Mark Lindstrom was appointed superintendent for the North Arkansas District. General Superintendent Carla Sunberg made the appointment with input from the District Advisory Council and Bob Broadbooks, director of the USA/Canada Region, and in consultation with the Board of General Superintendents. 

He follows Randy Berkner, who is retiring after serving as district superintendent since 2009. Lindstrom will assume his new role 1 January 2019 and will be eligible for reelection at the July 2021 district assembly.

To determine who might be a suitable contender to lead the North Arkansas District, surveys were sent out across the district and focus groups were organized to create a profile document that would guide the district’s search for a new superintendent.

“We believe Dr. Lindstrom fulfills so many of the criteria that was outlined in the profile document,” said Mark Snodgrass, secretary of the North Arkansas District Advisory Council. “He is a pastor to pastors.”

Lindstrom responded to the call to preach at 18 years old and attended Trevecca Nazarene University, where he met his wife, Kelly Purnell. After graduating in 1996 with a degree in pastoral ministries, he attended Nazarene Theological Seminary, completing his Master of Divinity degree in 1999. While pastoring growing churches in Tennessee and Arkansas, he finished the Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2006.

Mark and Kelly served as lead pastor at Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene from 2003 to 2010. After that, Mark served as the lead pastor of Grace Church of the Nazarene in Columbia, Tennessee. Under his leadership, the congregation has seen numerical and spiritual growth, completed multiple building projects, planted a new church, and served as a resource for other churches on the MidSouth District.

The Lindstroms currently reside in Columbia, Tennessee.

--Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada