General Superintendent Gustavo A. Crocker announced the election of Kevin T. Hardy as superintendent of the Michigan District. 

Elected 17 July on the first ballot, Hardy replaces interim superintendent Glen Gardner, the district superintendent for Eastern Michigan who accepted the temporary, additional assignment during John Seaman's medical leave. A beloved leader, Seaman passed away in March. 

Hardy currently pastors the Crossroads Church of the Nazarene in Ellicott City, Maryland. He will begin his new assignment 17 August.

Prior to serving at Crossroads for nearly 17 years, Hardy pastored the Concord, New Hampshire, Church of the Nazarene for seven years. Additional pastoral assignments included Roanoke (East Gate), Virginia; Nashua, New Hampshire, and Williston, Vermont. He began ministry as a youth pastor for six years and has been in pastoral ministry for a total of 29 years.

Hardy is described as “an outstanding pastor with evangelistic skills.” The Michigan District stated he “has a magnetic personality and is passionate about drawing people to Christ” in a communication released by the district.

The district shared the following when announcing the election results:

Kevin’s life story is a remarkable testimony. Here it is in his own words:

“I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up in the inner city with my five brothers and sister. We were a Catholic family in name only. My father passed away when I was 11 years old. My mother wanted to get out of the city and moved the family to Cape Cod. I was angry and ran away from home. The State of Massachusetts placed me in a foster home. I lived in the foster home from 12-17 years old. During this time, a local Nazarene church reached out to my family through VBS. My mom, brothers, and sisters all received Christ and attended church regularly. My mother started to pray for me and shared with the church to pray for me.

“When I was 16, Mom invited me to church on Easter Sunday. I went reluctantly, but that day my life was changed. At the end of the service, I went to an altar and asked Jesus Christ into my life. The Emmanuel Church of the Nazarene became my family and helped me grow in my faith. God called me to be a pastor when I was 17 years old.”

Hardy graduated from Eastern Nazarene College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion in 1988. In 2008, he earned a Master’s in Pastoral Leadership from Northwest Nazarene University. While preparing for ministry at ENC, Kevin met his wife, Jane. They have been married for 28 years. He describes her as his “partner in life and ministry.”

They have three young adult children: Weston, Patrick, and Kristin.

Under Kevin’s leadership, Crossroads Church of the Nazarene grew from 305 to 773 members, reports the Michigan District. Crossroads has sponsored 14 new churches and has a vision to plant five new churches by 2020. Two have already been started: one on the island of Curaçao, and one started this past Easter in a nearby community.

After the Michigan District Advisory Committee (DAC) interviewed Kevin, it believed him to be a “visionary and an inspiring leader,” states the district. Kevin describes his style of leadership as "relational." Through prayer and reflection, according to the district, he agreed to have his name recommended by the DAC for the district superintendent of Michigan.

The delegation of the 104th District Assembly on the Michigan District voted to accept the name the DAC recommended. Kevin’s name was presented, along with a biography. He was elected by the delegation on the first ballot. He accepted the call to be district superintendent.

“My heart is heavy as I walk into new territory – but I am certain of God's leading,” Kevin wrote. “My Crossroads family – I love you! Michigan – I am looking forward to meeting you and serving you.”

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