Mark E. Hardgrove

Though born in Oklahoma, Mark Edward Hardgrove grew up in West Virginia surrounded by family. His roots in West Virginia run deep and have shaped his writing. In 1982 Mark joined the USAF rising quickly through the ranks while completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. It was also in Maine where he met Sun Hyoung Chi, who was also in the USAF, and they were married after a short 9-week engagement. Two years later they had their first child, a son whom they named after Mark’s close friend and cousin, Timothy.

After four years in the military Mark received an honorable discharge and left Maine for Cleveland, Tennessee, to attend the Church of God Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity degree. While in Cleveland, Mark and Sun had their second child, a daughter named Candace.

Following seminary Mark was appointed to his first pastorate in Junction City, Kansas. The church grew quickly, but intending to earn his doctorate degree from the Church of God Seminary, the family moved back east to Georgia, where Mark became an associate pastor for a year and a half in Lawrenceville, then senior pastor in Suwanee, and finally pastor of the Conyers Church of God where he has served for more than 20 years. While in Georgia, the couple had their youngest child, a son they named Destin. Mark said he was “destined” to have three children, two of which would be sons.

While in Georgia Mark earned a DMin from the Church of God Theological Seminary and a PhD from Regent University in Virginia Beach. Dr. Hardgrove had a series of articles published in the Church of God Evangel, several articles in peer reviewed journals, and he contributed a chapter to a book (Passion for Work) published by Oxford University Press in 2019. While pastoring, Dr. Hardgrove has served as the academic dean for two universities and dean of online studies at a third.

Currently, Mark’s passions include pastoring the Conyers Church of God, writing, and hunting. He has completed several writing projects and has many more in the works.