Life Worth Living Ministries was founded by Mark Bordeaux in 1995 for the purpose of providing a platform to engage, equip, and encourage people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Mark chose the name "Life Worth Living" because he personally found that following Jesus has given him a life of meaning, purpose, peace, and fulfilment. God desires everyone to experience a real and personal relationship with Him and live the life they were born to live.
Mark's journey began in Jacksonville, Florida when, as a student at Trinity Christian Academy, he heard the Good News that God truly loves people, but we are separated from Him because of our sin. Each of us have not only inherited a propensity to disobey, but have chosen to go our own way, rather than God's way and experience a personal relationship with Him.
In his own words...
"Although I had been a church member since my childhood, I realized that I knew "about" God, but did not "know" God in a real and personal way. The realization that God loved us and paid the ultimate price for our sin by sending His Son to be our sacrifice on the cross and rise from the dead to rescue us became clear. I also realized that if I did not surrender to God and by faith accept His Son's sacrifice for my sin, I would continue to be alienated from God.
Even though I did not know much about the Bible and certainly did not know the evidences for it's accuracy, I knew enough to respond to God. One afternoon after school, I was alone in my home and knelt and prayed to God. I simply asked Him to forgive me of my sin and take me to Heaven when I died. I was truly sorry for being a sinner and sincerely asked Him to save me.
When I finished praying and had trusted God to save me it was as though the separation between God and me, that I sensed earlier, was removed. In child-like terms I knew I was not 'in trouble' anymore and that God had forgiven me. In my mind, it was almost as though Jesus had His arms wide-open saying, 'It's alright now!'"
As a college student, Mark grew in his commitment to Jesus as he attended Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Regularly hearing the Bible taught and preached as well as being around other young people who loved Jesus helped his commitment deepen.
Mark continued to mature in his relationship with God as a member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. Not only did he grow in his commitment to Christ while at First Baptist following Christ he met the love of his life, Debbie, who has been his partner in life and ministry ever since.
His first experience of introducing someone to a relationship with Jesus by sharing the Good News was at First Baptist. Later, he was invited to preach at the city rescue mission and was amazed when five men professed to receive Christ. The joy of having a part in what God was doing sharpened his focus even more.
After graduating with a degree in Broadcast Management he chose to serve God in Christian broadcasting. His first job following college was as the program director of a Christian radio station. He began receiving invitations to speak at area churches. Again, people responded to God's invitation of salvation. His call to full-time ministry continued to be confirmed.
When he heard that a local church was searching for a youth minister he applied. The church called him to serve and he left broadcasting and began the adventure of full-time ministry.
Since beginning as a youth minister he has served as an associate pastor, pastor, and senior pastor. He has been humbled to serve in eight churches in five states over a period of 30 years.
Additionally, he has made annual trips to the former Soviet Union since 1995 to train Russian and Ukrainian pastors and church planters as well as assist International Mission Board personnel in evangelism and church planting projects. He continues to study Russian and often brings groups to experience international missions first hand.
Mark desires to glorify God and further His Kingdom by helping people discover life worth living in Jesus Christ.
Vitae
Mark A. Bordeaux
1030 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC 29150
803-236-6275
lifeworthliving@hotmail.com
Blog: www.markbordeaux.com
Ministry: www.lifeworthlivingministries.com
PERSONAL
Birth date: September 21, 1959
Married: September 12, 1981
Spouse: Debra McCoy Bordeaux
Father: Alton Bordeaux (now lives with us since he suffered a stroke)
Children: Mark, Jr. - December 1, 1984; Lauren – March 8, 1991
STATEMENT OF FAITH
I fully agree with The Baptist Faith and Message
MINISTRY
Communicator, Coach, Consultant - Life Worth Living Ministries
September 2011 - Present
Senior Pastor - Westside Baptist Church, Sumter, SC
March 1999 – September 2011
Pastor - Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church, Baxley, GA
January 1993 – March 1999
Pastor - New Haven Baptist Church, Oneida, TN
October 1990 – January 1993
Associate Pastor/Interim Pastor - Elaine Baptist Church, Elaine, AR
March 1988 – May 1990
