Our Pastor
Pastor Ben Mandrell
Ben Mandrell’s ministry journey has always been marked by a willingness to follow God’s leading—and to serve faithfully in every assignment. Along the way, his wife, Lynley, has been a steady and trusted partner in the work, offering her gifts in quiet yet meaningful ways throughout each season of ministry.
In his mid-20s, Ben became the college pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. Senior Pastor Phil Jett soon recognized his gift for preaching and invited him to step regularly into the pulpit, eventually entrusting him with the Sunday evening service. That gathering grew significantly over the next two years. At age 29, with Phil’s full support, the deacons asked Ben to become the next senior pastor. Over seven years of ministry, the church experienced steady growth and spiritual renewal.
In time, Ben and Lynley sensed a new calling: to plant a church in Denver—one of the most unreached cities in North America. What began with 11 people in their living room became a thriving congregation. While Ben focused on preaching and vision, Lynley served faithfully behind the scenes—helping shape the children’s ministry, encouraging volunteers, and lending her creative eye to the church’s aesthetic, both in temporary spaces and during the renovation of their permanent facility.
In 2019, the Mandrells returned to Tennessee when Ben was called to serve as president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. He stepped into a season of significant transition, tasked with helping reimagine the organization’s future following the closure of its retail stores. During this time, Lynley continued to invest in ministry life, co-hosting The Glass House podcast to support pastors and their families and participating in staff development and service initiatives.
At his core, Ben is passionate about preaching, developing people, and building healthy, Gospel-centered cultures. While grateful for the opportunity to lead in national spaces, he and Lynley have always felt most at home in the life of the local church.
Ben holds degrees from Anderson University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Union University, and he has authored several Bible studies for Lifeway’s curriculum ministry.
The Pastor Search Committee unanimously selected Ben and invited him to preach in view of a call on Sunday, July 13, 2025. His sermon came from Psalm 127, and he reminded us to live out the truth of the Gospel and keep the Lord first or our efforts will be in vain.
“Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.” Psalm 127:1
The Mandrell Family
- Ben and Lynley were married August 4, 2001.
- The couple has four children: Ava (married to Miles Denton), Max, Miles, and Jack.
