We say,‘ we don’ t just get them job-ready, we get them life-ready. We don’ t just give them a handout, we give them a hand-up.’ I mean, it’ s just... It’ s so succinct, but it’ s so what we are. It’ s so what we are.”
Benner said that he got involved with Crossroads Gospel Mission through Life Under the Son, one of the organizations he was involved with founding.
“ Well, I was filling in and doing some preaching at Eastside Baptist Church. Larry Soviero, from Funston, was their interim pastor, and he asked me if I would do a few Sundays, which I did. And I met him, and he was on the board at Crossroads,” said Benner.
He said Soviero asked him to be on the board of Crossroads and he agreed, even though he was warned by friends not to get involved because the organization had“ hit rock bottom.”
“ Because, basically, every church in Colquitt County had pulled out. Only one church was supporting it. It was the Presbyterian Church that was keeping it afloat,” he added.
Jase Bass, director of Life under the Son, said,“ The Lord has used Randy Benner to change our community for the better. He has revamped this ministry that almost closed its doors. Crossroads is now updated, renovated and housing 10-20 men at a time.”
Benner said Crossroads has had its ups and downs over the years. He said he was asked at one of the board meetings if he and Bass would take authority over the organization. It was decided that just Benner would take over the authority of the organization and Bass would continue leading Life Under the Son.
“ So they elected me to be president. And I said, okay, I will on three conditions. One, we have to close the Thrift Center, which we did. We closed it in December of 2017, I think.
AUGUST 2025 MoultrieScene 19