Mark and Margaret Noblin
Several years ago if you asked Mark and Margaret if they would be missionaries to Africa they would have said, “no way.” Both having corporate jobs in Dallas Texas, no interest in Africa it seemed like the last thing on the horizon. But God had other plans! God started developing Mark's missionary heart first, all the time training Margaret in women’s ministry at church and Bible Study Fellowship International.
In 2001 during their first mission trip, they served at a Bible camp for children in an impoverished area of Guatemala. On this trip, they were overwhelmed by the joy of the Lord in the faces of the rescued, abandoned children in a nearby orphanage. The orphanage was different than they expected with a focus on developing a Christian family home with parents and brothers and sisters.
For a year Mark became more and more involved in Guatemala. In June 2002 he took the plunge into missions and joined PFM serving as a U.S. mobilizer, leading mission trips, and recruiting resources. On a trip to dedicate several orphanages in India, Mark decided to take a slight detour to Uganda to meet the pastor of a partnering ministry where a home was started with the same vision. Margaret continued to serve in women's ministry as God began changing her heart for what would later be a passion for the students,women and children of Africa.
In 2003, Mark and Margaret were officially commissioned as missionaries by the board of PFM. One of the board members made a comment that later proved to be so true. He said, “God will pull together all your gifts and use them.” God doesn’t waste anything and all the Noblins’ training, education and experiences are being used in Africa. During the next two years they traveled back and forth to Africa while taking care of Margaret’s mother who lived with them. Margaret’s mother loved having visitors from India, Africa and Guatemala visit and commented once, “It is like having the League of Nations in our home.” The summer of 2004 Margaret’s mom joined the Lord in heaven.
In the fall of 2004 Peter Kasirivu visited the Noblins and encouraged them to pray about coming to Kampala, Uganda to live for a year. He stressed that much could be accomplished in a year. Margaret was nervous and resistant at first. But when God answered several prayers during the November visit to Uganda, she was ready to move. After exploring housing and finding a place to live they headed back to the U.S. to finalize details of the move. They decided to rent their home after trying to sell it. The first day the house was listed with the rental company, a wonderful lady arrived to see the house and said she had prayed that the Lord would provide a home for her family so they could be together for the holidays. God was so amazing and provided an exceedingly better solution than was expected. The lady and her husband rented their house furnished and were fine with a short term lease. The Noblins knew the rental of the house was an answer to prayer and a confirmation they were on the right path.
The year 2005 was packed with ministry to men, women, students and children in and around Kampala, Uganda. Mark helped launch the men’s discipleship/loan program and Margaret focused on developing women leaders and ministering to orphans and children. During the year Margaret used her corporate meeting planning and event skills at a pastors conference for 2,500 pastors, Mark used his teaching and business training to train and disciple the men. A home for orphans was built near the shores of Lake Victoria, one was built in Miwani, Kenya and three teams visited and were encouraged to continue the passion God had placed in their hearts.
In 2006 the Noblins returned to the U.S. and Mark along with Dan Vick started The Rock Outreach to provide business loans to people in Africa (specifically Uganda and Kenya). The ministry has expanded to include mercy homes, scholarships and mentoring; partnering with Deliverance Church, (Kisumu, Kenya) and African Hearts Community Organization (Kampala,Uganda).
The Noblins return to Africa three times a year. Mark continues to mentor the university students, teach the business men's class and encourage the children in the homes. Margaret encourages and disciples the students, monitors the management and training of the children in the homes and has spent time in several Ugandan cities teaching church leaders how to use the Hope for the Heart Biblical Counseling Keys by June Hunt. While in the U.S. she is a MOPs mentor mom. Both of them love to minister to young couples preparing to marry and encourage other missionaries.
Mark has recently written a book, "Rich Toward God, Doing Life and Business God's way." The book is used as a basis for the class he teaches in Africa and is full of interesting stories about his time in the corporate world as well as in Africa.
Mark and Margaret have a daughter, son-in-law and five grandchildren. They split their time between their home in Dallas, Texas, where they are members of Prestonwood Baptist Church, and Africa (Uganda and Kenya).