Dr. Joseph Benjamin Hardwick is the Senior Pastor of Praises of Zion Missionary Baptist Church “Praise City” in Los Angeles, California. As a youth, Dr. Hardwick moved with his family from his hometown of Oklahoma to California and settled in the South Los Angeles area.
At the tender age of 17 during his senior year at Jefferson High School, Dr. Hardwick received his call to ministry. It was under the leadership of the late Reverend T.P. Moss of Greater New Zion Baptist Church and Reverend G. Albert Miller of Bethel Baptist Church, that Dr. Hardwick’s ministry was developed. After earning his Bachelors of Arts degree at California State University Dominguez Hills he continued his biblical studies receiving a Master’s in Second Education at the University of San Francisco and dual Doctoral degrees from Reed College of Religion and Bible Believers College and Seminary.
Prior to Praises of Zion, Dr. Hardwick first organized a small ministry called Golden Gate Mission Church. Golden Gates’ mission was to bridge the gap between God and his people through the work of spiritual education and counseling. Through God’s grace, membership at Golden Gate Mission increased thus
encouraging Dr. Hardwick to build Praises of Zion in 1955.
It was during this time, that the communities of South Los Angeles experienced a turbulent period of social issues. Praises of Zion stood out like a beacon of light where the doors of the church were always opened. Being a man of deep social consciousness and a genuine love for people, following the 1965-Watts Riot, Dr. Hardwick searched for a way to further service the impaired South Los Angeles communities. In an effort to reconstruct and stimulate these shattered communities, he founded Personal Involvement Center in 1971.
The Personal Involvement Center is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to providing vital services to families throughout Southern California. Dr. Hardwick has served many years in the District, State, and National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. In 1987, Dr. Hardwick was first elected as President of the Western Baptist State Convention and served until 1991.
He was re-elected as president in 1995 and continues to serve in this position today. Dr. Hardwick has helped to bring vision, integrity, and stewardship to the Western Baptist State Convention. President Hardwick implemented food, school, and toy drives for the families in need, the J. Benjamin Hardwick Scholarship Program, strengthened the District Associations and introduced the “Memorial Fund” to assist families during the loss of a love one.
Dr. Hardwick’s desire to promote, nourish, develop and enhance the welfare of others has led to many honors and achievements such as Director of Children’s Work for the State of California, recipient if the Humanitarian Award from the City of Los Angeles, “Keys” to the City, Inductee for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall of Preachers, helped organize the Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr. parade, board member of the development of Martin Luther King, Jr. hospital in Los Angeles and Life Member of the NAACP, Chairman of the Metropolitan Interfaith Coalition of Southern California, the City of Los Angeles named the corners of 83rd & San Pedro” Hardwick Circle”, ACC Pauline Award, Oxford’s “Who’s Who”, Pastor of the year 1968 and 1995, WHW Ministries Pastor of the Year and over 100 various other awards and commendations.
Dr. Hardwick has been married to First Lady Thelma Hardwick for nearly 63 years, they have two sons, Troy and Derrick and four grandchildren. The measure of Dr. Hardwick’s extraordinary success can be found in his core message: Fulfilling the Old Testament and preparing people for the atonement of Christ.
To God Be the Glory!
