Tom Bennardo greets FEC churches from his new home in San Clemente, California
Tom Bennardo is embarking on a new journey, one he calls “a young man’s game.” This past month, he left what is by all accounts a highly successful ministry at Life Community Church in Hilliard, Ohio, (one that he planted for FEC over 20 years ago) to travel across the country in pursuit of new leads for church plants in the western part of the nation. As FEC’s new director of pastoral development & western U.S. church multiplication, Tom has been tasked with building up FEC’s presence west of the Rocky Mountains, providing pastoral support, and equipping young leaders in their theological development. It’s a challenge he and his wife, Marcia, have embraced wholeheartedly. “We were at a place where we sensed that God was asking us to stretch yet again for the next generation of kingdom work,” says Tom. “I love what I’ve done, but if there’s a second act in my ministry, perhaps this is the time.”
Tom and Marcia are uniquely suited for the position, possessing a wide range of pastoral experiences—everything from planting churches and building up a large ministry to managing an effective pastoral team. They even feel at home on the west coast, having planted a church there early in their ministry. From his home base in San Clemente, California, Tom lives within driving distance of a dozen Christian colleges and seminaries, where he has maintained close connections. He plans to use those resources to connect with pioneering young men who might be ideally suited to plant reproducing churches for FEC. In addition, Tom will serve as a pastor to the church planters, building them up, equipping them in their theological development, and helping them overcome obstacles in ministry.
In order to succeed in this new venture, Tom needs your help. If you’ve heard of people who might be sensing God stirring them to establish a reproducing church, please let him know. You can reach Tom at t.bennardo@fecministries.org.
