Canon John was born and raised in Mifflin County, PA, just south of Penn State University, Main Campus. Raised in the Anglo-Catholic tradition at St. Mark’s, Lewistown, he also enjoyed spending Sunday evenings with his friends at Mennonite Pray and Praise services providing a good evangelical footing. After graduating from Grove City College with a dual major of Business Administration and Religion, Canon John moved to Warren, Ohio where he met his wife Mary Beth (Jewell) in the church kitchen of Christ Episcopal Church while trying to keep 320 or so teenagers fed at a Diocese of Ohio Youth Convention. Unlike St. Mark’s, a small, country, high church parish, Christ Church was a larger (ASA 300), mid-sized town, low-church. Two short years later they were married in that same church and spent many happy years serving the Lord together from that place. The first few years were tough as Canon John continued his education at Youngstown State University graduating with a BE in Industrial Engineering. The next 13 years were spent working for Drake Manufacturing Co., a small machine-tool company based in Warren, however selling machinery world-wide. The last five years with the company saw Canon John as the Marketing and Sales Manager and rarely saw him in Warren as his travels took him many places around the globe.

In 2003, he finally heeded God’s call on his life and he and Mary Beth moved to Ambridge, Pa in order to attend Trinity School for Ministry. In June of 2006, Canon John was ordained to the Diaconate by then Bishop Robert W. Duncan in Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, and the very place where his parents had married and where he was baptized and his grandmother had been a faithful member for well over 75 years. After serving as Director of Missions for the Anglican Communion Network, which again saw Canon John traveling to the ends of the earth, and as vicar of All Saints Church, Brighton Heights, Pittsburgh, Pa, Canon John accepted the call to St. Peter’s Parish, Uniontown, in December 2007. In February 2017, Archbishop Foley Beach named John Provincial Canon for Southeast Asia.

Twelve years after accepting his call to St. Peter’s, Uniontown, Canon John now finds himself back at St. Mark’s, however, this time in Arlington, Texas, bringing him back, once again, full circle but maybe on a different plain. God is Good, All the Time!

Father Jordan grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas. He graduated from Amon Carter Riverside High School. He attended Texas Christian University, and graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a B.A. in History in 1971.

He graduated from The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church in New York City with a Master of Divinity degree in 1974 (Bishop Iker was a classmate). He has done further post graduate work at Pusey House, Oxford, and St. George's College, Jerusalem.

Growing up in an unchurched home, he longed for something more. God gently and patiently, over a period of years, revealed Himself to him. He was baptized and confirmed in St. John's Church, Ft. Worth while in High School. While at TCU he managed St. Anne's Bookstore at All Saints' Church where he worked with rector, Fr. James P. DeWolfe Jr. Fr. DeWolfe became a mentor, along with Fr. George Acker, Rector of St. Timothy's Church, Ft. Worth. These holy priests helped him discern his vocation to the Priesthood.

Fr. Jordan was Curate of St. James' Church, Dallas, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Gainesville Texas, Rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Dallas, and Rector of St. John's Church, Dallas. He retired for the first time in 2005, but was asked by Bishop Iker to become Vicar of St. Joseph's Church, Grand Prairie.

He is now happy to be the Assisting Priest at St. Mark's Church, Arlington. He is married to June Louise Nickerson. They have five children and several grandchildren! His hobbies include reading, golf and travel. He has led pilgrimages to England, Spain and Portugal.

Dr. Linton Powell is the Organist and the former Professor of Organ and Musicology at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Powell has given numerous concerts in Europe and the USA and has been the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is noted for his research on Spanish music and was a Fulbright Scholar to Argentina.

Kathy Fox Powell is the Choirmaster, who founded and directed for 10 years the Renaissance Consort of Fort Worth. Ms. Powell is a regular singer with Dallas Bach Society and Orchestra of New Spain. She also serves on the Worship Commission of the Diocese of Fort Worth and in that capacity is involved in the planning of music for Diocesan liturgies. Ms. Powell is also a practicing real estate lawyer.

Amber Ahart has been part of the St. Mark’s family since August 2020. After a sixteen-year career in corporate retail, she decided it was time to make a change to ministry. She currently splits her time between St. Mark’s and St. John’s in Fort Worth. Amber enjoys supporting the clergy and caring for the parishioners and guests of both parishes. Amber is a long-time resident of Tarrant County. She graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas. She spent her first couple of years in college completing the Cornerstone Honors Program at Tarrant County College, earning her associate degree in Liberal Arts as well as a place on the Dean’s List. Upon completion of the honors program, Amber transferred to Texas Christian University, where she ultimately acquired her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and minored in French. Amber is very active in her personal church life. She attends St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford, serves as a team captain on altar guild, and is a faithful member of the Order of the Daughters of the King. She has previously served on vestry in addition to various campus improvement committees. Amber also joyfully serves the Diocese of Fort Worth as the Diocesan Altar Guild Directress as well as a member of the Commission on Ministry. She currently resides in Bedford and has two beloved cats. Her passions (in addition to church) include being outdoors, animals (especially cats), reading, arts and crafts, fitness, and gaming.