About

Welcome to my blog.

I’m Mark Horne, a freelance writer and editor in many subjects and venues, as well as a teacher and trainer.

My most important venture at the moment is my new biography of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Stay tuned.

(A bunch of professional stuff: Under Construction)

Professional Experience

JEFFERSON COLLEGE, HILLSBORO, MISSOURI
Adjunct Instructor, World Religions: January 2011 – Present
Lecture, prepare lesson plans, assignments, and exams to guide students through the world religions course as described in the college catalogue.

Academic Tutor, August 2007 – May 2000. Assisted students, primarily student athletes, with their class work in all subjects, including college algebra and composition.

Academic Service Specialist, August 2008 – May 2009
Provided assistance to students with special needs by researching and ordering materials to aid them in their academic endeavors. Also assisted the college by keeping up-to-date on requirements for the Americans with Disabilities Act and helping the institution to maintain compliance with the ADA.

VERITAS PRESS ON-LINE SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Instructor, Omnibus (Literature based history course), August 2008 – May 2009
Prepared lectures, assignments, and exams for instruction of world history through a literature-based curriculum. Conducted the course for junior high homeschool students and presented materials through a virtual classroom.

PROVIDENCE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
As assistant pastor, my primary responsibility was to research, write, and shape the senior pastor’s sermon series into manuscript form, and create or assist with the creation of theological papers as needed. Table in the Mist: A Commentary on Ecclesiastes is now a published book as a result of this work. I also wrote additional material for the senior pastor.

FIRST REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MINCO, OKLAHOMA
Prepared and preached weekly sermons, prepared and lead weekly worship, wrote weekly column for local newspaper, served as treasurer for the community ministerial alliance, meet regularly with clergy and laypeople from neighboring community, maintained administrative functions of the church, conducted special services as needed (funerals, weddings). (January 2001 – November 2004).

CHRIST THE SOVEREIGN COVENANT CHURCH, AUBURN, WASHINGTON
Prepared and preached weekly sermon, prepared and lead weekly worship, taught women’s Bible study, lead singles’ book study, taught bi-weekly study meeting on Westminster Confession, conducted door-to-door invitations, commenced and completed a 13-minute radio show, taught at men’s meetings, visited families, contacted potential members, designed liturgy and lead worship, dealt with diaconal issues. (November 1998 – November 2000).

PROVIDENCE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Served as an intern (May 1997 – May 1998) who on occasion preached, lead in worship, taught adult Sunday school, and visited hospitalized members. Taught Sunday school for elementary and high school students. Taught adult Bible studies. Lead the women’s Bible study and a men’s community Bible study.

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Conducted adult Sunday school, an ongoing adult Bible study, and one semester of the senior high Sunday school class as a layman. (1992 – 1995)

AUTHOR, FREELANCE WRITER, AND EDITOR
Wrote several articles and contributed to several book projects for various magazines and publishers, including:

• The Dallas Morning News
• Christianity Today magazine
• World magazine
• Thomas Nelson Publishers
• Table Talk magazine
• Moody Publishers
• BreakPoint radio program
• Regnery Publishers
• Legacy Communications (with George Grant)
• Canon Press

BREAKPOINT RADIO, RESTON, VIRGINIA
Writer/Researcher: Wrote radio scripts and promotional copy for Chuck Colson’s radio ministry.
Actively participated in editorial direction and production of the program. (1992)

CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES, FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
Writer and Contributing Editor: Contributed and edited articles and promotional copy for the organization’s publications. Researched information for publications, marketing, television, and radio staffs. (1989 – 1992)

Other things I have done

• Adjunct instructor, Jefferson College, World Religions, (Spring 2011)
• Tutor & Student Services Assistant at Jefferson College, (2007 – 2009)
• Led a seminar on blogging in a computer lab of Jefferson College for faculty (June 2007)
• Presented lectures on Paul’s Perspective in Ephesians at The Martin Bucer Institute for Biblical Studies, April 2005.
• Presented lectures on Ephesians to the Green Valley Bible Conference in Sandalwood, Oklahoma, April, 2005, along with Dr. Don Garlington
• Presented lectures on the Gospels of Luke and Mark to the Green Valley Bible Conference in Sandalwood, Oklahoma, April, 2004, along with Dr. Don Garlington
• Secretary for the Christian Education Committee, N. Texas Presbytery of the PCA, 2004
• Regular religion columnist for the Minco Millennium, a local newspaper, 2001-2004
• Authored The Victory According to Mark: An Exposition of the Second Gospel, Canon Press, September, 2003
• Presented lectures on the book of Mark to the Biblical Horizons summer conference in 2001
• Participated in various community-wide ministries and fostered relationships with clergy and laypeople of other churches, including speaking at the local high school baccalaureate service in 2001, and preaching at the local Baptist church’s tent revival meeting for three consecutive years
• Member, Toastmasters of Auburn, Washington, 1999 – 2000
• Ordained in the Pacific Northwest Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) May 1999 and served as a pastor since November 1998
• Contributed articles or chapters to various publications/ books

A Few Academic Things

• Earned M.Div from Covenant Seminary, May 1998, cum laude
• Awarded the 1997 Aiken Taylor Church History Award for “Legal Fiction or Real Union: John Williamson Nevin’s Controversy with Charles Hodge”
• Research Assistant for American Vision, Atlanta, Georgia, summer 1989
• Received BA in Communication from Houghton College, 1989, minors: sociology, philosophy
• Published poetry in the Houghton College Literary Magazine
• Regular columnist for the Houghton College Star, the weekly campus newspaper
• Coordinator – Symposium on Christianity, Economics, and Social Justice, Houghton College, 1988
• National Merit Scholar upon entering college