|
Jeff Bennett's testimony
When I was 18, I was asked by some friends to go to a basketball tournament. I played High School basketball, so a basketball tournament sounded intriguing to me. They said we would play 3-6 games on a Saturday. I asked how much did it cost and they said they would pay my way. I asked where it was and they said they would take me and buy my food. I said, "Free food, ride and basketball... SURE!" We lost the first two games and I was not happy. I thought the players on my team were lousy. I was not very happy with them. The tournament stopped and they asked everyone to go sit down in the bleachers. I went up to the highest row as far away as I could get from my teammates. It was near Christmas in 1975. The speaker got up and started talking about the baby Jesus in the manger. He then referred to this Baby as the Creator of the universe. That really caught my attention because I had never gone to church or read the Bible and never intended on doing either. My high school staunchly taught evolution so the idea of a "creator" was intriguing to me. He went on to explain that this Creator, loved me, died for me (and my sins), rose again, ascended to Heaven, and wanted to forgive my sin and give me peace. I was astounded. I went right down to the front. I told the speaker I would try it for one day, but if it did not work today, then I would never darken the doors of a church. He said, "You have got a deal." Someone took me into a side room and explained the gospel message to me. I said I did not know what to do. He said just pray. I said I have never prayed before. He said, just talk to God as you would a good friend. I said I could do that. When I went to pray to ask God to forgive me of my sins and give me this peace, God made it clear to me that if I wanted all of Him that I had to give Him all of me. I had to give Him, my parties, my long hair, my music, and all of me. So when I prayed, I not only asked God to forgive my sins and give me peace, but I also gave Him all of me. He filled me with His peace, light, and life. AMEN! The light and peace He filled my spirit with that day have been constant and ever abiding companions through life's blessings and tragedies.
Ruth Bennett's testimony
I praise the Lord that I grew up in a Godly Christian home. My mom told me that I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was four, but I did not remember. So, when I was nine years old, I knew that I was a sinner and I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to save me (which He did). We went to church camp every year and it was every year at camp that it was confirmed in my spirit that I wanted to follow Jesus and please Him with my whole life.
Introduction Letter
I (Jeff) was saved my senior year of high school (in 1975) at a Word of Life Basketball tournament. I attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music, where I met my wonderful wife Ruth. I graduated from Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music (GRSBM) in 1979 (Pastoral major) [plus one year of their graduate program]. Ruth graduated with a Christian Education major.
The Lord had blessed us with three wonderful children (seven total; six of which are now in Heaven) who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and wanted to serve Him. When two of our teen children went home to be with the Lord (via a drunk driver), we needed a change because we are now no longer the people we once were. After much prayer, I sold my successful mortgage company and went to Temple Baptist Seminary where I received my Master's Degree in Biblical Studies (and an M. Div. equivalent) in 2002 and my Doctorate of Ministry in 2006.
Asking the Lord to lead us to where He wanted us to serve, we were approached by Heath Charles who is the president of Blue Water Bible College in St. Thomas Island (which is a U.S. territory in the Virgin Islands). He asked me to come and teach in the Bible College and help him start a seminary for training the nationals primarily in the area of apologetics (my passion area) and other needed Christian ministry subjects in the Virgin Islands. I will be traveling to the various Virgin Islands on the weekends and in the summer, working with the Pastors in apologetic issues and helping them to be able to defend the faith in a more effective way. I will also be conducting seminars in churches, assisting them in whatever way the Lord directs. Ruth will be conducting women's Bible studies and teaching piano and organ.
You can contact us by phone: 423-698-2077,
or e-mail: benljc@yahoo.com
|
