Mark Cole
Short Bio: Jesus follower, Husband, Father, Worship Leader, Musician, Teacher, Author, Pastor, Founding Arranger for Praisecharts.com, pickleball, squash & tennis player, blogger & outdoor enthusiast.. (biking, hiking, skiing). Twitter: @MarkMCole Facebook: mmcole
Mark has spent over 30 years as a Worship Pastor in some of the largest churches in Canada and is also the founding musical arranger of PraiseCharts.com, a ministry supplying worship charts and orchestrations for thousands of churches around the world. Mark has also spent 10 years travelling around the world to over 60 countries leading worship in outreach situations, doing church consulting, mentoring and coaching worship leaders, teaching seminars and directing bands with many different ministries.
Mark has produced 18 recording projects and over 30 live musical theatre productions, has more than 100 published songs, a popular blog (over 1.7 million readers and 4.7 million reads) and book, plays over a dozen musical instruments and has a Bachelor of Music degree. His teaching on worship have also been published in numerous national online journals.
Mark has worked and played with many well-known Worship Leaders, Pastors, Evangelists and other Christian organizations; including Paul Baloche, Ben Cantelon, Reuben Morgan, Brian Doerksen, Don Moen, Darlene Zschech, Ron Kenoly, Alvin Slaughter, Andrae Crouch, Lamar Boschman, Bob Fitts, Bob Kauflin, Darrell Evans, Graham Kendrick, Phil Driscoll, Chuck Girard, Billy Graham, Kenneth Copeland, Robert Schuller, Pope John Paul II, Kathryn Kuhlman, Terry Law, Charles Ndifon, PromiseKeepers, Integrity Music, CCLI, Word Music, Nicky Cruz, Dr. Cho (Korea), C3 Church, CLA Church, Centre Street Church, churchleaders.com, WorshipTeamTraining.com, worshipideas.com, theworshipmusician.com, leadingworshiptogether.com, worshiptraining.com and others.
Mark has recorded four live worship albums of his own material: To You Lord, God Is My Rock, Move In This City, and Healing In His Hands (Live From Copenhagen). He has written more than 70 praise band arrangements of his own songs.
Mark lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and loves hanging with his wife & family, leading worship at NeighbourhoodChurch.ca , mentoring musicians, consulting for churches, playing ping-pong, tennis and pickleball, riding his mountain and road bikes, skiing (downhill and cross-country), writing music, teaching various instruments and working on his blog: ‘Worship Leaders University’.
Check out Mark’s book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions. This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.
Mark has also been hired by many churches, worship events, individuals and other organizations to do custom arranging, music directing, seminars, worship leading, worship mentoring, recordings and tracks for worship bands, orchestras, solos and choirs. If you would like to use his services, please contact him at mark.cole@mac.com
Here is a link to Mark’s Personal Timeline with photos.
Here is a link to maps of Mark’s Travels
God bless you and this blog! It is amazing.
Are you the one who used to come to Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC) Valley Road Nairobi, Kenya at the time of pastor Deniss White? If so, know that your singing group plus combined NPC choir made a positive impact on the flock.
Yes.. I have great memories from coming to Nairobi.. thanks for the good report!
Hi Mark,
I’m feel blessed that you decided to join our team. I’m so excited about the season ahead with you on the team.
Thanks Larry.. It’s a pleasure to work with you and the team..
Hi Mark,
It is so good to see all the new lyrics you put to the many Christmas Carols, Thank You!
Blessings, Pat (H / B)
Hi Mark! ‘Always love to hear that song “God IS My Rock!” Did you ever do a recording using ‘live’ strings (not ‘canned’ nor digital) – Violin, Viola, Cello, and favored Bull String-Double-Bass – or some of those – to back your vocals? Oh MY! If so – I’d sure love to get such a CD – if you did one.
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of symphonies – worship music. I got to wondering if You had recorded anything like that?
– Belated Christmas and New Years blessings and good Godly wishes to you and yours!
Hey thank Phil… Yes.. I’ve been hired to use write and record a string section a few times.. but I’ve never done a worship music in a symphonic style.. That would be fun..
I have been inspired a lot with what you have shared with us. May God bless you
Thanks so much Cate!
Greetings Brother Mark Cole,
We thank God for your fruitful work for His Kingdom and for His blessings upon you.
In Christ,
Madhava,
India.
https://mercyandgracecharity.com/mercy-grace-ministries/
Hi Mark,
I enjoyed reading your blog. What a blessing it is to read about your many friends. Chris and I reside in Williamsburg Ontario, close to our son and family. I am still sharing my talents and have gigs every week, even though I am now 76. Many years ago you directed a Christmas production entitled ‘Silent Night’ in which I played Hans Gruber, handling a live rat. Would you happen to have a copy of this video or know of anyone who has? I would like to be able to show it to my grand children and great grandchildren.
Hi Dave.. so great to hear from you.. I love that you’re still singing and playing.. I’ll have a look and see if I can find the old VHF.. maybe we can digitize it..