Mark Driscoll is an American evangelical pastor and author. He started RealFaith ministries and is its main contributor. He is also the senior and founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was established in 2016.
Early Life
Mark Driscoll was born on October 11, 1970, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He is the oldest of five children and the son of a union drywaller. Mark grew up as a Roman Catholic in the Riverton Heights neighborhood of SeaTac, Washington.
In 1989, Mark graduated from Highline High School in Burien, Washington. During high school, he was the student body president, captain of the baseball team, editor of the school newspaper, and voted “most likely to succeed.” It was also in high school that he met Grace Martin, who would later become his wife. Grace’s father, Gib Martin, is an evangelical pastor.
Mark converted to Christianity at the age of 19 while attending college. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a minor in philosophy from Washington State University and later obtained a Master of Arts in exegetical theology from Western Seminary.
After graduation, Mark and Grace moved to Seattle, where they volunteered with the college ministry at Antioch Bible Church and attended services there. A few months later, Mark was offered an internship at the church. During his internship, he met Lief Moi, a radio broadcaster, and Mike Gunn, who worked for Athletes in Action at the University of Washington. The three began discussing the idea of starting an “urban, postmodern” church in Seattle. They received guidance and support from Greg Kappas, the pastor overseeing Antioch Bible Church’s new church planting program, who helped them develop their plans.
Family
Mark Driscoll is married to Grace Driscoll, his high school sweetheart. They have five children together.
Ministry
In 1996, Mark Driscoll co-founded Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. By March 2014, the church had 14,000 members across five states and fifteen locations. He also founded The Resurgence, a theological cooperative, and co-founded other organizations like Acts 29 Network, Churches Helping Churches, and The Gospel Coalition.
Driscoll has written for The Seattle Times’ “Faith and Values” section, OnFaith, and the Fox News website. He has authored several popular Christian books, including A Call to Resurgence.
His teachings on gender roles, allegations of plagiarism, and claims of a culture of fear and abuse at Mars Hill have been controversial.
In the summer of 2014, Driscoll faced criticism and formal complaints from Mars Hill staff and members due to alleged abusive behavior. In August 2014, the Acts 29 Network removed him from its membership and asked him to step down from ministry.
On October 14, 2014, Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church. Within three months, the church was dissolved, and its campuses either closed or became independent.
In 2021, Driscoll was featured in a podcast called The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, which explored his history of misconduct.
Driscoll later issued a 2,000-word apology letter posted on his church’s private online community and elsewhere. He apologized for his mistakes and promised to stop posting on social media.
Acts 29 Network
In 1998, Mark Driscoll and David Nicholas founded Acts 29 Network with the goal of planting 1,000 new churches worldwide. The organization began with 11 churches and grew quickly, reaching 50 churches by 2006 and 410 by 2011, including 38 churches in 16 other countries.
Driscoll started The Resurgence in 2006, a theological cooperative that supported Acts 29 and Mars Hill Church. The Resurgence aimed to train church leaders in conservative reformed theology.
In 2014, the Acts 29 Network, which Driscoll helped establish, removed him and Mars Hill Church from its membership. This decision was based on complaints from other network pastors about Driscoll’s divisive behavior.
Resignation from Mars Hill Church
In 2014, an investigation was conducted into accusations of bullying and intimidating behavior by Mark Driscoll and 21 former church elders. The investigation included 1,000 hours of research, interviews, and 200 pages of information. The report found that Driscoll had not been charged with immorality, illegality, or heresy, and many of the complaints had been addressed by him. Driscoll stated that he had not disqualified himself from ministry.
The church leadership proposed a “restoration” plan for Driscoll, but he declined it. On October 14, 2014, Driscoll resigned, citing health and safety concerns. The church’s Board of Overseers had not requested his resignation.
Net Worth
Mark Driscoll net worth is not revealed to the public domain.
Social Handles
You can find Mark Driscoll on the following social media platforms:
- instagram; @markdriscoll
- Twitter: @PastorMark
- YouTube: RealFaith by Mark Driscoll
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
In this section, I would provide you with FAQs and answers on Mark Driscoll Biography. Keep on reading dear friend.
1. Who is Mark Driscoll?
Mark Driscoll is an American evangelical pastor, author, and church founder. He is known for his role as the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church and for his contributions to various religious organizations and publications.
2. When and where was Mark Driscoll born?
Mark Driscoll was born on October 11, 1970, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
3. What is Mars Hill Church?
Mars Hill Church was a church founded by Mark Driscoll in Seattle, Washington, in 1996. At its peak in March 2014, it had 14,000 members across five states and fifteen locations.
4. What is Acts 29 Network?
Acts 29 Network is a church-planting organization founded by Mark Driscoll and David Nicholas in 1998. The goal of the network is to plant 1,000 new churches worldwide.
5. What is The Resurgence?
The Resurgence is a theological cooperative founded by Mark Driscoll in 2006. It supports Acts 29 and Mars Hill Church and focuses on training church leaders in conservative reformed theology.