Mark Pollock, MS
Hello! I am a retired mental health therapist having worked primarily with at risk youth in the state of Oregon. I...
About Me
Hello! I am a retired mental health therapist having worked primarily with at risk youth in the state of Oregon. I have also been actively involved in various roles in church leadership and parachurch ministries. My wife and I were married in 1977. We have two married sons and five grandchildren. We moved to a little town outside of Greenville, SC in 2022 to be closer to these “favorite” people of ours. Following this move I completed a two-year training in spiritual direction through the Soul Shepherding Institute. I currently share the teaching responsibilities and soul care needs at the local church gathering we fellowship at.
Here’s what drives me:
1. Personally, I have an ongoing ache to draw ever closer to Jesus and to further experience the intimacy that He has invited every person into. I have learned however, that this journey is best done in community. I consider it one of my greatest blessings to have spiritual friends that assist me into closer union with God. I long to do my part in helping individuals and groups create this kind of healthy spiritual culture and practice. If I had to choose a “life verse” it would be Philippians 3:10-11: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
2. To that end, I am committed to not just saying “what” we should become but also “how” we get there. How do we practice the way of Jesus in a manner that is not just “checking a box” but truly empowers us to be like Him and do the things that He did. I would love to seek the Lord’s direction with you in discerning how to move Jesus’ truth from head to heart.
3. Having been involved in pastoral leadership and care, I have a particular interest in coming alongside church leaders to help them navigate the joys and heartaches, the victories and pitfalls in their vital role in the body of Christ. Ministry burnout is a real thing. If you find yourself in this place, I would love to support you in discerning a path toward restoring or redefining your next season of ministry.
4. As there are physical and emotional stages of life, so it is in the spiritual. I have found it helpful to understand what stage I am at in the maturing process. This allows me to be more gracious to myself as I grow. When learning to walk I cannot expect of myself to run a marathon and neither does my Father.
In the process of growing there will likely be times of questioning and wondering if we are on the right path or not. What once seemed to make sense is now cloudy. The God who seemed so close now appears to be silent. When navigating these “Walls” we tend to deny them, wonder “what’s wrong with me” or allow them to cause us to walk away from our faith altogether. I want to help people normalize these kinds of questions as a part of the growing process and realize that on the other side of that wall is a richer discovery of the love of God extended to self and neighbor. What felt like deconstruction and despair is resulting in reconstruction and hope.
5. I am a firm believer in the gift of listening to God and to one another as the way to discover the heart and mind of Christ. The ability to share our stories and receive empathy and loyal love is a primary way in which God chooses to bring healing to us.
6. I believe that God uses the Christian Scriptures as a foundation for discerning His ways. It is here that we discover the incarnation of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit who enables us to apply His wisdom to our everyday living. Although this is my home base, I am happy to walk with you if you happen to have a different persuasion.
Even if your area of attention is other than what I have listed above, I would be happy to listen with you believing that God will reveal Himself to your heart. I’m looking forward to meeting you and praying the Lord’s fullness upon us as we strive to grow in our union with Him.
Mark Pollock
