Teaching Fellows
Teaching fellows in the Northwest School of Discipleship are seasoned ministers and servants of Jesus Christ who have a heart for making disciples and the spiritual gift of teaching. Teaching fellows are in full agreement with NWSD statement of faith.
Mr. Wes Hanson
Mr. Wes Hanson was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and has served as the pulpit minister for the Scappoose Church of Christ (just outside Portland) for more than 18 years. Wes is a well-known minister in the region who has served as a speaker at various rallies and events, including Camp Yamhill, Beach Fest, Woodinville Youth Rally, Faith Builders NW, and Apple Cider Press Youth Rally. Wes has a passion for Christian apologetics, in part because learning about the evidence for Christianity helped bring him to a saving relationship with Christ in his teen years. Wes holds a BS in Education (York College) and a BA in Congregational Ministry (Sunset International Biblical Institute). Wes has been married for 24 years to his wife Rachel and has 4 children. Wes teaches Ready Defense: Introduction to Christian Apologetics.
Dr. Mark McLean
Mark McLean has served in congregational ministry for over 38 years at four different congregations, mainly in the Pacific Northwest. He is a seasoned minister who has a heart for Christian young people and for helping churches mature and develop. He has taught Bible in several Christian schools, including Harding Academy, York College, and Nations University.
Mark holds a BA (Harding) and a Master of Theology (Harding School of Theology) and an Ed.D in Christian Leadership (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary). Mark has been married for 43 years to his wife Nancy and has 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Mark teaches Life of Christ.
Dr. Mark Thiesen
Mark Thiesen was raised on the mission field by parents who took their faith seriously and lived deeply in their spiritual life. He received a BA in English and Vocational Ministry from Harding University, a Master of Arts in Religion from Harding School of Theology and a PhD in Theology from Mzuzu University. He is currently studying spiritual direction. He has served as a missionary in Ukraine and Malawi, a work with which he remains heavily involved. Mark is the preaching minister for the Hazel Dell church of Christ in Vancouver, WA
Dr. Darren Williamson
Darren Williamson is the founding Director of the Northwest School of Discipleship. Darren is a native of the Pacific Northwest, born in Oregon, raised in Washington, and educated in British Columbia. He has ministered in churches for nearly thirty years, most recently for 11 years as the Preaching Minister for the Keizer Church of Christ in Keizer, Oregon. Prior to coming to Keizer, he served as minister for churches in Portland, British Columbia, and Texas. Over the years he has taught as an instructor at several Christian Universities and community colleges, including Cascade College. He holds a BA & MS in Bible & Theology and an MA and PhD in History.
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Darren is passionate about equipping and strengthening disciples of Jesus through the ministry of teaching and mentoring. He has been married to his wife Melody for 30 years and is the father of 8 children. Darren teaches Come Follow Me, New Testament Survey, and History and Significance of the Bible.
Mr. Brent McFarland
Brent is originally from Campbellsville, Kentucky. He became a Christian the summer before his 20th birthday because he believed that Jesus loved him. In 2003 he attended Adventures in Missions in Lubbock, TX at Sunset International Bible Institute and went on to serve as a mission apprentice in Strasbourg, France where he became fluent in French. He holds a BA in Biblical Studies from Sunset International Bible Institute (2009), a BS in Ministry and Bible from Amridge University (2013), and a Master of Religious Education and Missional Leadership from Rochester College (2019). Since then, he has served churches in Florida and Michigan, and worked with the homeless population in Lubbock, Texas. He is currently the preaching minister at Lakeview Church of Christ in Tacoma, WA. Brent has a great heart for mentoring young people to be strong disciples of Jesus and is currently supervising an AIM team who work with him at Lakeview. He is married and has three children. His motto for ministry is, “I can do nothing on my own” Jn.5:30,15:5.
