Rev. Dr. C. Mark Gooden
Senior Pastor
Mark was appointed to First-Centenary in 2018 and has been in ministry for 38 years in the Holston Conference. He is married to Judy and they have two adult children; Tim and Kylie.
Mark was born and raised in Hixson. He began ministry in the Holston Conference in 1983. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from UTC in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sociology, a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary.
You can find Mark every morning at 5:30 on his daily walk where he starts each day off with prayer and meditation. Mark has many favorite bible verses but the one that is special to him is Revelation 3:8: “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Mark also has a personal mission statement that he tries to live out every day: “To bring hope and encouragement to all I meet today!”
Mark was born and raised in Hixson. He began ministry in the Holston Conference in 1983. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from UTC in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sociology, a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary.
You can find Mark every morning at 5:30 on his daily walk where he starts each day off with prayer and meditation. Mark has many favorite bible verses but the one that is special to him is Revelation 3:8: “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Mark also has a personal mission statement that he tries to live out every day: “To bring hope and encouragement to all I meet today!”