Bixby FUMC Staff
Rev. Mark Whitley
MY PROFILE
Full Name: Mark Travis Whitley
Nickname(s)?: Sparky
Who gave it to you?: American Red Cross NHQ in Washington, DC
Where & When I was born?: Beaumont, TX on August 22, raised in Lake Charles, LA
Family Members: Married Susan Whitley, December 22, 1979;Children-Bryan, Chris, Caitlin; Father deceased in 2006; Mother, Janene in Oakdale, LA; Brother, Neil in Houston, TX Brother, Karl in New Britain, CT; Sister, Alaina in Singapore.
Pet: Dog, Bella
Education: 1980 BS in Biology (Medical Technology), McNeese State University, Lake Charles
1983 BS in Biology (Pre-Medicine), McNeese State University
1985 Graduate Program in Immunohematology, Ochsner Foundation Hospital, New Orleans
2008 Master of Divinity, Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa
How I Became A Christian: Baptized at 13 at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles; became an atheist through author Ayn Rand from age 17-37; reconversion at New Covenant UMC in Edmond under Rev. Adrian Cole.
How I First Got Involved With FUMC Bixby: Appointed to Bixby FUMC in November 2007 from Waukomis UMC (2005-2007). Previously chaplain at Epworth Villa (2003-2005); Verden UMC (2003-2004).
What is your FAVORITE:
Style of Music: Meditative/Contemplative/Acoustic
Worship Song: Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service (UMH-581)
Singer: John Michael Talbott
Movie: To End All Wars
Food: Cajun, especially seafoodCandy: Payday candy barBeverage: Diet Coke with lime wedge
Restaurant: Any restuarant that fries shrimp and catfish or cooks gumbo and etoufee' as good as mine.
Color: Blue and Green
Vacation Place: Anywhere that has noisy, moving water and wind (waterfalls, rocky streams, beach)
Verse in the Bible: Mark 12:28-31
How I Like To Spend My Free Time: Family; cooking; eating what I cook; motorcycling; fishing
First Job: Housekeeping porter for surgery and emergency room, age 16
Prized Possession: My Faith
Best Childhood Memory: The Summer of 1973
Best Gift I've Ever Received: Grace
One Thing I Can't Stand: Inhumanity
If I Could Do Any Job Other Than the One I Have: Jet Pilot
What many people don’t know about me: I make Anglican prayer beads and carve preaching crosses; I won a graduate research award for predicting hemolytic disease in newborns; I have ridden to all three 9/11 sites by motorcycle; I have a piece of the aircraft from Flight 93, the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA; I drew a blood sample from the 70's singer, Lynn Anderson.
Spiritual Gifts: Discernment, Encouragement, Mercy, Wisdom