B. Mark Moore

B. Mark Moore went home to his Lord and Savior on October 23, 2014 after an extended illness. He was 91 years old. He was born and raised in Huntington, Indiana, and enrolled at Hanover College. His studies were interrupted by the beginning of World War II. Mark enlisted in the Navy Air Corps and became a pilot. He served aboard the aircraft carrier Midway, which was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan. The invasion was cancelled after two atomic bombs brought Japan's surrender. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, Mark returned to school, enrolling in the college of business at Indiana University. After graduation in 1948 Mark was hired by Pontiac Motors as a district salesman. He moved Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he worked for a dealership and travelled through various western states. In 1952, while serving in the Naval Reserve, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He spent two years as a flight instructor for new pilots, teaching meteorology and principles of aerodynamics. During his time in Colorado Springs Mark's life was transformed forever when he made the decision to invite Jesus Christ into his life. He called it ""the single most important moment of my life"", and dedicated himself to going anywhere God called him. He began to feel the call toward full-time ministry, and enrolled in San Anselmo Theological Seminary in San Francisco. While in seminary he met Nancy Jo Cook. They were married on March 10, 1956. Early in their marriage they worked in Ft. Lupton, Colorado at a migrant camp, where Mark was the youth director and Nancy was the camp nurse. Their family grew when Cindy Jane was born in September of 1957. Mark and Nancy felt called to the international mission field, and in 1958 began their journey. After missionary training in New Jersey, they boarded a ship for Brazil. After a year of language training in Campinas, Brazil, during which Linda Jean was born in 1959, they were assigned to Rosario Oeste, Mato Grosso, deep in the interior of the Brazilian continent. Mark's assignment was to pastor the growing church in Rosario, but also to be a remote pastor to 9 other congregations in small settlements that were only accessible by air. He would fly into the tiny jungle villages and conduct baptisms, communion, and marriages, and preach and lead music while accompanying the service on his accordion. Over the course of their time in Brazil, Mark piloted several small planes, including a Cessna 172, affectionately known by its call letters as Charlie Mike Hotel. In 1963 Debby was born, and Mark was forever outnumbered by the girls in his life . After 10 years in Brazil, Mark and Nancy chose to return home because of the limited availability of schooling for the girls. Mark was called to be the assistant pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado. He began his ministry there on January 1, 1969, and served well and faithfully in many areas, including as coordinator and trainer for the Bethel Bible series, head of the deacons, and founder of several small group ""Koinonias"", including John II, which continues today, more than 50 years later! He served as chaplain and counselor for the Colorado amputee ski association, and loved skiing and whitewater rafting adventures with them. Mark retired from Faith Church in 1985, but he and Nancy knew their ministry was not finished. Mark accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Union Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and for 2 years he and Nancy continued to serve back in the country they both loved so much. After returning to Aurora, they continued to be involved in various ministry projects, and especially loved spending time being grandpa and grandma to 9 grandchildren: Jill, Jenna, Joshua, Sara Beth, Connor, Joy, Grace, Wesley, and Jeremy, and a great-granddaughter, Ava Isabel. Mark always loved to travel, and was able to visit many parts of the world. He loved the Hawaiian Islands and cruising in various parts of the world, and enjoyed several visits to the Middle East and the Holy Land. He kept an extensive collection of slides, pictures, and video and was always up for new adventures. He loved to ski, play golf, walk, swim and travel. Music was one of his many talents, and he sang in Faith's choir in his later years. Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2005. He continued to stay as active as possible until the disease took its toll on his body. In 2012 he moved into St. Andrews Care facility full-time. Although his body continued to grow weaker, he never wavered in love or in prayer. Until the end his mind was focused on heaven and on people knowing Jesus, and his greatest legacy continues to live on in the lives of all those he has touched. Mark is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughters Cindy (Jerry), Linda (Bill), Debby (Owen), his ""brown-haired daughter"" KimTyson, his 9 grandchildren, 1 great-granddaughter, his sister, Jane Black, and several nieces and nephews. Biography: Benjamin Mark Moore was born at home in Huntington, Indiana, the fourth child of Paul Moore, a furniture store owner, and Helen Moore, a homemaker. He enjoyed a loving and secure childhood with his older brothers Joe and Tom, older sister Jane, and younger sister Elizabeth. When Mark (he never really liked the name Benjamin) was 18 years old, he enrolled in Hanover College. His studies were interrupted by the beginning of World War II. Both his older brothers enlisted in the service, and sadly, Joe was killed in an aviation training accident. Ironically, Joe and Mark both died on the same day: October 23. His death motivated Mark to join the Naval Air Corps and fulfill his dream to become a pilot. After pilot training, which included flight training on a carrier deck, he earned his wings and was commissioned. He flew Avengers and other combat aircraft. He was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan, which was cancelled after two atomic bombs brought Japan's surrender. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, Mark returned to school, enrolling in the college of business at Indiana University. He belonged to the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and was considered quite the ladies man. After graduation in 1948, Mark was hired by Pontiac Motors as a salesman. He moved Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he worked for a dealership and travelled through various western states. In 1952?, while serving in the Naval Reserve, he was recalled to active duty. He spent two years in Pensacola, Florida, as a flight instructor for new pilots, teaching meteorology and principles of aerodynamics. At the end of his service he returned to Colorado Springs, where he sold real estate and Renaware Cookware, and won several awards for his sales abilities. His goal at that time was to become a millionaire and build a mansion in Colorado Springs. During his time in Colorado Springs his mother suggested he go to church to meet a nice girl. Having been raised in the Presbyterian Church, he chose Colorado Springs Presbyterian, and began attending events regularly. He was increasingly challenged there about needing to make a personal decision to invite Jesus Christ into his life. He made that decision, calling it ""the single most important moment of my life"", and dedicated himself to going anywhere God called him. He began to feel the call toward full-time ministry, and enrolled in San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. During a retreat for young adults at Forest Home Retreat center, he sat across the table from a beautiful young lady who introduced herself as Nancy Jo Cook. Mark invited her to join him for a meal, and the next meal, and a walk in the moonlight that night. There, sitting on a log under the beautiful California stars, romance blossomed. Excitement increased when she informed him that she was in her last year of nurses' training in San Francisco. The two soon knew they were meant to be together, and were married on March 10, 1956. Early in their marriage they worked in Ft. Lupton, Colorado at a migrant camp, where Mark was the youth director and Nancy was the camp nurse. Their family grew when Cindy Jane was born in September of 1957. Both Mark and Nancy were passionate about Jesus and sharing His love with the world. After much prayer, they felt called to the international mission field, and in 1958 began their journey. After training in New Jersey, they boarded a ship for Brazil. After a year of language training in Campinas, Brazil, during which Linda Jean was born, they were assigned to Rosario Oeste, Mato Grosso, deep in the interior of the Brazilian continent. Mark had often wondered what use his Navy pilot training could be on the mission field. But God knew long before he did how he intended to use those skills! Mark's assignment was to pastor the growing church in Rosario, but also to be a remote pastor to 9 other congregations in tiny settlements that were only accessible by air. Having learned to land and take off on the very limited space of a carrier deck was exactly what was needed on the remote, hilly, and often precarious landing strips carved out of the thick Brazilian jungle. He would taxi the plane to the edge of the bumpy dirt airstrip and climb out, unload his folding bike, hammock, and accordion, and walk or pedal miles into the tiny hamlet. There, he would conduct baptisms, communion, marriages, and preach the message of God's salvation, as well as leading worship and accompanying the service on his accordion (more early training that God didn't let go to waste!) Over the course of their time in Brazil, Mark piloted several small planes, including a Cessna 172, affectionately known by its call letters as Charlie Mike Hotel. Nancy's assignment included running a clinic out of their house in Rosario, where no medical care was available. In some cases her clinic was the only place in more than 100 miles to treat urgent medical problems, and she saw and treated many difficult cases. Mark also joined with Nancy to do urgent medical evacuations from the small villages to the nearest