Biography:  Dr.  Mark  A  Rankin

                                                                 Born:   Miami Beach, Florida, March 23, 1954.

Education:

Elementary School: Whitter Elementary, San Diego, CA; Little Fort Elementary, Waukegan, Ill.

Middle School: Jack Benny Junior High School, Waukegan, Ill.

High School: Waukegan Township High School, Waukegan, Ill; Carver High School, Chicago, Ill.

Military School:  all Professional Schools from NCO to Command & Staff, ADJ, AMO, obtained senior rank E-8. 

College: Institute for Teaching God’s Word Seminary in Rockdale, Texas.

Highest Education to date: Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling in June of 2004 from the Tyrannus University of Biblical Studies College of Theology & Divinity, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Biography:

Mark joined the USMC in May of 1973 and served 22 years, retiring in 1995.

Mark met his wife, Alice who was in the Air Force at the time, at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea.

Mark married Alice in Hawaii on January 1st, 1987

During the latter part of Mark's career, while stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Mark and Alice joined 1st Missionary Baptist Church in Lexington Park, Maryland, Pastor Roderick McClanahan.

After retiring Mark and Alice found themselves in Waco, Texas in October 1998 and joined Carver Park Baptist Church shortly there after, Pastor Gaylon Foreman.

Mark answered his call to preach the Holy Gospel on 16 September 2001. 

Mark attended the Institute for Teaching God's Word Theological Seminary where he received a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling in June of 2004 from the Tyrannus University of Biblical Studies College of Theology & Divinity, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. Mark Rankin is currently a Teaching Professor at the Institute for Teaching God’s Word Seminary, in Rockdale, Texas, President Dennis Brooks, PhD.  He has been actively involved in counseling professionally for most of his adult life.

Dr. Mark Rankin served as Assistant Pastor at Christian Life Church (Pastor Robert Nelson) in Waco Texas for one year (2007) and is now Pastor of Seed Time and Harvest Ministry.  

The Potter's Wheel:

Mark failed third grade (having a problem with reading and reading comprehension) and was set back a year after moving from San Diego, CA. to Waukegan, Ill.  Mark dropped out of High School and moved to Chicago, Ill. While there, Mark attended a special program in Chicago at Carver High School. This program was given at night to those individuals that wanted a High School education but for one reason or another were not able to attend regular (Day-Time) education. This course was given at night in the school library where the student could check out the course book, self-study and then challenge the course exam for credits. When the student felt they were ready a short quiz on the subject was given by the attending teacher, (to test basic knowledge in that subject), and after passing the student had the opportunity to pay a fee (there is always a cost!) and take the main course exam. If the student passed, then those credits would be awarded and transferred to the students last regular High School until they had enough credits for regular graduation requirements. Mark's High School Diploma reads Waukegan Township High School, for that reason and his name is listed in the year book but there is no picture. In this fashion Mark completed his High School Education.

This was the point in Mark's life where his reading ability and comprehension went from OFF to full ON!

Counseling education and Professional Counseling started during his military career.

Towards the end of the Vietnam conflict, Mark attended the Staff NCO Academy at Quantico, VA. The course curriculum was heavily weighted towards psychology and counseling because of the issues affecting our society and the military at that time. In addition Mark was taking every course that the military offered. He was able to complete all courses, up to and including the Command and Staff level which is equivalent to a Masters Degree!

Mark pursued a Psychology-Counseling (Christian Counseling) education outside of normal military education requirements, as well.  Now an avid reader soaking up every morsel of information and testing each and ever issue against the Word of God, Mark was well on his way to what God would have him do.

Mark brings to this discussion a point of view that is not stereotyped by any one theology, religion, social group, or nationalistic goal. God has developed within Mark a non-denominational point of view. Having moved Mark so frequently and subjecting him to so many different environments, God has worked His Word and Will for Mark into Mark's heart. He has learned that all religions (without exception) are man's creation and very self-serving. That no one religion follows even their own religious theology but rather develops their theology to meet the particular temperature of their self-serving notions or ideology at any one point in time. Their theology is ever-changing in step with their ever-changing pain and pleasure perceptions of reality.

The Word of God for the most part is used as a convenient tool to further their changing theology in what has become a socially acceptable custom.

For this reason, and because the Word of God does not support any one religion, that Mark has experienced, to-date, Mark is fiercely non-denominational.

Conclusion:

Mark's heart is about healing and wholeness, which can only happen as a result of a connection with God.  God's Word is given in the written form (Bible), and the flesh form (Jesus), and in the spirit form (the Comforter(KJV), Helper(NKJV), Holy Spirit) to do just that.

Mark does this how ever God directs him to do so, by lovingly sowing and watering.

God provides the increase!

Amen