Mark is an author, storyteller, speaker, minister, and community activist. He is the Executive Director of The Hearth—a nonprofit that uses personal narratives to support individual healing and social change. He has helped to start many creative ministry projects including The Center for Engaged Compassion at Claremont School of Theology and The Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project at San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is the author of five books including The Gift of Hard Things: Finding Grace in Unexpected Places, Wonder, Fear, and Longing: A Book of Prayers, and Contemplative Youth Ministry.