Bishop Calvin B. Gardner, Sr. was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. In
1980 at the influential age of 13, he was saved, filled with the Holy Ghost and
baptized in the Name of Jesus at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church of
Detroit. He publicly accepted his call to ministry in 1988 and was licensed to
preach at the Holy Church of God, Louisa, Virginia. He was subsequently
ordained an Elder in 1991 through The Pentecostal Followers of Jesus Christ,
Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bishop Gardner was educated in the Detroit public school system.
In June 1985, Pastor Gardner enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and went to
Basic Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in September of that same year he graduate as Platoon Honorman. Pastor Gardner is still am active duty marine.
An advocate of formal education and a lifelong learner, God has enabled Bishop Gardner to earn several degrees to include: Associate of Divinity; Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies/Management & Organizational Leadership; Master of Christian Education; Master of Science in Community Service; Master of Arts in Religion, and Doctor of Christian Education. Bishop Gardner has used his passion and thirst for knowledge to motivate, compel and direct others to press forth in their educational journey.
Since accepting his assignment in the Kingdom of God, Bishop Gardner has not ceased to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a relevant, practical, and simplistic manner. With the help of God he continues to shed himself of the traditions of men and embrace the divine direction of God for this hour. Pastor Gardner sincerely believes that God placed upon him the pastoral anointing to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and develop and release leaders into the fivefold ministry, so they can go forth to all nations, people and tongues to set the captives free.
He attributes his spiritual stamina to a host of godly men and women God has allowed him to serve with; his mother’s words of life, “telling him he could do anything”; the unwavering support and love of his wife and children; and the effectual prayers of his great grandmother, Mother Letha Washington.
For the past two decades Calvin B. Gardner, Sr. has served as a Bi-Vocational Pastor, Janitor, Armor Bearer, Usher, Helps, Friend to Sinners, and Christian Educator in various locations to include: Virginia, Nebraska, and Japan. He was the Senior Pastor, Bibleway Evangelistic Church International, Moving With A Vision Ministries, Inc., located in Okinawa, Japan, from 2003-2006.
Bishop Gardner is happily married to Delphine V. Gardner of Spotsylvania, Virginia. They have four beautiful children, Sherika, Latoria, Calvin Jr., and Timothy.
