Rev. Dr. Micheal Benton

INTERIM PASTOR

 

​Rev. Dr. Micheal Benton, a native of Lithonia, Georgia, served as Pastor of Fairfield Baptist Church from June 1977 to December 2017. He then served as Overseer from January 2018 to December 2021. The Church Conference voted on December 15, 2021, to bestow the title of Pastor Emeritus on him for over 44 years of service to Fairfield.  In February 2025, Dr. Benton was called to serve as Interim Pastor of the New Springfield Baptist Church, East Point, GA.

 

Born to the late JP and Jessie Mae Benton, Pastor Emeritus Benton received his call to the ministry in 1975. At the age of 26, he was ordained and licensed as a minister of the gospel from Big Miller Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Archbishop Jimmie L. Smith.

 

Pastor Emeritus Benton received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree in Biblical Education from the Beulah Heights Bible College in 1999. He continued his theological studies in Biblical Education at the Great Commission Seminary in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He is certified to teach by the Evangelical Training Association.

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Dr. Benton is an anointed man of God. Those who are blessed to serve under his ministry hear and receive great wisdom, an intense anointing, and the power to change. Whether churched or unchurched, his messages reach people with practical down-to-earth answers to the everyday challenges of life.

 

Pastor Emeritus Benton is known as a dynamic expository gospel preacher and revivalist with a widely traveled ministry. Dr. Benton has been known as a pastor with a shepherd’s heart. As a “pastor’s pastor”, he inspires and encourages many men and women of God, and is frequently sought out as a mentor to pastors serving congregations inside and out of the state of Georgia. He has licensed over 100 preachers, ordained 6 pastors and over 40 deacons during his 40 years of ministry at Fairfield.

 

He demonstrated himself as a spiritual man with a vision by moving the church forward and equipping the saints to do ministry. He firmly believes in and lives out the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” As a testament of his abounding faith and belief, he led the growing congregation of Fairfield Baptist Church through the construction of two sanctuaries, an administration building, a family life center, a parking deck, and the acquisition of several properties, all to the glory of God.

 

Dr. Benton enjoys spending time with his family. He is married to Dr. Y’Vonne (Brantley) Benton who has shared his life and ministry since 1975. They have six children, Keith (Marla), Nzinga, Yohance, Oya, L’Anda and Shani, and five grandchildren, Joi, Jared, Emani, Ari and Clifford, Jr.