Staff

Our Pastor is Mark Bailey, who brings a unique perspective on the Word of God, with a sense of humor.

With his sermon illustrations he can bring the word alive and make it relevant for today. Mark wants to bring a touch and impact to peoples lives.

Mark Steven Bailey was raised in Flatwoods, Kentucky. He is the youngest of five. Mark was born into a Christian family with a strong heritage of ministers. His maternal grandmother was a Pentecostal evangelist and from her offspring there are at least 35 grandchildren and great grandchildren in ministry today. What a blessing!

Pastor Mark felt the call of GOD on his life at a young age. He was saved at 8 years of age, at church youth camp during the summer. He was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues at 18 years of age. He preached his first sermon when he was 18 years old. About this same time he fell in love with Alexis Smith. They were married on April 26, 1980. After one year of marriage they went to Bible college and Mark graduated from Advantage Bible College with under graduate work from Southwestern University, Ok City, Ok. On November 2, 1983 their first son, Mark “Aaron” was born. Courtney Anne came on March 30, 1987 and then Caleb Steven arrived on March 7, 1991. Mark is a very loving and proud parent and grandparent of 5.

Pastor Mark started his ministry as a Youth Pastor and then moved to the Senior Pastorate. He has been Senior Pastor for 3 established churches and is the founding Pastor of Connect Church. Since 1999 he has brought strong and impressive apostolic leadership to the church.

Pastor Mark’s ministry is based on Isaiah 61 and 58. God has called him to be the rebuilder of the walls and repairer of the breach, to help reconcile those away, back to God. His ministry is a down to earth, “rubber meets the road” approach. He loves people and especially feels burdened for families and their children.

Jason Smith is the youth pastor here at connect church. He is a recent Emmanuel College graduate and his heart burns for ministering to young people. His desire is to see Luke 4:18 continue to be walked out by young Christians leaders. This would look like proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.