_edited.png){kind=logo}
Our Pastor
Our Pastor
The steps of the seventh pastor, Elder Mark Kevin Reid were preordained with the significance of seven being the number of spiritual completion. He was also the seventh child of the late Elder Elijah A. Reid and Mother Susie M. Reid. He is the proud husband of Evangelist Carolyn Reid and the father of Joy Monique Larae', Eboni Carol and the family namesake Mark Alexander Martin Chandler, who was named after his father, grandfather and two well-known Bishop's. As a third-generation Church of God In Christ member, his steps were ordered in the way of Holiness as his parents nurtured and instructed him in the church. He received salvation at the age of seventeen and was immediately put to work in the local church. He had many creative talents and gifts; he played a little piano, composed songs, a virtuoso on the drums, a Langston Hughes; transposing words into poetry and a Michael Angelo with the paintbrush, which is evident from the murals on the church walls.
The steps of the seventh pastor, Elder Mark Kevin Reid were preordained with the significance of seven being the number of spiritual completion. He was also the seventh child of the late Elder Elijah A. Reid and Mother Susie M. Reid. He is the proud husband of Evangelist Carolyn Reid and the father of Joy Monique Larae', Eboni Carol and the family namesake Mark Alexander Martin Chandler, who was named after his father, grandfather and two well-known Bishop's. As a third-generation Church of God In Christ member, his steps were ordered in the way of Holiness as his parents nurtured and instructed him in the church. He received salvation at the age of seventeen and was immediately put to work in the local church. He had many creative talents and gifts; he played a little piano, composed songs, a virtuoso on the drums, a Langston Hughes; transposing words into poetry and a Michael Angelo with the paintbrush, which is evident from the murals on the church walls.
In March of 1976, he was called to the ministry and charged to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On August 9, 1979, Elder Mark was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ under Bishop Esau Courtney Sr. In 1986, he was appointed Administrative Assistant here at Greater Mount Carmel. In this position, he acted as Chairman of the Church Council and organized the many special ministries in the church designed to meet the needs of God's people. During this time Elder Mark organized and established the outreach prison ministry spreading the word to those who were incarcerated.
In 1996, Elder Elijah Reid was well pleased with his son's faithfulness to God's church and God's people. He appointed him to Assistant Pastor. Standing on this spiritual elevation allowed Elder Mark to begin to share his vision of "Striving Toward Excellence in Ministry". In this position, he served his father faithfully.
He did not only serve in the local church but on every level of the Church of God In Christ. On the district level, he held the title of Program Coordinator of the then “Camden District”. On the state level, he served as coordinator for the Bible Institute during the Holy Convocation for the 1st Jurisdiction of New Jersey and held the office of Public Relations for the State Youth Department. He was appointed by the Late Presiding Bishop Chandler Owens as a National Workshop facilitator and Conference Coordinator in the National Presiding Bishop's Leadership Conference of COGIC. The following year he was selected to be a member of the National Conference Coordinating Staff.
A most memorable day in the life of Elder Mark was August 7th, 1999. He was appointed to the office of Jurisdictional Executive Secretary of the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by Bishop Martin Luther Johnson. This appointment was special in that 12 years earlier his father held this same position under Bishop Courtney's administration for over 25 years. Elder Mark worked diligently with the Bishop and co-edited the Jurisdictional Bishops Handbook on Leadership Mandates and Missions Statement for the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
Elder Mark obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education and Art from Rutgers University of New Jersey and a master’s degree in Administration and Guidance. He attended the Philadelphia College of Bible majoring in Pastoral Care, Counseling and Church Administration. He also attended the Grace Bible Institute studying Bible History. He was employed as an instrumentation designer at Mobil Oil Corporation for over 10 years. He held this job until the responsibilities of the ministry warranted that he completely fulfill the plan of God so, he resigned and took on the ministry of God full time.
On January 20th, 1999 after 40 years in the pastorate, Pastor Elder Elijah Reid Sr. resigned as Pastor of the Greater Mount Carmel Church of God in Christ. He prayerfully and proudly passed the baton of leadership to Elder Mark Reid with his blessing and full support. The goal and achievement of any young man is to follow in the steps of his father. The goal of any father is to have a son not only follow in his footsteps, but to surpass them. In May of 2012, Elder Mark was appointed to the position of Superintendent of the “E.A. Reid Memorial District”, named after his father, by Bishop Martin Luther Johnson. He also, on Sunday, March 12th, appointed Elder Mark to Executive Assistant to the Bishop of the New Jersey First Jurisdiction.
Elder Mark believes that his father and mother are pleasingly looking down on him. They are rejoicing at how God is continually blessing and elevating their seventh child as he strives for excellence. He can affectionately hear his mother say, "Son, you're almost as good as me". As Joshua was with Moses so was Mark with his father Elijah and as God was with Elder Elijah Alexander Reid Sr. so shall he be with his son, Elder Mark Kevin Reid.
To God be the Glory!