ years serving as the Senior Pastor. During these years of shepherding Mark developed a number of in-depth Bible studies which he taught and now uses with the men of MLI. Through the years Mark has had a passion for mentoring men and as a pastor he has trained deacons and elders for ministry. It is also for this reason that Mark is now putting greater energy into discipleship and the MLI ministry.
In 2010 Mark made his first trip to Uganda and immediately recognized the need for leader training for the African pastors. In 2013 he made his first trip to Kenya which involved leadership training. In 2014 and 2015 Mark went back and did further leader training. In 2014 he completed his PhD in Apologetics and Theology, and it was in the following months that the Lord brought to fruition the passion that was on Mark’s heart and encouraged him (through Peter Lukoye) to begin the MLI program to aid the local African churches in training servant-leaders that do not have access or the means for Bible School training. MLI first began in 2015 in Eldoret, Kenya then spread to Northern Uganda, and now Eastern Uganda under the direction Fredrick Musungu of Uganda. Mark was welcomed to join Go Give Hope, a church planting mission, in which the MLI now operates under.
Through the years, besides being involved in church leadership, the Fishers have also been involved in numerous church camps, missions and outreach related ministries, and consider it a blessing to be able to serve others in these various ways.
Mark has especially been involved in discipling men for years. Not only does Mark give praise to God for his experiences and education, he recognizes that the Lord has brought godly men into his life who have invested in him; his first pastor, other fellow pastors, Bible school and seminary teachers. Of the these men, there are six men who he credits with heavily impacting him regarding his pastoral education and ministry. Together these six men have a combined total of over 160 years of ministry experience. And yet, Mark knows that he is still growing and learning, and much of that has come from the people that he is now serving, both here in America and in Africa.
Mark recognizes his God gifted call to pastoring, discipleship and mentoring. In the fall and winter of 2019 he completed a 40 hour Life Coaching class which adds another dimension to his skill set in which to help men live up to their potential as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
First Baptist Church of Palisade, CO, is where Mark is now currently pastoring, where he continues to teach, preach & disciple men in the faith.
“According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21