Mark Taylor
Current Ministry Role
City First Church — Rockford, IL
September 2020 – Present
Serve in a senior-level pastoral role providing leadership across multiple ministry areas including Life Groups, First Impressions (Guest Experience), and Pastoral Care.
Ministry Profile
Mark Taylor is a seasoned Assemblies of God pastor who develops leaders and strengthens the health of the local church while building systems that support pastoral care, life groups, guest experience, and next gen ministry.
“I care deeply about leading in a way that’s relational, visible, and clear—where responsibility and pastoral authority are aligned.”
Together, Mark and his wife Clarissa serve in pastoral ministry, each carrying significant leadership responsibility and contributing to the health and growth of the local church.
Leadership Impact
- Leading pastoral care for a campus of 3,500, contributing to the spiritual leadership, alignment, and health of the congregation
- Provide leadership structure for 125 Life Groups, developing leaders and supporting systems that help people connect and grow
- Lead First Impressions teams of 100+ volunteers, creating a welcoming and well-executed guest experience that helps people connect and take their next steps
- Continually identify and develop high-capacity Ministry Partners who lead key ministry environments, strengthening teams and producing future staff
Relational Ministry
- Lead across multi-ethnic and multi-generational environments, with a strong ability to connect with Gen Z in premarital and relational discipleship
- Played a key role in stewarding significant ministry resources through trusted relationships across Assemblies of God districts
- Communicate clearly and connect with people in moments of spiritual significance
Before I Suffer
Luke 22:15 NIV
And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” The disciples didn’t fully understand what was about to happen, but Jesus did.
March, 2026
Preparing the Room
Luke 22:8-13 AMP
So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us….” They asked him, “where do you want us to prepare it?”…
March, 2025
Clarissa Taylor
Current Ministry Role
City First Church — Rockford, IL
November 2020 – Present
Clarissa serves as a key ministry leader with proven strength in developing teams, building systems, and leading large-scale environments with excellence.
Ministry Impact
- Lead a Kids Ministry serving 500+ kids weekly, overseeing multiple Sunday environments and a midweek Kids Academy with consistency and excellence
- Develop and lead a team of 100+ volunteers, creating a culture of ownership, loyalty, and high-capacity leadership
- Design and manage complex ministry systems through Planning Center Online, supporting large-scale volunteer coordination and multi-environment execution
- Oversee Champions Club Special Needs Ministry (ages 3–18), creating inclusive environments that support children and families with diverse needs
- Communicate regularly through weekly chapel messages, engaging elementary students with clarity, energy, and age-appropriate spiritual application
- Engage effectively with the next generation through strong awareness of Gen Z culture, communication, and trends, helping bridge relevance and spiritual formation