Mark Zerna

Australia Training Team

I am 68 years  of age and I live in Adelaide, South Australia. I am married with three children and four beautiful granddaughters. My wife’s name is Valerie and we have been married for 43 years. I love reading, gardening and sport. I grow orchids for a hobby and play golf regularly. In the past (when I was younger), I also played football, cricket, tennis, basketball and volleyball.

I was a teacher for 37 years. I started as a primary school teacher and then I began working with children with disabilities which I did for the last 20 years of my teaching, and really loved it. I have a teaching degree, a post graduate diploma and a Masters Degree, all in education. I always thought I would be a teacher but seven years ago God directed me towards a change of direction and I am now an associate pastor at Elizabeth Church of Christ in Adelaide. It is something I would never have thought I would have the ability or confidence to undertake. This has been a great experience for me especially when I look at my involvement in Jobs for Life.

I have a strong passion to reach the lost and was involved in leading short term mission teams to Vanuatu for over a ten years. I also love teaching the Bible and have led small groups for over 40 years.  I also have a passion to support those who are on the margins of society. Over the last 6 years I have been mentoring a number of men who have struggled with poverty, addiction and homelessness. I support our church food programme and have recently started a programme to provide shelter for homeless people.

When I first heard about Jobs for Life I was amazed that I had not heard about it sooner, as it is not only an amazing course but it made so much sense theologically and philosophically.  I was even more amazed when I found out it had never been run in Australia before! It was as I was thinking this through that I sensed a strong call from God to help start a course in Australia. We have been running a Jobs for Life in Adelaide now for  three years and it has been exciting to see the impact it has had on so many lives. I look forward to seeing what God will do with the course in the future.