Rev. Mark Bedford was born in Texas and grew up in Arkansas.  He received his B.A. degree from Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Arkansas.  He earned his M.Div. Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.  McCormick is also where he met his wife, Rev. Beth Hamilton.  They have two daughters; Christina, who lives with her husband Everick in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sloane, who lives in Los Angeles, California.  Mark and Beth have a cat and a cocker spaniel who are not spoiled at all.

Mark was a lay minister in the Chicago area and was director of the Youth Empowerment Skills Program at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee.  He was ordained to his first ministry at the Presbyterian Church of New Windsor, Illinois.  He was a performing member of the Chicago Storytelling Guild.  He has taught his classes, “Movie Heroes and Villains and Biblical Ethics” and “The Meaning of Religious Humor” at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ “Synod School”.  He also volunteers for public radio.

Mark became the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Sioux City in June 2021.  You can contact him at 712-255-8919 or at pastor@1stpresby.com.