large city where hospital care was available. Mark, Nancy, and Charlie Mike Hotel were responsible for saving many lives. But even more important to them was leading people to eternal life. Mark was gifted as an evangelist, and was passionate about leading people to know and accept Jesus as he had. The exact number is unknown, but certainly hundreds, maybe thousands of people will be in heaven because of his willingness to share the message of salvation with them. After 10 years in Brazil, Mark and Nancy chose to return home because of the limited availability of schooling for the girls. Dad was called to be the assistant pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado. He began his ministry there on January 1, 1969, and served well and faithfully in many areas, including as coordinator and trainer for the Bethel Bible series, head of the deacons and founder of several small group ""Koinonias"", including John II, which continues today, more than 50 years later! He also served as chaplain and counselor for the Colorado Amputee Ski Association, and spent many enjoyable hours skiing and whitewater rafting with them. At the time, Faith church had between 4 and 5000 members. In those days Dean would preach and Mark would pray every Sunday morning and everyone was truly blessed! Dean would run the session and Mark would run the deacons. There were over 50 deacon couples in those days and Mark was a wonderful, humble leader. After 10 years of service at Faith, in 1979 the church decided to honor Mark and Nancy with a program called ""Let's Remember Love"" in the large sanctuary of the church. The sanctuary was almost completely full with church members and visitors, many from other states and countries. At one point during the program people in the sanctuary were asked to stand if Mark or Nancy Moore led them to Christ. Almost half of the entire sanctuary stood and everyone applauded The other half then rose to their feet and also stood and everyone continued to applaud! Now the angels in heaven are applauding the reunion of Mark and many of the believers he helped lead to a saving faith. Mark's life was spared many times over the years, as God knew there were more people who needed to hear about Jesus through him. He walked away from two plane crashes in the Navy and was miraculously saved during a very serious bicycle accident in 1975. He had 4 artificial knee replacements during his life, which allowed him to keep active. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed walking, swimming, playing golf, and traveling, whether by road or air. He was always excited for new adventures. Mark retired from Faith Church in 1985, but he and Nancy knew their ministry was not finished. Mark accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Union Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and for 2 years he and Nancy continued to serve back in the country they both loved so much. After returning to the US, Mark and Nancy spent 5 years in Southern California caring for Nancy's father, Kenneth Cook. After his passing, they returned to Aurora, where they continued to be involved in various ministry projects. Mark especially loved spending time being a wonderful dad to 4 girls, including his ""brown-haired daughter"", KimTyson, and a fun-loving grandpa to 9 grandchildren: Jill, Jenna, Joshua, Sara Beth, Connor, Joy, Grace, Wesley, and Jeremy. Mark always loved to travel, and was able to visit many parts of the world. In addition to South America, he was able to visit all of his daughters as they did missionary work:, Cindy and Don in Brazil, Linda during her service in Truk Islands of Micronesia and Debby and Owen in Afghanistan . He loved the Hawaiian Islands and cruising in various parts of the world, and led several tours to the Middle East and the Holy Land. He kept an extensive collection of slides, pictures, and video and was always up for new adventures. Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2005. He continued to stay as active as possible until the disease took its toll on his body. In 2012 he moved into St. Andrews Care facility full-time, and our family will be forever grateful for the wonderful care of the staff, who loved Mark. Although his body continued to grow weaker, he never wavered in love or in prayer. Until the end his mind was focused on heaven and on people knowing Jesus, and his greatest legacy continues to live on in the lives of all those he has touched. Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into my rest."" Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 11373 E. Alameda Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed online. Here are viewing instructions: 1. Go to: http://www.faithpc.org/index.cfm/PageID/802/index.html 2.Click ""Live...Click here"". 3.If you are unable to view the service live, it will also be available in the ""On-Demand Archives"" on the left side of the page afterwards In lieu of flowers, Mark requested donations to the missionary fund of Faith Church. Checks can be sent to Faith Presbyterian Church, with the note ""Missions"" in the memo line.