South Central Baptist Association

On August 19, 2013, Pastor Ben began his second term of ministry with the Association as Interim Director of Missions. He previously served as Interim DOM from 2005-2007. At its annual meeting on October 18, 2014, Association members elected him Director of Missions.

Pastor Ben has been a bivocational pastor since 1995, ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1997. He served five previous churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Pennsylvania, the most recent of which in Lykens from October 2004 to July 2019.

Pastor Ben has served in both non-profit and for-profit corporations since 1991. Among his non-profit ministries, he served at Dallas Theological Seminary from 1991 to 2002, Philadelphia Biblical University (now called Cairn University) from 2002-2004, various school districts and colleges from 2004-2006, SCBA from 2005-2007, the Northern Dauphin Revitalization Project from 2006-2012, and now again in SCBA. He writes grants and consults in various crisis situations for both non-profits and for-profits since 2004, and he served briefly as Chief Financial Officer at a radio station in 2012-2013.

Pastor Ben holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Higher Education (minor in theological studies), a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Christian Education (minor in academic ministries), and a B.S. from Lancaster Bible College in Bible (minor in pastoral ministries). He has completed advanced studies in curriculum and instruction from Drexel University.

Pastor Ben enjoys trail runs, weight-lifting, and trail design/building/maintenance. He escapes to the central New Jersey beaches every other weekend in the summers. And while he believes Apple products are the only useful tools on the globe, he gently consoles those who labor with their PCs.

Pastor Ben trusted Christ as his personal savior at age 5. He rededicated his life to Christ at age 12 and was baptized that same summer. He felt a call to ministry at age 17 and pursued pastoral training. Pastor Ben enjoys preaching, teaching, and administration, his primary gifts.

On January 1, 2014 Pastor Alberto Hernandez began his new ministry as Director of Ethnic Ministries at SCBA. He previously served at SCBA in partnership with Keystone Baptist Association, the North American Mission Board, and the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania and South Jersey during the previous 14 years as Hispanic Catalytic Missionary.

Pastor Alberto is a bivocational pastor, leading Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church) in Lancaster, PA since 2015. Pastor Alberto previously served as a pastor and evangelist in Peru, South America where he ministered internationally.

Pastor Alberto and his wife, Jenny, make their home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They have four children, and two of their children are presently in college.

Pastor Garret served previously at the Oswego Drive Community Baptist Church and has been pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethtown for six years. During 2019 he continues his role as Association Moderator in which he leads all association meetings and is a member of the Administrative Council, the association's advisory board to the Director of Missions.

Dave was elected Treasurer of SCBA in October 2018. He serves also as Treasurer at Bethel Baptist Church (Manheim) and has served as Treasurer at Silver Spring Baptist Church (Marietta). Dave is a controller/accountant and serves the Lord everywhere with grace and integrity.

Betty is a member at Emmanuel Baptist, Elizabethtown, and served 23 years as the Association's Treasurer. She was instrumental in the acquisition of property now used as the Association's home office and serves as Treasurer of Emmanuel for more than 30 years. Betty is a 40-year executive with the Ryder Rental Corporation.