About Me

Thanks for dropping by. My name is Mark Hackett and I live in my hometown of Memphis, TN. My wife and I are raising two kids and three cats. I work at a small organization helping Sudanese heroes strengthen their communities in the face of war and oppression. In my off hours I enjoy a good conversation over craft beer, exercise, reading church history and theology books, making pizza, and photography.

I’m one of the many devout Christians who was pushed out of American evangelicalism for simply trying to follow Jesus. I’m still processing some bad experiences; but, more and more, I’m turning my attention to what comes next.

What You Can Expect Here

This is where I write and host conversations about faith and church culture in the American South. Each month I post a long-form article or podcast episode about the collision of the two. I share my annual reading and favorite podcast lists in December and take a break in January to rest and reflect.

You won’t find concrete answers here. I’m a hardcore institutionalist and process guy who believes the means are just as important as the ends. Quick answers that give the illusion of safety doesn’t make reality go away. As such, most of what I explore is bigger than the individual. Everything here is an expression of my faith and love for the Church. Writing and talking with experts is helping me figure some things out. I hope it helps you, too.

You can sign up for my free monthly newsletter, follow me on Threads, or contact me here.

About The Website

I designed and manage markhackett.com by myself. Feedback and disagreement is welcome as long as it is constructive and kind.

The church steeple on the homepage is one I took of St. Philip's Church in Charleston, SC. The congregation was established in 1681, making it the oldest church in the city and one of the oldest in the United States. Many prominent people are buried there, including colonial governors, bishops, and a Vice President. A fitting photo, to be sure.

Banner photos and images with my watermark are from my own photography or are made with Adobe Firefly. Additional photos are from Unsplash and you can hover or tap them to see the credit.