The Honorable Bishop C.L. Hardy was born and raised in Spartanburg County, SC. After graduating with honors from the Spartanburg County public school system, he served in the U.S. Army. He and Lady Cynthia Hardy married in 1968 and have two sons, Cedric and Cory. Bishop Hardy is the Founder of New Covenant Assembly Christian Ministry in Columbia, SC, where he has pastored for forty (40) years. He continued his education at several accredited institutions (Greenville Technical College, the University of South Carolina, Columbia International University, the International Apostolic College, and St. Thomas University), and holds credentials and degrees to include a degree in Industrial Engineering, a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree, a Doctor of Theology, and a Doctor of Divinity. Bishop Hardy worked for Michelin Tire Corporation in Statistical Quality Control, Production Planning, and was later rehired as a planning consultant.
Bishop Hardy was an active member in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Incorporated (P.A.W.) for forty-six years. He is a son of the P.A.W. Bishop Hardy served as Chairman of the Carolina State Council, the South Carolina State Council and Southeastern Lay Director. He was elevated to the office of Bishop and assigned to the Philippines Council. In 2013, Bishop Hardy became a member of the Apostolic Faith Fellowship International, Incorporated (AFFI) and was assigned Diocesan of Episcopal Districts Four and Ten. Bishop Hardy later established and served as Diocesan of several other dioceses in the AFFI. In 2014, Bishop Hardy was elected to the office of Assistant Presiding Prelate of the AFFI by Bishop Charles E. Johnson and the Board of Bishops.
Bishop Hardy is an author of six publications. He is former Chairman of the BB&T Bank Local Advisory Board (Truist Financial Bank), has served on a U.S. Congressional Minority Advisory Committee, and is the recipient of “The Order of the Silver Crescent” and “The Order of the Palmetto”, which are the highest civilian honors given to citizens in the State of South Carolina. Bishop Hardy’s favorite saying is, “Do what is right.”