Mark & Debbie Christopher

Mark Christopher has been involved in church planting and leadership development in Cape Town, South Africa, since 1995. He is currently helping Everglen Baptist Church deepen its understanding of biblical eldership, developing lay leaders through Leadership Training Development, preaching regularly, and mentoring two South African men who are planting Hermanus Bible Church, 70 miles east of Cape Town. Mark is also helping establish a hybrid virtual seminary with 7 other South African pastors. They have partnered with Central African Baptist Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia, to offer their fully accredited Bachelor’s in Bible through Zoom Room training in South Africa. Mark will head up the Old Testament department. Debbie has an active ladies' ministry and regularly teaches a Saturday-morning ladies' Bible study for women who work. The present ministry of the Christophers can be summed up as an Acts 14:22 ministry to strengthen, encourage, and equip struggling, biblically based churches in the work of the ministry, at both the lay and vocational levels.

Mark first became interested in South Africa when he met Debbie, a young South African lassie, who worked in the library of the Bible college he attended. They were married in her home church in Newcastle, South Africa, in 1987. There, they completed a 16-month internship. Upon returning to the United States in late 1988, they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wanted them back in South Africa. After graduating from The Master's Seminary in May 1994, the Christophers hastily raised the support they would need to return to the land they love so much!

Mark and Debbie have two adult children, Janelle and Micaiah.