About Elder Ben
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ben’s journey with Christ began at the age of seven, when he was invited to Sunday School at a Baptist church. Three years later, he made the life-changing decision to pray and receive Jesus as his Savior—a commitment that would shape his path in ministry.
Ben pursued his education at DePaul University in Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in accounting. A few years later, he felt a deeper calling and enrolled at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he met his wife, Carol, and earned his Master of Divinity degree. He later completed his Doctorate of Missiology at Bethel Seminary, further equipping himself for a life dedicated to missions and evangelism.
Their first ministry assignment led Ben and Carol to Baldwin Hills Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California, where Ben served as youth director, ministering to young people from the streets of Los Angeles for three years. In 1968, sensing God’s call to international ministry, the couple applied to the Baptist General Conference mission board and were appointed as missionaries to Brazil.
For the next 24 years, Ben and Carol faithfully served the people of Brazil, sharing the gospel and equipping leaders. In time, they stepped away from their mission work to care for their mothers during a difficult season. Ben then pastored Fellowship Baptist Church in Carlisle, Iowa for two and a half years before the Lord called them back to Brazil for additional years of ministry before their retirement in 2001.
Over the course of their missionary service, Ben and Carol were instrumental in:
- Evangelism throughout Brazil
- Assisting pastorless churches
- Directing a Bible school for a year
- Leading a seminary for three years
- Planting new churches
- Preparing Brazilians for cross-cultural missions
Ben and Carol were married in 1964, and their family has grown to include four children, 14 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Their legacy of faith continues to impact lives, both locally and globally.