Mark Wakefield Biography

Mark Wakefield grew up as the son of missionary parents, living most of his childhood in central Mexico. Since 1999 Mark has served the Lord in Western Guatemala in the city of Huehuetenango, having come to this area as a Journeyman with the International Mission Board. In 2000 Mark founded Zona Juvenil Ministries (Youth Zone), an organization focused on providing “Support, Education, and Motivation for unchurched and unbelieving young people”.

After years of raising young men as sons in his home, in 2010 he founded, along with a number of young men he had raised, the Youth Ranch Home. Today this home houses 20+ young men ages 11 – 23. These boys are orphans, cases of abandonment, and many are victims of severe abuse. Mark lives in the home and trains the boys in life skills that will prepare them for a successful life. But more importantly, he says that this is the purest form of discipleship. As Jesus lived with His disciples, there is no better way to lead, learn, and train up a young man than raising him in a Christian home environment.

Mark has recently written a number of books of fables in Spanish, and is now working on books in English. His dream is to write stories that inspire others to live out the life that God has given them, to His fullest. Mark is a 1997 graduate of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, where he studied Psychology and Sociology. He holds a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia.

Mark travels to the US once a year to encourage churches to become active supporters of mission work around the world, and to stretch their hearts and minds outside the confinements of church walls. He also works hard to raise the funding needed to maintain his home and the boys who live there.

Zona Juvenil is a 501-c3 non-profit organization and tax receipts are sent each spring. For more information on Mark, the Youth Ranch Home, or how you can become a partner in this ministry:
Zonajuvenil@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/mark.w.wakefield
Zona Juvenil Ministries
PO Box 862
Boiling Springs, NC 28017.