Senior Pastor Mark Gainer

On June 1, 2026, Berea Bible Church joyfully welcomed Pastor Mark Gainer into his new role as Senior Pastor. Having previously served our congregation as Assistant Pastor since August 2023, Pastor Mark steps into this leadership role with a deep love for our church family, a heart for pastoral shepherding, and a profound commitment to the clear teaching of God’s Word.

Before entering full-time pastoral ministry, Pastor Mark spent sixteen years serving in public education, viewing his classrooms and school as opportunities to serve and support local families. He began his career as a third-grade teacher at Cedarville Elementary, where he spent seven years instructing and mentoring young students. He later moved into administration, serving as an Associate Principal at Kenton Elementary before returning to Cedarville Elementary as the school's principal for eight years.

Alongside his school leadership, Pastor Mark has remained committed to investing in future educators, serving as an Adjunct Professor for the School of Education at Cedarville University.

Pastor Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (with a Minor in Bible) from Cedarville University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton. Driven by a desire to deepen his theological grounding for the local church, he is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Biblical Theology from Tyndale Theological Seminary.

Pastor Mark’s philosophy of ministry is firmly anchored in Ephesians 4, emphasizing that the primary role of pastoral leadership is not to do all the work of the ministry alone, but to equip the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ until we all attain unity of faith and maturity in Him. Because of his background in education, he has a strong heart for Berea’s discipleship frameworks, where Scripture is handled faithfully and believers are equipped to grow and serve.

A long-time resident of the Springfield area, Pastor Mark is profoundly grateful for his family. He and his wife, Lara, have been blessed with four children: Jovie, Millie, Grant, and Cole. As a family, the Gainers look forward to walking alongside Berea Bible Church in this new chapter, humbly serving the Lord by shepherding, teaching, and encouraging others.

Email: MarkGainer@BereaBibleChurch.org