By Baptist Message staff
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Mark Sutton, a former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, died Feb. 1. He was 78.
According to his obituary, Sutton was a graduate of Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and pastored multiple churches throughout his time in ministry: Simpson Baptist Church, Simpson; L’Eglise Évangélique Baptiste, Lyon, France; Immanuel Baptist Church, Hammond; and Brookwood Baptist Church, Shreveport.
He also served as Baptist Message board member (1986-1991), LBC president (1993-1995), Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board member (1994-1996) and Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association moderator (2003-2005), according to the Annual Church Profile.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Mark Sutton’s death,” Brookwood Baptist Pastor David Rice told the Baptist Message. “Brother Mark faithfully pastored Brookwood for 21 years with visionary leadership, a sharp wit, and a deep sense of his own humanity. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment to sharing the gospel around the world, preaching God’s Word without apology, and loving God’s people without prejudice. As the current pastor it is an honor and a privilege to be standing on his broad shoulders of pastoral leadership and integrity.”
Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association Director Lane Moore echoed the thought.
“What I remember the most about Mark Sutton was he always was a forward thinker,” he said. “He was always willing to try new things in ministry to think outside the box. His legacy will be the vision to relocate Brookwood to their campus on I-49. Not many pastors would have tackled that project.”
Sutton, who lost his wife Susan in 2003, remarried Donna Osborne a year later. They moved to Orlando, Fla. While there, he served as legacy adult pastor with First Baptist Church, Orlando, interim pastor at South Orlando Baptist Church, and seminary instructor through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Sutton and his wife, Donna, also founded Mark Sutton Ministries, which supported pastoral training and ministry in Haiti.
Most recently, Sutton was a member with Oasis Church of Ormond Beach, where he served on the elder board and taught a small group Bible study.
Sutton leaves behind his wife, Donna, daughters, Amy, Jennifer and Sarah, stepchildren, Nancy Osborne and Rick Osborne; brother, Joel, and grandchildren, Alexandra English, Joshua Ricketts, Kristyn Ricketts, Jeremiah Gordo.
A memorial service is planned Feb. 7 at Oasis Church, with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. and the service to follow at 2 p.m. Another memorial service will take place Feb. 22 at Brookwood Baptist Church, with visitation beginning at 3 p.m. and the service to follow at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Mark Sutton Ministries.
