UNLIKELY PREACHER

Benny Tate grew up in a dysfunctional home in Tennessee. His mother was single, and his father wanted nothing to do with him. When his mom moved in with her boyfriend, he was abusive physically and emotionally to everyone in the home. She tried to leave him several times but always came back. When Benny mustered up the courage to ask her why they always returned, she told him it was because she only had a sixth-grade education and had no way to support them. After roughly 14 years, his mother finally left for good. Yet, things didn’t get much better. 

As an attempt to make a living, Benny’s mom began selling whiskey from their home at night. Benny explains, “When your family’s making a living selling whiskey illegally out of the back door of your house, there is no such thing as a good night’s sleep. I can still hear the loud screeching and heavy slamming of the old screen door at the back of our cement-block house in that tiny mountain town.” 

After another failed relationship, Benny’s mom was ready to end her life. One night, she put a gun in her pocketbook and went to her cousin's house because she didn’t want Benny to find her body. When she got there, her cousin was different and shared that she had found Christ. Both prayed together, and Benny’s mom received Jesus into her heart. Benny says it was obvious that his mother was different after her encounter with the Lord. Her newfound love for Jesus consumed her and she started praying for Benny’s salvation daily. 

Living a sinful life, Benny would hear his mother praying for him every night. He felt ashamed of his lifestyle but wasn’t ready to surrender to God. This pattern continued for some time.

He explains, “One night around midnight, I said, ‘Mama I can’t take this anymore.’” She called the pastor, who came over and told Benny that he needed to pray. Benny responded, “I’ve never been in church. I don’t know how to pray.” At that moment, at Benny’s lowest, the Holy Spirit entered the room as the pastor led Benny in the sinner’s prayer. That was over 40 years ago. 

Benny’s desire to serve God and commit his life to helping others know Him led him into ministry. He became a minister and jokingly admits that initially, he preached out of the book of “Spasms” because he didn’t know much about the Bible. In time, he learned as he read the Word and ministered on street corners, in jails, and eventually in churches. 

As senior pastor of Rock Springs Church in Milner, Georgia since 1990, the congregation has grown from 80 to 8,000 people which drastically exceeds the population of 800 people who live in that small town.

UNDERSTANDING THE COMFORTER

After teaching a Bible series about the Holy Spirit at his church in 2014, things began to change not only in Pastor Benny’s life but also throughout the congregation. 
In his book, Unlimited, he explains that people typically have three different attitudes toward the Holy Spirit:
•    Ignorance: Many Christians don’t understand who the Holy Spirit is.
•    Indifference: Lacking concern or seeing God’s spirit as unimportant. Christians typically think in terms of “saved” or “not saved.”
•    Indulgence: Having overly excessive experiences that aren’t based on biblical truths. He says the first step to getting to know the Holy Spirit is to realize He is a person. 

THE CONTINUAL FILLING

President Franklin D. Roosevelt told a funny story of growing weary from long receiving lines during White House receptions. Feeling unheard during small talk, the president decided to see if anyone was listening to him. As people shook his hand and flattered him with their words, he responded, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” As expected, people weren’t listening to him. They responded with “Marvelous!” or “Keep up the good work!” Finally, the ambassador of Bolivia listened to what the president was saying. When Roosevelt shook his hand and said, “I murdered my grandmother this morning,” the ambassador responded, “I’m sure she had it coming!” 

Benny explains, “While the story is an entertaining fact, it also serves as an example of how Christians can miss out on being filled with the Holy Spirit. If we’re not careful, we will become distracted by things such as work, stress, family schedules, relationship expectations, and social media platforms that keep us from experiencing the manifested presence and power of the Holy Spirit that is available.”

Knowing the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit, is something that Benny teaches. He says that when people give their lives to God, they don’t only get forgiveness of sins, they also receive the Holy Spirit as the seal of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). 

To purchase Benny Tate's book, Unlimited, please visit Benny's website at www.BennyTate.info.
    
    
            

 “…Lord, what is going on? What do you want us to do? And He said, ‘Pray with hope.’”

On June 5th, 2017, firefighter Rick Ralls was making his morning rounds at Station 5 in Anchorage, Alaska, when he heard loud banging and then a thud on the ground. Shane Wescott was the first paramedic to attend to Ben, who remained unresponsive. “I would compare his condition to injuries incompatible with life at that time. Uh, that's the best way I know how to put it,” says Wescott.

