Grace School of Theology
Español | Korean Request Info Apply Give
Request Info Apply Give
Admissions Students
Español | Korean
Grace in Action

A School that Meets the Needs of Local Pastors

Mark Fontecchio is a pastor who is currently serving in the state of Alaska. In his life, he had to face and conquer several difficulties which made him rely much more on the power that God provided him daily. While studying as a student at Grace School of Theology, Mark was battling with a rare and incurable kind of cancer. He is grateful that through Grace’s elaborate distance learning programs, he was able to continue learning from his classes while undergoing treatment in the cancer clinic.
Grace in Action

A School that Meets the Needs of Local Pastors

Mark Fontecchio is a pastor who is currently serving in the state of Alaska. In his life, he had to face and conquer several difficulties which made him rely much more on the power that God provided him daily. While studying as a student at Grace School of Theology, Mark was battling with a rare and incurable kind of cancer. He is grateful that through Grace’s elaborate distance learning programs, he was able to continue learning from his classes while undergoing treatment in the cancer clinic.
A School that Meets the Needs of Local Pastors
I wanted an education that I could be proud of. I also wanted to be challenged. Grace School of Theology has done that. From a Free Grace understanding of Church History to the Biblical Languages, I have gotten exactly what I was looking for. The professors have been professional, knowledgeable, and have had an honest desire to see me succeed in ministry. This is my final semester of school and looking back I would absolutely do it all over again
On top of this, his family made a move of a lifetime from their current state to Alaska, which took an enormous amount of time and financial resources. His elderly parents were also diagnosed with cancer and were very sick in his last few years of completing his degree. Mark shares that throughout all of this, the professors and staff of Grace were very gracious and understanding, making it feel as if they were family members as they genuinely cared and supported one another.
As a busy pastor, Mark wanted to further his knowledge of God’s Word at a seminary with accessible online courses that he could be proud of and be challenged at. From a holistic understanding of church history to biblical languages, Mark got what he was looking for from a free grace lens. He shares that the professors have been professional and knowledgeable and have had an honest desire to see him succeed in ministry. Even at his final semester, he looks back and says, “I would do it all over again.”
When Mark first started in ministry many years ago, an older pastor once told him, “You can only take the people as far as you have gone in your faith yourself. You can only teach them what you know.” These words haunted him at first because he was still inexperienced. Over time, these words became a driving factor in his life and ministry. Grace has helped him to study the Scriptures at a level that is edifying to the Body of Christ. At first, Mark heavily weighed the cost in terms of time and finances with his family before enrolling. Knowing that Grace is more affordable than most theological schools, he felt the time and sacrifice would be an investment in eternity. Mark has no regrets as he shares how the technology used is world-class, and the low cost has enabled him to graduate without debt. Mark was also able to move his whole life without leaving his studies behind. He believes that Grace School of Theology is a seminary meeting the needs of several local church pastors.

Mark was also apprehensive because he would turn 50 years old by the time he completes his degrees. Now a graduate of both Master of Biblical Studies and Master of Divinity, Mark is thankful for taking on his Grace journey and the professors who have invested in him.

The course on Soteriology gave him a more concrete understanding of the Gospel. It allowed him to identify areas where he needed to refine and clarify his use of terminologies and presentation of the Gospel to guide his church family into a clearer understanding of their position versus their condition in Christ.

He also shares how ironic it is that some of the classes he feared the most turned out to be the greatest blessings. Mark was worried about memorizing countless dates and facts for his Church History and Historical Theology course but he walked away with a deeper understanding of the grace Gospel throughout the centuries. Learning biblical languages were also challenging yet rewarding. Mark shares that it took a lot of hard work but taking Advanced Greek Exegesis with Dr. Dave Anderson and Elementary Hebrew with Dr. Peter Oh gave him a love for biblical languages. He has come to know our Savior better through learning to love His written Word in the original languages.

There have been many friendly faces that helped Mark on this journey. He expresses his deep appreciation for the Grace staff—especially his professors who took the time to instill their knowledge and understanding into his life. He is grateful that a theological institution such as Grace School of Theology exists and thanks Dr. Dave Anderson for taking on the challenge to establish this seminary to the world.

Interested to Learn More?

Find out more about Grace’s degree offerings.

Request for Information

Help Develop Spiritual Leaders

Help more students become equipped spiritual leaders.

Give Today

Become a Grace Student

Start your Grace journey today!

Apply Today