Mark H.

Fryer
3900 Swiss Ave. Apt 510 Dallas, TX 75204 USA Ph: 214 821 8481 E-mail: markfryer@fastmail.fm

Life Goal
When Jesus was asked, in Mark 13:28, what the greatest commandment was, he replied, “Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.”
This became my life goal on a personal retreat in1997 and I believe it will take a lifetime to see it
realized. Significantly, Jesus was not prepared to separate the second commandment from the first.
Therefore, loving God and loving people are the goals of my life and what I desire to be reflected in
my daily living.

Ministry Philosophy
My philosophy of ministry is to equip believers through intentional discipleship, solid bible teaching,
and strong community, with the purpose of strengthening their relationships with Christ and each
other so that they can reach out with Christ's love into their places of influence.
This philosophy has been refined through seeing the benefit of discipleship among believers, and the
need for them to be empowered and freed to reach out to their neighbours and communities.

Core Values
1. Centrality of Christ: Philippians 3:8 “…greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…”
2. Integrity: 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved…”
3. Love: 1 Peter 1:22 “…love one another deeply, from the heart.”
4. Discipline: 1 Timothy 4:16 “Watch you life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them…”
5. Humility: Philippians 2:3 “…in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
6. Teachability: James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…”
 1997
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength
Mark 13:28

Personal Testimony
I was born in 1972, in Invercargill, the middle child in our family. When I was about four years old, I
told my parents that I wanted to become a Christian and placed my faith in Christ at that time. I
gained assurance of my salvation through a church camp when I was ten years old, when I was
counseled by the camp speaker that God is true to his word. That gave me confidence and I look
back at that time as a place of recommitment to the LORD.

My parents had me involved in youth work from about the age of twelve and my youth involvement
continued until I came to DTS in 2002, with a three year break while at University. After coming home
from University in 1994, I began getting steadily deeper into youth work at our assembly, Elles Road
Bible Chapel. In 1997 I began co-leading the youth work at the chapel with a newly employed youth
worker. Over the next six years, together with our leadership team, we were consistently reaching
and discipling about 150 children and teenagers each week.

In1997 I began having annual personal retreats and it was during these times that I began to wonder
if the LORD would have me move into vocational ministry. However, it was not until a Totara Springs
Winter Bible School in 2001 that I was confronted with the fact that if Paul needed training for
ministry, then who was I to not seek some intensive training for whatever the LORD had for my future.
Confident of the LORD’s leading, I applied for Dallas Theological Seminary three months later, and
am now entering my 5th year of the Master of Theology Program.

While at DTS I met Kristen Detwiler, an MABS student, who became my wife on June 11, 2005.
Kristen is from Pennsylvania and we have enjoyed learning the paths of married life over the last
year. Kristen has been to New Zealand twice now and we are both seeking the LORD’s will as to
where he would have us contribute within the body of Christ in New Zealand. Lord willing, we will both
graduate in May, 2007, and we are looking forward to returning to New Zealand in middle of 2007.

Tertiary Education:
Dallas Theological Seminary
2002-2007 Master of Theology (Th.M.), New Testament and Pastoral Minstry, 2007
Lincoln University
1991-1993 Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com. Hort), major in Horticultural Management
1993 Post Graduate Diploma in Commerce
Otago University
1990 Began Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), transferred to Lincoln University 1991
 1998
I consider everything a loss compared with the
surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord
Phil 3:8

Vocational Experience:
2005- Present Stonebriar Community Church, Frisco, TX (20-25 hours per week)
See Ministry Experience section for details of roles
• Assistant to the Pastor of Adult Fellowships (2005-Present)
• Assistant to the Pastor of Ministry Training (2006-Present)

2002- Present Dallas Seminary Book Center, Dallas,TX (15-20 hours per week)
• Sales Clerk (2002-2006) Retail sales to students
• Category Supervisor (2006) Ordering and maintaining store category

1994-2002 Fryers Nursery, Invercargill

Sales and Marketing Manager (1996- 2002)
• Visiting south island customers fortnightly with product
• Liaising with head offices of garden and hardware chains
• Product presentations
• Telephone sales
• Market analysis
• Product planning and sales analysis
• New label design
• Planning and execution of Trade Day shows

Nursery Supervisor (1995- 1996)

• Employee supervision
• Retail sales
• Sales dispatch
• Propagation
 1999
Delight yourself in the LORD
and He will give you the desires of your heart
Psalm 37:4

Ministry Experience:
Teaching & Preaching to Adults
2004- Present Life on Purpose, an Adult Bible Class of 100, at Stonebriar Community Church
• Sermon on Psalm 8 (2006)
• Series on the life of King Saul (2006)
• Mini-series on the New Testament hymns about Christ (2005)
• Mini-series on the Lord’s Supper (2005)
• Sermon on life of Jacob (2005)
• Sermon on the “One Another” passages of the New Testament (2005)
• Sermon on the book of Ruth (2004)

