Bio

Dr. Mark D. Berry

Dr. Mark D. Berry was born on the eastern shore of Virginia. His pastoral ministry spans 25 years as senior pastor of four churches in Pennsylvania and Alabama. He attended United Wesleyan College in Allentown, PA., receiving a B.S. degree in Pastoral Ministry and Christian Education in 1982. He began graduate studies in Professional Counseling at Liberty University, and then completed a master's degree in Pastoral Counseling at Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, IL. Dr. Berry graduated from NOVA Southeastern University (NSU) in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 2008 with a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and a minor in Conflict Management (NSU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).

Dr. Berry has taught for Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) of Nampa, ID in their online module program and is an online adjunct professor for Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, CO, Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN, and Mid America Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK. He has also taught for the Williamson Bible Institute on the Mid-Atlantic District Church of the Nazarene as well as the Alabama School of Ministry on the Alabama South/North Nazarene Districts. When Dr. Berry was assigned as the Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR) training coordinator he wrote training materials for Emergency Disaster Response and brought together a team of individuals to write two additional manuals for NDR training. Hence, his dissertation thesis was, "A Development Plan for Domestic Disaster Response Training in the Church of the Nazarene." Before election, he was in the developmental stage of creating online Nazarene Disaster Response Training in cooperation with NNU, which is the first of its kind in any religious organization.

Dr. Berry has had articles published in the "Holiness Today", "The Preacher's Magazine", "Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Magazine" and "Wheels of Grace". He was a seminar speaker for PALCON and the NMI General Convention. He has served at Trevecca Nazarene University as a Trustee and on the Executive Board. He served as coordinator for Nazarenes in military service at Fort Rucker Military Base in Alabama, and a chaplain for Workplace Ministries.

In previous years, Dr. Berry's wife, Debi, has worked with him in the local church office as an administrative assistant to the staff and office manager. Presently, she serves the same position in the district office. She is a graduate of United Wesleyan College and holds a B.S. degree in Christian Education and Secretarial Science. She enjoys freelance writing and has had articles published in Christian publications.

The Berrys have two children who both are graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) in Nashville, TN. Andrew completed a master's degree in Business Management at TNU and is a Ph.D. candidate. His studies are in the field of Information Systems. Presently, Andrew is an Assistant Professor at TNU. Jennifer graduated with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a Master's of Library Science and Information and teaches first grade in the Nashville area.

Dr. Berry enjoys golf, hunting, and riding his 06 Harley Ultra Classic for relaxation and fellowship. He is proficient on the drums, enjoys trying to play the bass, attempts the guitar, and plays harmonica for his own enjoyment.

Dr. Berry took office on June 3, 2007 as district superintendent of the Alabama South District Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Berry and his wife reside in Prattville, Alabama.

Dissertation