REVEREND DR. BYRON L. BENTON

The Rev. Dr. Byron L. Benton is a prolific pastor, preacher, and teacher who loves God, God’s word, and God’s people. He serves as the 10th Senior Pastor in the 132-year history of the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (3MBC) in North Charleston, South Carolina. Born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Pastor Benton earned his undergraduate degree in business education and administrative systems from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, focusing on homiletics and pastoral care, and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University. Pastor Benton is a trusted voice on various boards and institutions and speaks nationwide on critical issues affecting families. He advises the Four Rivers Outreach Community Development Corporation and serves on the board of directors for Roper Hospital, the Lowcountry Food Bank, and Healing Care Ministries. Additionally, he is the founder and host of the Mountaintop Manna Podcast and co-founder of the A Pastor and a Therapist Podcast.

Pastor Benton has earned numerous awards. While attending Princeton Theological Seminary, he received the Aaron E. Gast Award in Urban Ministry, the Jagow Award in Homiletics and Speech, and the Ray Lindquist Award in Pastoral Care. As the associate pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY, he was featured as the “Black New Yorker” in the Amsterdam News and received a congressional record for his community involvement.
Pastor Benton’s talents extend beyond the pulpit and classroom. A gifted percussionist, he served as the Chaplain of the N.C. A&T State University Band, known as The Marching Machine. While in Brooklyn, New York, he founded the award-winning Berean Community Drumline and traveled across the country and world singing, playing bucket drums, and stepping as a Souls Steps, LLC member. He later served as the founding member and became the pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he also co-founded the Berean Community Center and became Vice President of the Garden on Millbrook Catering Company, Inc. Dr. Benton also worked as an assistant instructor at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina, teaching courses in Homiletics and Black Church Studies.

A passionate advocate for holistic well-being, Dr. Benton promotes spiritual, mental, and physical health. He completed the TCS New York Marathon and continues to seek challenges that reflect his faith in Christ's transformative power. He is the visionary behind the Temple Cleanse Consecration, a Christ-centered 40-day holistic health challenge that has been empirically shown to reduce stress and enhance spiritually and physically healthy habits.
Under Pastor Benton’s leadership, 3MBC has seen significant growth, various new ministries have been established, and the church has become more technologically advanced. 3MBC’s live streaming and social media presence, created during his first year, swiftly became a vital tool for survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. To adequately care for the congregation, 3MBC transitioned to virtual-only services in March 2020 and later added outdoor worship services on special occasions. These innovations enabled the church to reach people more safely and effectively with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ during a time of extreme crisis.

Additionally, 3MBC collaborated with Fetter Health Care Network to establish a COVID-19 testing site, delivering vital services to underserved communities. In January 2021, 3MBC became the first church in the Tri-county area to offer COVID-19 vaccines, administering over 500 doses to seniors in a single day. The church also partnered with Lowcountry Food Bank for significant food distribution efforts, aiding hundreds of families and thousands of individuals during difficult times
Since Dr. Benton’s tenure began at 3MBC, the church has experienced spiritual, numerical, and financial growth, eliminating $5.9 million in debt within the first six years. His work with the Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM) has been crucial in addressing health inequalities, affordable housing, and racial disparities in policing. As a founding member of Movement 400, he continues to challenge racial inequities within the Charleston County School System. Pastor Benton sincerely believes that the transformative power of Jesus Christ can change any situation and renew all mindsets.

Pastor Benton is married to his best friend and soulmate, Yasmeen Hadaway. Together, they have three daughters: Arianna, Mayara, and Zaya, and they are dedicated to growing in love for God and each other.