The word contemporary literally means that something has characteristics of the present. Anything contemporary is similar to the things that define the current time. Christian classics were so beloved that they were protected well beyond copyright. They were, and still are, referred to as standards. If contemporary meant changing the standards, it was doomed in Christian music. Fortunately, contemporary Christian music (CCM) didn’t threaten the hymns and Spiritual songs of yesterday. Instead, it met a new generation right where they were. On Sunday morning, the hymns were the same as always. But on Friday night, college groups would gather to hear guys like Larry Norman playing the music they loved with a new message. The lyrics weren’t political. They weren’t about falling in love. They were Christian lyrics buried in rock and roll music and history was made.

One of the Pioneers of this new music was Pat Terry, a young rocker from Georgia who says he was tapping his toes to the music of B. B. King at three years old. He kept that rhythm and bought the Beatles records like everyone else did. Pat began writing at an early age. His faith was often expressed in his lyrics and the music had the obvious influence of his generation. Thus, contemporary and Christian, a.k.a., CCM..

Mark was invited to a Bible Study in nearby Smyrna, Georgia one Tuesday night. Before the Bible was opened, Three young guys walked out on stage with the charisma of the rock and rollers who had recently taken another stage in Woodstock. Randy Bugg had the long hair, Pat was tall and blonde with an amazing voice. Sonny Lallerstendt was the most incredible guitarist Mark had ever heard before. "I was uncomfortable at first," recalls Mark, "This music was sounding like rock and roll and we were at a Bible study." Soon, the crowds reaction began to impress Mark. "Everyone was standing up, clapping and singing along. I was standing there just dreaming. I knew I wanted to do what The Pat Terry Group was doing."

By age 16, Mark was introducing this music to the small church where he attended in Powder Springs, Georgia. Still listening to rock and roll and folk artists like Bob Dylan, singing the old standards in the choir on Sunday and still following Pat’s work, Mark began writing in his own style which was influenced by all of these music genres. He found himself in a sub-genre within a sub-genre. He refers to it as Folk Christian. Playing minor chords and sevens on his acoustic guitar, Mark wrote God Alone after reading Psalm 62. It’s a story telling song that has a folk feel with Christian lyrics. Most of Mark’s writing still falls in this new sub-genre and it often leans to the southern-rock side. Other songs are almost all country. Some sound a little like 50's or 60's rock with a happy-days-happy-go-lucky-juke-box feel.

Mark is a speaker as well as a singer/songwriter. He has served with praise teams and played with several Christian recording Artists. He has been youth leader and teacher. Mark has also held many offices alongside ministry leaders. He has recently turned all of his ministry focus to the studio work and the release of his first CD Folk Christian. It has 11 songs written by Mark. This CD demonstrates Mark’s varied background in ministry and music. With the help of Jeff Earle, he captures this style and sub-genre with scripturally sound themes. The CD has already won several awards and the song, Thank You Bill , which he wrote for his brother Bill, is being played on folk stations around the world. The project is getting a lot of praise.