Meet David Benedict!
David sensed a call to ministry (no flashing lights!) as an inner conviction while still in high school. He went on to study at Manhattan (KS) Christian College (MCC) and earned master's degrees from Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis) and Kansas State University.
His active ministry began while at MCC by serving several small churches as a student, and two churches in Indiana while in seminary.
Through the years, additional ministries were as a Professor (Speech, Preaching, Radio Production) at MCC. During that time, he served as an elder at Crestview Christian Church in Manhattan. He then was Minister of Communications at Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS, Professor of Communications at Pacific Christian College in Fullerton, CA, and Minister of Media and Publication at Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, CA, for 18 years.
An important part of David’s ministry has been his interest in Christian media, and he produced several Christian radio programs, and participated in a number of Christian TV productions. He is a creative writer and has written two plays for church production and has produced and directed around 50 dramatic productions in various churches, including at CCMH.
His partner in ministry for most of those years was his wife Patricia “Patsy” Summers, a native of Mountain Home. They first met in the fifth grade but didn’t date until they were seniors at MHHS. They married at First Christian Church in Mountain Home after they both attended and graduated from Manhattan Christian College in 1961. Patsy had active teaching and leadership roles in the churches they served. She was also a breadwinner for the family for many years as a very knowledgeable Bible department Associate in three different Christian bookstores.
David and Patsy were married for 50 years and 10 days.
Now a widower, David refers to Patsy as “my ‘early’ (not late) wife, because she went to heaven first.”
They have three adult sons living in various parts of the country, and an adult grandson in Pennsylvania.
Serving Christ at CCMH is like “coming home” for David. He and Patsy retired here in 2007. In “retirement” he first became an elder at CCMH and then started organizing ministry for Senior Adults. The other elders asked him to assume that role as a part-time staff member in 2019— and continue as an elder.
“I count it a wonderful blessing,” David says, “that I can still be active in ministry in my mid-eighties, and I love encouraging our CCMH seniors to find ways to serve throughout life. I also keep myself young in heart working with our great younger elders, our ministry staff, and all the people that make CCMH an effective and loving local church.”