Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Bennafield.
Hi Charles, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
On March 30, 1992, I was lead to a small United Methodist church in the Lithonia, GA area to visit a church called Flat Rock. The church was pastored by a college friend that God had used to get me to the place where I would meet my wife, Pam. On this Sunday, which was family and friends day at the church, God would call me from the sidelines into ministry. For six years, I would assist Flat Rock UMC until God charged me at the beginning of 1998 to come out of the ark and establish the Hand To the Plow Ministry, which held its first Bible study on April 26th, 1998 and first worship on August 9, 1998.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path was not smooth, but there was a core of good-hearted, faithful people who stuck together as God open doors and different locations. For ten of the years, I worked 4 hours away in Savannah, Georgia, weekly traveling the 260 plus miles to be available for work, family, and church. Bible Studies were supported via conference calls and a team of gifted ministers who were always willing to play their part. Along the way, we faced many issues, none more challenging than when we purchased a building in Stone Mountain in 2011 and were prevented from getting proper zoning to establish our ministry. At each turn, God had a ram in the bush and something better in store. In 2014, God opened the doors for us to fellowship in the building with the Pentecostals of Stone Mountain for three wonderful years.
In October of 2017, after we hosted a Faith To Move Mountains Summit, God had someone from Flat Rock Community Church to reach out to me as they were going through some challenges of their own. I was prepared to help them until they found their new pastor by allowing my pastoral team to assist me in covering their church until they had found their person, only to realize that God was supplying the needs of Flat Rock Community Church and Crossroads Christian Community Church through the same means, me. On December 3rd, the churches merged, and on January 6, 2018, I was installed as the Senior Pastor of The Historic Flat Rock Community Church. Merging the churches wasn’t terribly hard outside of the normal growing pains associated with change. The first two years sailed by and then 2020 arrived and COVID 19 came with a vengeance; however, God helped us to remain open throughout the pandemic. To date, we haven’t lost anyone to COVID, and financially, we are still going strong. Our hope is to become even more relevant beyond the walls of the church during this season of change.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a bi-vocational pastor, business owner and real estate investor. I am a poet known for a poem that has a life of its own called “I am Diversity, Please Include me.” I am most proud of my ability to connect with people and meet them where they are and my faith in God and His presence at all times in every aspect of my life. I am also proud of my family and the opportunities God has before us for our future to develop a community in my hometown of Fort Gaines, GA.
What matters most to you?
Helping others and seeing them shine. Sharing the gospel and seeing people change their lives.
Contact Info:
- Email: Pastorbennafield@flatrockchurch.org
- Website: www.flatrockchurch.org
