Caring with Purpose: How Mark Mullahy is Transforming Senior Living Through Faith
Mark Mullahy
Website: www.montgomeryplace.org
Mark Mullahy has been dedicated to senior living for more than 30 years, driven by a deep passion for serving older adults and enhancing their quality of life. He began his career as a Dietary Manager while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the University of Findlay. Since then, he has become a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and has excelled in leadership roles such as Executive Director, Director of Operations, Vice President of Operations, and CEO.
Mark has served senior communities across Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, and now Chicago, always with a heart for compassion and innovation. He has also contributed to the industry as a board member for LeadingAge Kentucky and LeadingAge Texas.
In this Anchoring Hope podcast episode with host David Mansilla, Mark shares how his leadership, his ministry in prison outreach, and his daily work in senior living are all rooted in a deeper mission: serving God by loving people.
A Career That Began with Football Tickets and Led to a Calling
Mark never imagined a life in senior living. As a teenager working in food service, he dreamed of running a university kitchen for one reason—free football tickets. But God had other plans.
A job as a dietary manager in a nursing home led to mentorship that changed everything. That role introduced Mark not only to the complexities of elder care but to the daily opportunities to make an eternal difference.
“Every day when we come to work, we have an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone else's life. If you show up with the wrong attitude, you could miss that moment—and rob yourself of a blessing.”
Mark’s faith journey mirrors his professional one: unexpected, divinely guided, and rich with purpose.
Serving Seniors as the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Now CEO of a nonprofit senior community in Chicago, Mark oversees a full continuum of care—from independent living to hospice. But he views his role through an eternal lens.
“Even if a resident doesn’t share our faith, we know we’re preparing them to meet their Maker. That’s sacred work.”
Mark's care philosophy is deeply Christ-centered. Whether it’s a rehab patient, a long-term care resident, or someone nearing the end of life, Mark reminds his team that every act of compassion echoes into eternity.
He often recalls Jesus' words from Matthew 25: “I was in prison and you visited me… I was sick and you looked after me.” That verse fuels his leadership, both in senior care and prison ministry.
The Power of Presence: Ministry Behind Bars
Mark’s leadership extends beyond boardrooms and care facilities—into jails and prisons.
What started as a Wednesday night Bible study turned into a long-term calling. Week after week, he returned to meet inmates where they were—spiritually and emotionally. And over time, lives changed.
“Some of the happiest people I’ve met are in jail. They lost everything, but they found Jesus. And that gave them peace.”
Mark showed up consistently with a Bible, a listening ear, and love. It wasn’t about preaching—it was about relationship, presence, and letting the Gospel unfold naturally.
“You don’t have to talk about Jesus to show His love. Just be there. Let people feel seen, known, and valued. That’s Christ in action.”
A Personal Encounter with Grace
Though raised in a religious home, Mark didn’t truly meet Jesus until he was a teenager. A friend invited him to a youth group—initially to impress a girl—and during a ski trip, a simple challenge from a speaker changed his life: “Look inside your heart. Do you see Jesus there?”
Mark didn’t. So he asked Jesus in.
But it wasn’t until later, at a Baptist church with his future wife, that Mark realized something crucial had been missing: repentance. That day, he confessed his sins, received Christ fully—and everything began to change.
“It was one thing to know about Jesus. It was another to understand that what He did on the cross—He did that for me.”
That realization transformed Mark from the inside out. His habits changed. His values shifted. His leadership deepened.
Leading with Eternity in Mind
When asked what he’d put on a billboard seen by millions, Mark said:
“If you were the only person to ever read this billboard, I would have still come and died for you.” – Jesus
That’s how Mark leads—with every soul in mind.
Whether guiding a team of caregivers, mentoring a man in prison, or praying for his grandchildren, Mark lives with the urgency of eternity and the peace of knowing God is in control.
“God doesn’t need us to be perfect. He wants us to be willing. He’ll take care of the rest.”
Conclusion
Mark Mullahy’s life is a testimony of what it means to lead with faith, humility, and purpose. From the quiet rooms of senior communities to the echoing halls of jail cells, his heart beats with the Gospel.
Through the love of Christ, Mark continues to serve the forgotten, mentor the searching, and lead with conviction—proving that one soul, truly seen and truly loved, is worth it all.
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“You don’t have to talk about Jesus to show His love. Just be present. Let people feel seen, valued, and loved—and they’ll start to ask where that joy comes from.”
