Ordination Blog

Welcome to my ordination blog!  This is a small webpage started for the convenience of the ordination committee of the Athanasius Presbytery of the Communion of Reformed and Evangelical Churches [CREC] as well as for the Session, Consistory, and Congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, Fl, where I am seeking ordination.  This site is intended to act as a central repository so that rather than receiving individual documents as a series of bulky email attachments, committee members can simply check this link to find the latest versions of my papers, sample audio sermons, and the biographical information that they've requested.  Thank you for visiting.  Your feedback is appreciated!

Sample Sermon #1 - "Peace! Be Still!"; Mark 4.35-41

To access this Sample Trinity Season sermon, preached on June 24, 2012, at Valparaiso, FL, click here.

Sample Sermon #2 - "Easter Sermon"; Luke 24.36-49

To access my Resurrection sermon, preached on April 22, 2012 at Valparaiso, FL, click here.

Sample Sermon #3 - "Christ, the Light of the World"; John 8.12-30

To access this Lenten Sermon, preached in Feb 29, 2012 in Annapolis, MD,  click here.

Sample Sermon #4 - "The Cosmic Clash of Christ, the Light of the World: the context of the most famous verse in the Bible"; John 3.14-21

To access this sermon, preached on Mar 25, 2012 in Annapolis, MD, click here.

Heel over Head: My O.T. Exegetical Paper

To access my Old Testament exegetical paper on the curse and protevangelium pericope of Genesis 3.6-19 click here.

A Meager Offering: My N.T. Exegetical Paper

To access my New Testament Exegetical Paper on Mark 6.35-44, click here.

Ben's Bio

I had the immeasurable blessing of being raised in a Christian home.  Growing up, I cannot remember a time when my father was not a deacon in or my mother was not secretary of our Baptist church.  Nor can I remember any point in my life when I did not believed in God and His Christ as my Savior.  However, as was fitting in that context, I made my first "profession of faith" at the age of four and was promptly baptized.  Furthermore, as was expected, I rededicated my life after a revival service at the age of twelve and was then rebaptized.  


My parents worked diligently to allow me a private Christian or homeschool education from kindergarten forward.  And when I graduated from a Christian high school, my youth and senior pastors along with several fellow church members encouraged me to pursue the vocational ministry.  I did this at Baptist Bible College for 5 semesters.  After that, I returned home, to get married, work, and continue my education.  I ended up enrolling at several institutions [Baltimore Hebrew University, Towson State U, etc.] and eventually returned to BBC to complete my B.S. in Biblical Studies.  In the meantime, I had begun a teaching career at Classical and Christian schools and homeschool tutorials in my area and had become the father of several.  


During this time I also discovered the Reformed Church and Reformation theology, which I received as food for a hungry soul [as did my wife beside me - thanks be to God].  My family and I became members of a Reformed Baptist church and worshiped and served there for seven years.  During that time, my desire to preach, lead worship, and minister to Christ's flock never left me.  In fact, these desires increased and matured over the years.  So I renewed my pursuit of the vocational ministry, working with the pastors and attending several RB seminary modules in Easley, SC.  


As a teacher in the ACCS, I had become increasingly aware of, persuaded by, and attracted to the CREC over the years.  In the providence of God, an appropriate time presented itself, and with the blessing of my RB elders, I transferred my membership to CREC Annapolis and began a discipleship and ministry internship under Gregg Strawbridge in Lancaster.  With Gregg's support and under the authority of his session and consistory, I joined several other men in 2 CREC churchplant efforts in Northern and Central Maryland while continuing to preach and minister in Lancaster and Annapolis whenever possible.  


During this period, and through Gregg's influence, my name was submitted to the pulpit committee of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, Florida.  After a lengthy process, they extended a call to me to intern under their current pastor, take his duties as provisional pastor, and study for ordination in the fall.  I gratefully accepted and this Spring, my wife, our five children, and I moved from Norther Maryland to the Florida panhandle.


I enjoy spending time with my family, working on our historic home, audiobooks, good food and drink, exercise, time outdoors, and am learning to enjoy the Gulf immensely.