Ben was immediately medevacked to Providence Hospital, where his parents, Joan and Jeff Schultz awaited news on his status. They were shocked Ben was taken into surgery at once where they discovered he had suffered Diffuse Axonal Injury, or DAI, the tearing of his brain’s nerve fibers. This is the most severe type of brain injury --- he had only a 10% chance of surviving. Ben’s primary care physician, Dr. Kathy Hurlburt of over 15 years, came along his family and spoke with the medical team. Hurlburt says, “From what they could tell on his exam, it was highly unlikely that he would survive very long.”

Ben’s father Jeff had a difficult time taking the news ---- he says, “I actually, I broke down and screamed because I couldn't believe that this was happening to Ben --- I was preparing myself for him not living.” Joan Schultz, his mother had a prayerful approach from the beginning. “I'm thinking, Lord, what is going on? What do you want us to do? And He said, ‘Pray with hope.’" 

With Ben still in surgery, Ben’s parents called their church family and friends to get a prayer chain going. Jeff transparently shares, “There were times where I was angry at God; I got tired of prayer because it was just like, what are we doing this for? But quite honestly, what really bolstered my hopes, was other people saying, 'we're praying for you, we're here for you.' That was a game changer, that brought life to me.”

After several hours, Ben came out of surgery stable, but in a vegetative state. A month later, he was transported to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, that has a team that specializes in traumatic brain injuries. For another three months, his family and friends stayed by his side, praying and hoping for a miracle. Ben lay in a coma, with no signs of recovering. Then, one day about three months after his accident, Ben unexpectedly awakens from his coma on his own, to his parents’ surprise. Although now awake, Ben’s future functionality was unknown. Ben would need several surgeries across his entire body and intensive rehab as he faced the reality of life in a wheelchair.

When he finally returned to Alaska and Station 5 after several months of intensive rehab, Ben miraculously walked in, unassisted. When asked about his recovery, his doctor says, “You just can't begin to comprehend what Ben has gone through when you see him today. A fully functional, normal, healthy, vibrant, bright young man.”

Ben, along with his family, continues to defy odds and recover more every day. Now married to Carly, he works in emergency management for the city of Anchorage. Jeff and Joan Schultz believe the power of God, working through a praying community, is the reason their son is the walking miracle he is today. “Keep hoping and keep praying. That’s our motto now. We prayed, others prayed, and we saw what God did,” says Joan.

When reflecting on his long journey of recovery, Ben had this to say: “I have gained a lot more insight into the, the strength and magnanimous power of our Heavenly Father. Even when all hope was lost and how lifeless I was at that time, God picked me up. Nothing is out of reach of His arm.”

Ben’s remarkable story has been covered by several news and media agencies in the Alaska area and is known for the unique and miraculous nature in its defiance of its medical prognosis. Ben’s parents, Jeff and Joan Schultz’s book, which includes their children’s life changing events and their own brushes with death, can be found at www.shattereddreamsbook.com.
 

Juan Diego’s crossed eyes started when he was a baby. His mom, Candelaria, said she has worried about it ever since. “The doctors at a health clinic told us he would need surgery,” she said, “but to wait until he was older.”  
 
By age six, Juan said he had a hard time focusing on objects right in front of him. He said, “I like to run and play. Sometimes I fall because I can't see well.”
   
Candelaria shared, “I worry that something bad will happen. I felt like I had to watch him extra carefully and watch for things in his path.”   

Juan Diego’s dad, Alex, works at a gas station while Candelaria takes care of their children. She explained, “The doctor said the operation would cost $750 USD. That's why we haven’t done it because it’s too much for us.” She continued, “If we tried to pay for Juan Diego's surgery, we would not eat.” 
 
Operation Blessing first met the family during a medical outreach in the community. We then arranged and paid for Juan to receive free surgery to repair the muscles in his eyes.   
 
Grateful, Candelaria said, “It was God that sent you to help us! We never, never imagined we would get help like this!” 
 
Now Juan says he can see clearly and can play without falling. He also says he loves watching TV with his brothers! He told us, “Thank you for fixing my eyes!”  
 

Witness the memorable moments from Saturday's graduation event at Regent University in Virginia Beach.