Deacons

Connie Barnes (Chair),
Diane Duncan, William Massengill, Rayvon Best,  Amy Whittington,
Marie Fox, Braston Newton,  Natalie Farris, Anita Tart

Ministerial Staff

Rev. Dr.
Lawrence Powers

Senior
Pastor

Lawrence has lived in the Johnston County area since high school and is a graduate of Smithfield Selma High.

Prior to coming to BBC, he served as a Campus Minister with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina at ECU, NC State, UNC-CH, Meredith College, Peace University, and as Baptist Chaplain at Duke University. He also served in various churches as both a Minister to College Students and Minister to Youth.

He is a three-time graduate of Campbell University: Bachelor of Arts (Religion and Philosophy), Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry.

He loves the beach, mountains, and cheering on the Camels. He is married to Heather and together they have three kids, and three dogs.

Ordination to the ministry by Oakmont Baptist Church, Greenville, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation.

Rev.
Will Raybon

Associate Pastor for Children, Youth, and Families

Will spent most of his life in the mountains of Western North Carolina, but is excited to now be living in the Johnston County area!

Before beginning his tenure at BBC, he served for three years as the Associate Youth Minister at First Baptist Greenville, SC. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity where he received his Master of Divinity.

He loves the outdoors, hiking, and traveling. He is married to Celine, a second grade teacher at South Smithfield Elementary School, and they have a goofy hound dog named Indy.

Ordination to the ministry by First Baptist Church, Asheville, a dually aligned Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Alliance of Baptists congregation.

Rachel
West

Interim Contemporary
Worship
Leader

Before coming to Benson, Rachel has worked in various churches all in youth ministry roles. She is a 2020 graduate of Campbell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Studies and is working towards her Master of Divinity there as well. Rachel also currently works as a Graduate Assistant with the College of Arts and Sciences department at Campbell.

Rachel loves all things music and songwriting, as well as preaching in her spare time. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Rachel lives in Newton Grove with her family and fur baby, Bella.

Minister
David Woolsey

Minister of Traditional Music & Organist

A native of Rocky Mount, David began playing the organ in churches during his junior high school years.  After pursuing other interests for several years, he has returned to church music with a renewed sense of call.  David comes to Benson Baptist Church with experience in music ministry and pastoral ministry in North Carolina and South Carolina.

David lives in Raleigh with his wife Amy, and son David.

Licensed to the ministry by the French Protestant (Huguenot) Church of Charleston, South Carolina.

Support Staff

Debbie
Champagne

Administrative
Assistant

Debbie is a military veteran, mother, and grandmother, She has embodied the word “service” all of her life.  She has demonstrated that embodiment at Benson Baptist for over twenty-one years by attending to the needs of anyone who might call or stop by our church office.

Her selflessness is rooted in her own faith in the God who selflessly loves us, and every person who graces the door of Benson Baptist is blessed because of it.

Jacob
Jones

Facilities
Manager

Jacob joins our staff after a career as an engineer in the military and higher education settings.

He is married and has multiple children.

River T.
Otter

Children's Ministry Associate

River T. Otter joined our staff during the pandemic to help with Children's sermons on Sunday mornings. When he's not recording those from his Den, he enjoys swimming, sun-bathing, and eating Swedish Fish!