Pastor Mark Trotter

Pastor Mark Gregory Trotter, of Dallas, Georgia and formerly of New Philadelphia, entered into the presence of the Lord on his 64th birthday, Saturday, February 20, 2021. For the past months, Mark had gracefully and courageously fought a battle with cancer.

Born in Miami, Florida on February 20, 1957, Mark was a son of the late Albert Franklin and Peggy Delores (McCullers) Trotter and attended Miami Carol City Senior High School and graduated from Dade Christian school, Hialeah, Florida.

Mark earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and soon began a career of pastoring, mentoring, serving, and teaching others about the love of Jesus Christ. A man of true passion for all those around him, Mark lovingly poured out his knowledge and faith in the Lord to countless souls throughout his lifetime. He deeply enjoyed his 25-year career with the First Baptist Church at New Philadelphia and later felt the calling to join the Northwest Bible Church in Hilliard, Ohio where he spent eight years as the Teaching Pastor and since 2015 has served as the Associate Pastor of ONE Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia.

In 2016, while focusing on what he called his four passions of ministry: Ministers, Marriages, Men and Missions, Mark answered God’s calling and alongside other pastors developed the Passion Center for Pastors, a mission in Malawi, Africa which has since trained over 1000 pastors during a three-year Bible training course for pastors which has expanded to eight different regions. Three times a year, Mark was able to visit the students during in person conferences and throughout the rest of the coursework would write and produce material and send it overseas to be introduced and taught. Mark was also able to publish three books, two Volumes of 52 Weeks of Pursuit and a third book, The Keys of Bible Study.

Mark’s outgoing, fun-loving, and deeply spiritual presence will be missed greatly by those who called him a member of their family. He leaves behind his wife of nearly 42 years, Sherry L. Trotter of Dallas, Georgia; his son, Justin (Morgan) Trotter of Holly Springs, Georgia and Jacie (Justin) Higgenbotham of Dover, Ohio; his grandchildren, Birkley, Judson, and Loxley Trotter, and Jaden, Jantz, and Jett Higgenbotham; a sister, Patti Trotter of Cocoa, Florida; his mother-in-law, Anna Marie Love of Sparta, Missouri and nieces and nephews, and countless “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ.

In addition to his parents, Mark was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Trotter; a sister, Susan Park, and his father-in-law, Leonard Love.

The family will greet guests on Friday, February 26, 2021, from 4-7 PM in the First Baptist Church at New Philadelphia. A celebration of Mark’s life will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 11 AM in the First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia.

Mark had positioned his life to become a resource for pastors and to provide written resources for churches with a view toward sound doctrine and our ultimate accounting at the judgement seat of Christ. The family asks that those who wish to help continue this mission may direct contributions to Passion Center for Pastors, with the Memo: WordStrong, c/o ONE Baptist Church, P.O. Box 609 Hiram, Georgia, 30141.