Ministry Background for Evangelist Ben Everson

Ben was born into a Christian home in mid-Michigan. He trusted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 9. He grew up at Calvary Baptist Church Academy in Midland, Michigan. Calvary remains his home sending church.Ben showed giftedness in music at an early age, recording a cappella music into cassette recorders at the age of 5. His parents are both top-notch musicians, and in this wonderful home and school environment he developed both his instrumental and vocal gifts.Ben was called to preach the Word of God as a sophomore in high school at a missions conference at Calvary. Dr. Don Sisk was the guest preacher. Ben put together musical groups out of high school, and they would travel in the summers, holding evangelistic meetings in churches on Sundays.Since that time, Ben pursued his calling, studying at Maranatha Baptist Bible College and then finishing at Northland Baptist Bible College under Dr. Les Ollila. Ben interned at 5 different local churches between high school and college graduation in order to gain perspective and heart for the local church.He married Amanda in 1999, and after remaing on staff at Northland for a number of years, launched out full-time in revival ministry in 2003 along with his growing family.

Brass Tacks

I’m guessing you’re on this page because you want to know my positions on all the “hot topics” in churches. That’s fine! I want to be a good fit for your church.

After almost 30 years of serving thousands of people in hundreds of churches across the USA and beyond, I can pretty much tell within about 5 minutes on a phone call if we will be a good fit for your church. Feel free to reach out to me; I’ll be honest with you!

Everyone says they don’t like to “drop names” but then everyone looks at a person’s itinerary to see where they go. I’ll save you some time and tell you some ministries that I’ve fit well with over the years. It doesn’t mean we’re identical, but we’ve been a good fit.

Mount Abiram Baptist Mission International (Dr. Bill Patterson), Pensacola Christian College, Majesty Music (Ron & Shelly Hamilton), Dr. Frank Garlock (co-wrote a book), Faith Baptist Bible College, Pastor Dan Pelletier at Hamilton Square Baptist Church (San Fran), Calvary Baptist Church in Watertown, WI, (Maranatha Baptist University), scores of churches in the West Coast Baptist College circle (and I did a chapel for WCBC a few years ago). I regularly sing and preach for Dr. Johnny Pope at Christchurch Fellowship in Houston. I’ve sung for Evangelist Ron Comfort several times in different states. I’ve been recommended by Dr. Les Ollila, Dr. Marty Von, Dr. Troy Shoemaker, Dr. Patrick Odle (Baptist Mid-Missions). I regularly minister at the Bibles International Banquet in Grand Rapids, MI.

We’ve been an excellent fit at churches on the conservative side of the GARBC. I’ve got great relationships with Camp Chetek and Camp CoBeAc and have preached and sung at both over the past few years.

If you love the Lord and are dispensational in your approach to Scripture, we will get along well.

Doctrinal Beliefs

The Bible

I believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired and infallible, authoritative Word of God and that God gave the words of Scripture by inspiration without error (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21). God promises that He will preserve His Word; Jesus said, “My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). I use the King James Version because I believe it is based on the best manuscripts (Masoretic & traditional).

I grew up in and am sent out of a church that does not hold the same position that I do on this issue when it comes to English versions. My local church ordained me fully knowing my position. I have never caused an issue on this topic in any church, and I have served in hundreds of churches over the decades that do not see eye-to-eye on this issue. I have preached at “Bob Jones” churches, “PCC” churches, “West Coast Baptist College” churches, and GARBC churches. As long as I have the freedom to preach and teach out of the King James at your church, it will not be an issue.

I am not a Ruckmanite nor do I hold to a double-inspiration theory.

God

I believe that there is one triune God, eternally existent in the persons of Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit; these three are one in essence, but distinct in person and function (Matt. 28:19, 1 John 5:7-8).

I believe that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, became for mankind the physical manifestation of the Godhead (John 1:14, John 14:9, Col. 1:19). The earthly genealogy of Jesus may be traced through Joseph’s line to Abraham (Matt. 1:1-16) and through Mary’s line to Adam (Luke 3:23-38). I believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His burial, His bodily Resurrection from the tomb, and His ascension into Heaven (Mark 16:6, Mark 16:19, 1 Cor. 15:1-4).

I believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, the Agent of conviction, regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sanctification, and illumination of all who are born into God’s family through Jesus Christ (John 3:5-6, Eph. 1:13-14). I  am opposed to the charismatic movement and its sign manifestations, such as speaking in tongues.

Creation

I believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, and that God created all life (Gen. 1). I reject the man‑made theory of evolution occurring over millions of years and believe that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old (Gen. 5, Gen. 11). I believe that God created man in His own image, but man chose to sin. Hence, all persons inherit a depraved nature and are lost sinners in need of salvation (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23).

Salvation

I believe that Christ’s blood, shed on Calvary, is the only Atonement for man’s sin (John 14:6, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, 1 John 1:9). We believe that salvation is a free gift of God for “whosoever will”; it is by grace, through faith, plus nothing, and believers are eternally secure (John 10:27-28, Eph. 2:8-10). Salvation is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work. 

I am not a Calvinist. I am highly cognisant of the issue and have studied it at length. I grew up in a church that took a moderate position on this issue, so I learned how to get along with people who are not identical to me. I do not make this an issue in my preaching, and I believe very strongly in the supremacy of God. I have served churches with a variety of flavors on this issue. 

That being said, if you are a Reformed church, we are probably not going to be a good fit, although I hope you can benefit from our God-centered music. If you are fully Arminian, we probably will not be a good fit, either, though I certainly hope you would also be encouraged by our music.

End Times

I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: those that are saved unto the resurrection of eternal life in heaven and those that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal damnation in a literal lake of fire (John 5:28-29, 1 Cor. 15:12-20, 1 Cor. 15:35-58, Rev. 20:10, Rev. 20:15).

I believe in the imminent, pre-Tribulation return of Jesus Christ for all believers (1 Thess. 4:13-17). The Rapture of the saints will be followed by a seven-year Tribulation, after which Christ will return in glory to judge the world and set up His millennial reign on earth (Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 21:1-5).

Music

Music is not a doctrinal issue like the ones above, but it is still important. And if you are considering our ministry for your church, you’ll want to know what I believe.

Some aspects of music are simply people’s opinions and taste. Other elements of music can promote false doctrine.

We have two ditches in conservative Christianity. One ditch claims anything goes. The other allows virtually nothing being created today. Both sides are in error.

I believe in being as creative as possible within biblical boundaries. I do not accept that any style can be sanitized simply by combining it with sacred text.

I also do not believe that music is a simple issue. It cannot be legislated through music theory or by a select few. Each believer is responsible to exercise discernment in this area.

I remain committed to producing the highest quality, most creative melodic and harmonic music I can. I will not be afraid to do my best to represent everything God is and nothing that He isn’t.