Minister of Youth - Mandarin Baptist Church, Mandarin, FL
February 1985 – March 1986
Associate Pastor/Minister to Youth - Faith Memorial Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
October 1981 – August 1985
Youth Director - Calvary Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
March 1981 – August 1981
EDUCATION
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth, Louisville, KY
Doctorate in Church Growth and Evangelism
Anticipated Graduation Spring 2013
The Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN
Master in Divinity with languages
May 1990
The Luther Rice Bible College, Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor in Biblical Studies
May 1987
Jones College, Jacksonville, FL
Associate in Science; Broadcast Management
May 1980
LICENSING AND ORDINATION
Licensed for the Gospel Ministry
Faith Memorial Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
Pastor James Branch
November 1984
Ordained into the Gospel Ministry
Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, TN
Pastor Adrian Rogers
November 1990
MISSIONS
• Moscow, Perm, and Ufa Russia – May 2011
• Ufa and Perm Russia – September 2008
• Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia – 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007
• Moscow, Russia and Yalta, Ukraine – 2000
• Yalta, Ukraine – Yalta Bible College – 1998
• Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Church Planting School – September 1997
• Galeana, Mexico – December 1997
• Barnaul, Siberia, Russia, Altai Bible College – September 1996
• Led youth Mission trip from Elaine, Arkansas to mission in Jacksonville, Florida – 1989
OTHER MINISTRY EXPERIENCES
• General Chairman of Sumter Regional Crusade, 2011
• Evangelism Team Leader, Santee Baptist Association, 2001 – 2004
• Board Member, Light of Hope Ministries – Crisis Pregnancy Ministry, 2001 – 2004
• Began Men’s Discipleship Group – “The Leading Men Ministry,” 1997 – 2006, 2009 – 2011
• Chaplain, Thomas Sumter Academy football, 2001 – 2002
• General Chairman, Greater Southeast Georgia Rick Gage Crusade, 1998
• Sunday School Director, Consolation Baptist Association, 1995 - 1999
• President of Student Government, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 1989 – 1990
• General Chairman, Florida Youth Evangelism Conference, 1984
• Youth Director, Jacksonville Baptist Association, 1982 – 1984
• Chaplain, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Robert E. Lee High School, Jacksonville, Florida, 1982 – 1984
MINISTRY CERTIFICATIONS
MasterLife, Continuing Witness Training, Great Commission Breakthrough Consultant, Prepare/Enrich Marriage Counselor, FAITH Evangelism
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I will be most happy to provide a written or oral testimony of how the Lord Jesus Christ saved me, called me to the ministry, and what He is doing in my life today.
LEISURE
Most of all, I treasure time with my family. I also enjoy training, rescuing, and doing therapy work with German Shepherds as well as coaching High School Baseball, working out at our local YMCA, playing in a men’s baseball league and even skydiving.
REFERENCES
Dr. Dick Lincoln, Senior Pastor
Shandon Baptist Church
5250 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206-5403
(803) 782-1300
dick@shandon.org
Hal Mayer, Ph.D., Lead Pastor
The Church At The Bay
12717 Tar Flower Drive, Tampa, FL 33626
(813) 579-3978
hal@churchatthebay.com
Thomas Hammond, GPS Leader NAMB
3179 Lauren Nicole Lane
Buford GA 30519
(404) 406-1879
thammond@namb.net
Buck Burch, Lead State Missionary
Georgia Baptist Convention
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097
770-936-5241
bucbur@gmail.com
Rick Gage, Evangelist
P.O. Box 2138, Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 757-3450
Dr. Tommy Ferrell, Lead Pastor
Briarlake Baptist Church, 3715 Lavista Road
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 325-4214
Dr. Chris Carr, Strategy Coordinator
International Mission Board
Bashkortostan, Russia
011-7-347-250-6195
chrcarr@gmail.com
Allen Jones, Minister to Students
Westside Baptist Church
554 Pinewood Road, Sumter, SC 29154
(803) 479-3788
namiste@hotmail.com
Harold and Shirley Stewart
6 Frederick Ct, Sumter, SC 29150
803-775-5903
Maureen Dunton, Principal
Westside Christian Academy
554 Pinewood Road
Sumter, SC 29154
(803) 983-9043
mdunton@sc.rr.com
Ralph Pressley
2759 Livesy Tr.
Tucker, GA 30084
(404) 281-4930
ralphpressley@bellsouth.net
Dean Johnson
475 Mallard Drive
Sumter, SC 29150
(803) 840-1660
jod1@earthlink.net
Pete Anderson
3350 Butterworth Cir, Sumter, SC 29154
(803) 468-6075
Pete_Anderson@mail.ftc.org
Steve and Terri Newman
1205 Warwick Dr., Sumter, SC 29154
(803) 847-0305
stevenetzero@netzero.com
Greg and Tina Jeffers
877 Smith Road, Oneida, TN 37841
(423) 215-2777
greg@customgregs.com
James and Lisa Minick
297 Poor Robin Road Ext., Baxley, GA 31513
(912) 367-9722
jlminick@netscape.net
Greg and Sandra Ross
2820 Ravines Road
Middleburg, FL 32068
(904) 282-7509
gandsross@aol.com
Additional references available upon request
