Mary Benner, Pastor of Children and Youth
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23
"I believe that whatever God has called us to do deserves the best we have to give," says Mary. "God has given me a great love for children and youth and a passion for children and youth ministry. I feel called to provide opportunities for children and youth to use their gifts, to learn, to grow, to ask questions, to wonder, to play, and to discover their unique value in Christ. My prayer is that each child and youth, at some point in their life, will accept Jesus as their Savior."
Mary grew up in the Souderton/Telford area and has attended Souderton Mennonite Church (SMC) since birth. She attended Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas, and Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
For two years, Mary and her husband Steve participated in voluntary service through the Mennonite Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Mary started a day care center and ran neighborhood recreation and club programs for children and youth. Following that, she taught Nursery school until the birth of her first child. Prior to joining the staff, Mary served for 20 years in the children's ministry and for seven years in the youth ministry at SMC. Her favorite activities are spending time with her husband Steve, and four children Laura and husband Jesse, Josh, Caleb, and Joanna, as well as playing sports, reading, walking, and gardening.
Click here to learn about the Pathways Children's Ministry or the Youth Ministry at SMC.
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