Tanner Ward was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina and was saved at the young age of five years old. As a sixteen year old, he was serving with the Boys and Girls through his local church where he felt the Lord calling him to ministry. Later, Tanner was accepted into the Hunts Scholars Program (now known as the Timothy Scholars Program) at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated Magnum Cum Lade with his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry and Preaching. While he was in seminary, he served at Green Street Baptist Church of High Point, NC as Student Ministry Associate. In May of 2022, Tanner married Hannah Webb Ward and accepted the call to Laurel Hill Baptist Church in August of 2022. Tanner currently serves as the College Pastor at First Baptist Church Atlanta, GA.

In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, fishing, playing golf and watching UNC basketball and football.