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Hometown Hero
Spiritual Leader: Mark Ward is April's Hometown Hero
Posted
We want our church to be established as a place for families where they can learn God’s word and put it into practice by bearing fruit for Him.”
Mark Ward, Pastor, Chandler Heights Community Church
Independent Newsmedia
After a long career in the pharmaceutical insurance business, Mark Ward heeded a call and is now pastor of the Chandler Heights Community Church.
The Queen Creek resident relocated from California to Arizona in 1987. Over the years he has seen much growth in the town. He said Queen Creek’s rural community is shrinking as the town grows, but he said it if it can maintain its “rural attitude in how we care for one another, this will continue to be a desirable place to live.”
Ward has his flock at Chandler Heights Community Church in Queen Creek but he's interested in helping new residents. “Many new families are moving in,” he said. “We want our church to be established as a place for families where they can learn God’s word and put it into practice by bearing fruit for Him."
Name: Mark Ward
Business Name: Chandler Heights Community Church
When and why I moved here: Came to Arizona from California in 1987.
What I like most about living here: The beautiful people we have gotten to know.
What I do: Senior pastor at Chandler Heights Community Church.
Personal background highlights: Married to Janet Ward (40 years), four children, six grandchildren.
Professional background highlights: Worked for 30 years in the pharmaceutical insurance business as a computer programmer, analyst and data manager. Served for six years at Chandler Heights Community Church.
What I like most about what I do: Being a shepherd to the wonderful people who visit our church and seeing God at work in them as they grow in love for Him and one another is very rewarding.
What does being nominated for this category mean to you? It is humbling to be nominated and considered by some to be a hero. But the real hero is the One I serve, and I am grateful for the work he has given me to do in this wonderful community.
What does it mean to be a Queen Creek resident? The area is changing rapidly. Many new families are moving in. We want our church to be established as a place for families where they can learn God’s word and put it into practice by bearing fruit for Him.
What do you think you bring to the local community that makes it better? We are generous with God’s love and welcome with kindness and generosity those whom He brings into our sphere of influence.
What would you tell people about why it's important to make a difference in Queen Creek? There are many young families and young people in Queen Creek who need to hear the word of God and experience His grace and love for them.
Changes I'd like to see in this area: Queen Creek has always had a rural community feeling about it. That is disappearing as the community grows but if we can maintain a rural attitude in how we care for one another, this will continue to be a desirable place to live.
Favorite community cause and why: I enjoy the community events at Horseshoe Park (& Equestrian Centre). They help maintain and reinforce the heritage of the community.
My family: Janet Ward is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist. She loves people and helping them with health goals. Our daughter, Becke, is a teacher at Valley Christian High School. Nathan is general manger at the Arrogant Butcher in downtown Phoenix, and Emily is a hair stylist at her own shop (The Organic Mane) in Chandler. She also serves at the Live Love Community in Chandler. Our daughter, Jennifer, lives with her husband and children in North Carolina.
My interests and hobbies: Collecting antique rifles and flying radio-controlled airplanes.
The trait(s) I admire in others: Kindness, generosity and faithfulness.
People who inspired me (and how): Those who serve others quietly in the background out of love, not for self-gain, and those who are faithful to what they believe, not ashamed to speak the truth in love to one another.
My guiding philosophy: Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
My advice to today’s youth: Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold but seek the truth and give your life to something that will last for eternity.
The Queen Creek Independent is pleased to announce Pastor Mark Ward as the April 2023 Hometown Hero bestowed in the category of Spiritual Leader. The Queen Creek Independent, along with East Valley Institute of Technology and Queen Creek Olive Mill salute Pastor Ward as this month's Queen Creek Hometown Heroes Awards recipient.
