Mark Durene

Thailand
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Mark and Janie have served as missionaries in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, since 1994, where they have been involved in university campus ministry, leadership development, and church planting. Through their “Churches for Churches” program, the Durenes are helping with new church plants in 5 cities, including Teung, where River Valley Church partnered to launch the church. Currently, they are helping to train several other potential church planters, and also serve as mentors to many other pastors throughout the northern Thailand area. In addition, they are the directors of the Global University Thai’s second Bachelor’s program, where they are training current and future Thai ministers. Mark serves as the AGMF Thailand Country Moderator, as well as on several national boards, including Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (Northern region); Every Home for Christ, Thailand; Thailand AG Northern Region Board of Presbyters; and others. Janie writes Sunday school curriculum for several churches and directs the children’s program at a church in Chiang Mai.

First Mission

Mark went on a 2-week trip to Spain in 1979, where they did street evangelism in Barcelona and Madrid and helped set up a large evangelistic crusade in Madrid.

Becoming a Missionary

As a teenager, Mark was impacted by the film, “Jungle Pilot,” a biography of Nate Saint and 4 other missionaries martyred in Ecuador. This led to a passion for missions that in turn led to a Bachelor’s Degree in Missions Education from North Central University, in addition to mission trips to Spain, Alaska, Mexico, and Thailand.

Family

Janie Durene - Wife