Ben's Biography

Highlights

• Born in Elba, Alabama 1932
• Reared in rural community 1939
• First attended church in 1939
• Joined the church at 12 in 1944
• Conversion in 1949
• Preached first sermon May, 1949
• Asbury College 1950 to 1953 BA
• Asbury Theological Seminary 1954 to 1956 BD
• Southern Baptist Seminary 1958 THM
• Enrolled in Emory University Ph.D. Program 1963
• Began Lay Witness Mission Renewal effort 1962
• Founded Institute of Church Renewal 1968
• Developed Programs and Resources for Congregations
• Columbia Theological Seminary    Professor Evangelism and Church Growth  1981 to 2000
• During his tenure at CTS:
  • Created Presbyterian Evangelistic Resources
  • Founded CTS Press
  • Began Thompson Scholar Program
  • Began Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality
  • Began Certificate in Spiritual Formation
  • Authored 16 books
  • Keynote Speaker
  • Workshop Leader

• Retired from CTS in 2000
• Called to the contemplative path in 2002
• Awakened to Christian/Muslim Relations 2004
• First "Understanding Islam" Seminar  2007
• Published Beyond 9/11: Christians and Muslims Together: An Invitation to Conversation

This Story is more fully told in:
Confessing a Life
A Spiritual Odyssey

Spiritual Journey