A Michigander by birth, Ben was raised on his family’s farm in Cassopolis, MI approximately 100 miles southwest of Lansing. By God’s grace, Ben was brought up in a Christian home; and during his teenage years, under the influence of his youth pastor, came to sincere faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
He graduated from Wheaton College in 2000 with a double major in Business/Economics and Bible/Theology. Following his undergraduate education, Ben served as a financial analyst for an investment firm in Grosse Pointe, MI. From there, he transitioned to Afghanistan, where he served as Country Director for Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.
After the completion of Ben’s service in Afghanistan, Ben returned to work with his father on the family farm. It was during that time that God directed Ben to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary for further education in preparation for vocational ministry. After graduation from Gordon-Conwell in the spring of 2009 with a Master of Divinity degree, Ben joined the ministry staff at South Church as Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Discipleship.
Ben married his wife, Rachel, in 2006; and they welcomed their first child, Jonah Allen, into the world in October of 2009. Rachel is a native of Iowa and is a graduate of Taylor University, where she studied Communications and Public Relations.
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