2006 The Masters Class, an adult bible class of 40 at Fellowship Dallas, Dallas, TX
Substitute teacher

2006 One for One, an adult bible class of 75 at Stonebriar Community Church
Substitute teacher

2005 Home Improvement, an adult bible class of 80 at Stonebriar Community Church

Substitute Teacher

2005 Pioneer Bible Church, a church of 150, Ponca City, Oklahoma

Pulpit Supply Preacher

2002-2003 Elles Road Bible Chapel, a church of 100, Invercargill NZ

• Christmas message (2004)
• 'God’s Mission' series (2003)
• Ephesians series (2002)
• Youth service message (2002)
 2001
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Eph 4:32

Leadership Training
2006- Present Stonebriar Community Church, a church of 3000, Frisco Texas
Assistant to the Pastor of Ministry Training involving responsibilities in:
• Setting up internships with seminary students
• Formulating goals and strategies with Interns
• Evaluating resources for use in ministry training
• Leading weekly internship meetings in the pastor’s absence
• Planning and designing of ministry training policies and procedures
• Design and evaluation of Internet ministry training information
• Liaising with mentors of interns to determine internship performance
• Accompanied interns on trip around Texas, meeting church leadership

Internship
2004-2006 Internship Training Program at Stonebriar Community Church
Training and experience gained in the following areas:
• Mentored by VP of Pastoral Ministries at Insight for Living (2004/2005)
• Leadership Team member of “Life on Purpose” (LOP), a Class of 100*
• Missions coordinator for LOP (2004/2005)
• Weekly Class Facilitator for LOP, welcoming people, giving notices etc*
• Responsible to set up and coach Care Groups within LOP*
• Carried out hospital visitation
• Assisted the Pastor of Adult Fellowships in areas of need*
• Met regularly with Pastor of Adult Fellowships to be mentored (2005/6)
• Met weekly with all interns (about 10) for group interaction about ministry
• Read books throughout internship to strengthen future ministry
• Participated twice in 3 day trips around Texas, meeting church leaders*

• Those items marked with an asterisk continued after the internship period
 2002
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do
Eph 2:10

Small Groups
2005- Present Stonebriar Community Church, a church of 3000, Frisco Texas
Assistant to the Pastor of Adult Fellowships involving responsibilities in:
• Leading and administrating a weekly Small Group study (2005-2007)
• Setting up and coaching a group of Small Group leaders (2005-2007)
• Three months of intensive Small Group leading and coaching training (2006)
• Leading a group of Community Care Group leaders (2005-2007)
• Designing promotional material for church-wide Small Groups (2006)
• Planning and implementing Small Groups church-wide (2006-2007)

Youth Work
1998-2002 Co-led youth work at Elles Road Bible Chapel, a church of 100, Invercargill NZ
Experience and skills gained in the following areas:
• Leading and operating youth groups, totally about 150 youth each week
• Working with children and youth, ages 11 years through early 20s.
• Child and youth evangelism
• Preparing & leading several bible study and discipleship groups
• Delivering regular bible talks
• Overseeing a leadership team
• All aspects of youth camp organizing
• Organizing and coordinating special Sunday youth programmes
• Children’s holiday programmes
• Fundraising

1994-1997 Leader in youth groups at Elles Road Bible Chapel

1993 President of the Lincoln University Christian Fellowship
1992 Cell Group leader in the Lincoln University Christian Fellowship
1984-1990 Leader in Boys Rally and youth groups at Elles Road Bible Chapel
 2006
I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing
John 15:5

International Ministry Experiences

2004 Study trip to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt with IBEX (Israel Bible Extension)
• Three week tour of Israel and Jordan with IBEX, a Master’s Seminary extension
2003 Mission trip to Mexico
• Helped lead a university group in building homes for nationals
2002 Mission trip to Bhutan (between India and China)
• Taught and encouraged believers at a conference on the India/Bhutan border

Recreational Interests
• Tramping & camping,
• Touch Rugby & running,
• Eating with friends

References
Dr Mark Young Professor of Missions, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas TX
Pastor of Strategic Development & Ministry Training,
Stonebriar Community Church, Frisco TX
Ph: 972 380 5070 (H) Email: MarkY@stonebriar.org

Mr Rhome Dyck Director, Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, Frisco TX

Former Pastor of Adult Fellowships, Stonebriar Community Church
Ph: 469 362 3520 (M) Email: RhomeD@reclaimingthemind.org

Dr Bryce Klabunde Vice President of Pastoral Ministries, Insight for Living, Plano TX
Ph: 972 668 3226 (H) Email: BryceK@insight.org

Mr Kevin Stern General Manager, Dallas Seminary Bookcenter, Dallas TX

Ph: 214 320 0531 (H) Email: kstern@dts.edu

Mr Geoff Hemmingsen Former Elder and Teacher, Personal Mentor, Elles Road Bible Chapel,
Invercargill NZ,
Ph: 03 216 9090 (H) Email: gv.hemmingsen@xtra.co.nz