Mark Forbes is a native of Gaston County, North Carolina. He graduated from Hunter Huss High School and Appalachian State University. In 1995, he married his high school sweetheart, also from Gaston County, Betsy. Together they have a son, Wilson, and a daughter, Katy-Barnes who is married to David Hunter, and a grandson named AJ.
Mark spent much of his career in the commercial and residential construction industry, and in 2012 he began pursuing the call to full-time ministry by enrolling at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. In 2018, he graduated with his MDIV.
In 2019, Mark began working at First ARP Gastonia as a church planting intern.
On May 2nd, 2021, he was ordained as an Evangelist by First Presbytery. He immediately began an “exploratory year” seeking the Lord’s will as he pursued planting a church in the Gaston County area. One year later, Living Hope Church was granted “mission status” by First Presbytery and he began the work to pastor and plant a new Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Belmont, North Carolina.
Mark loves spending time with his family, especially at the beach or on a lake. His favorite hobbies are fishing and golf. Mark’s passions for ministry are sharing Christ through preaching, shepherding, outreach, evangelism, and missions.