Meet Our Pastor

Rev. Mark Britton serves as the pastor of the Oakes GMC as well as Marion & Dickey Global Methodist churches.

Pastor Mark grew up in Minnesota and Iowa, having graduated from Manson High School in Manson, Iowa. He was active in many activities: drama, choir, band, speech, football, cross country, track, basketball, and baseball. He then attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa where he ran cross country and was on both the indoor and outdoor track teams, earning seven school letters before his twin brother, Larry, talked him into joining the Air Force. He is still active as golfer, bowler, and just retired from Men’s Slowpitch Softball, a sport that he played from the age of 17. He refereed high school and amateur basketball for thirty-five years, high school volleyball, and high school track and field. His hobbies are golfing, bowling, and fishing.

Pastor Mark has been in the ministry for over 19 years. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree.

Prior to his entering the ministry, Pastor Mark was in the United States Air Force for twenty-three years. He was a Security Policeman for eighteen years and a First Sergeant for his final five, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant.

He is still active as golfer, bowler, and just retired from Men’s Slowpitch Softball, a sport that he played from the age of 17. He refereed high school and amateur basketball for thirty-five years, high school volleyball, and high school track and field. His hobbies are golfing, bowling, and fishing.

Pastor Mark is also an author, having written the book, Fighting for My Life: One Man’s Battle to Find Faith and Hope. He has spoken in a few places about the experiences of his childhood and how he came to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

His wife, Joni, is a Therapist for Prairie St. John’s Mental Health Hospital in Fargo, ND. She earned a Masters degree in Professional Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Joni was active in drama and gymnastics at Forest Lake High School in Minnesota, where she graduated. She is from Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Her hobbies include golfing, bowling, gardening, and fishing.

Pastor Mark and Joni have four children, all adults, eleven grandchildren, and a great granddaughter. They have been married for 41 years.