Mark was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended Virginia State University and later earned his degree from the State University of New York while serving in the Navy. Mark served 21 years in the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service. After retirement, he joined the Columbia Fire Department and served for 24 years, retiring at the rank of Division Chief. Mark married his sweetheart, Sherian, during his time at the Columbia Fire Department, and they have been married for 17 years. In 2020, Mark graduated from Columbia International University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later that same year, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education from Southern Illinois University. In 2022, he earned a Master of Arts in Care and Counseling from Columbia Biblical Seminary. After graduation, he was accepted into Columbia Biblical Seminary's Doctor of Ministry in Leadership program. Mark enjoys watching British crime dramas, anything about submarines and the Navy, and "good" space and science fiction programming. The Bible verse that started his Christian journey is Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."