LONGTIME EDEN PASTOR TO RETIRE
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Pastor Benny Wood Retiring After 42 Years at Tri-City Baptist Church
(Eden, NC) – In 1951, Kennie and Mary Etta Wood of Dunn, North Carolina, took their 12-year-old son Benny to hear Evangelist Billy Graham at the Raleigh Memorial Coliseum in Raleigh. Dr. Billy Graham delivered a gospel message that changed the course of Benny Wood’s life. After hearing the Gospel, Benny Wood accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He has been serving Him ever since.
As a teenager, Benny Wood accepted the call to preach, delivering his first sermon in 1957. In preparation for the ministry, Benny graduated from Campbell College, where he served as the president of the Ministerial Conference, and then earned his Masters of Divinity Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966.
Throughout his life, Benny Wood has served several churches in various roles. He has served as an evangelist, youth pastor, associate pastor, minister of music, bus director, and senior pastor. In 1979, he founded Tri-City Baptist Church in Eden, and has served as the Senior Pastor ever since. On June 19, 2022, at 11 a.m., Pastor Benny Wood will preach his final sermon as the Pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church.
Affectionately known by his congregation and the members of his community as “Preacher Wood,” Preacher Wood has boldly proclaimed the Gospel for over 65 years. Although retiring from full-time ministry, Preacher Wood plans to continue delivering sermons in some capacity for as long as the Lord gives him the strength to do so. Preacher Wood is well-known in Rockingham County for his love of Jesus and his love for all people, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. He has always had an unshakable belief that all people can be redeemed. For over 42 years, it has been commonplace for the people of Eden and Stoneville to see the buses of Tri-City Baptist Church, often driven by Preacher Wood, going all over the area to pick people up for church. His ministry has positively impacted thousands of people in this area to an extent Preacher Wood will never know this side of Heaven. He has been married to Linda Wood, a well-beloved, retired nurse, for 55 years, and she has faithfully supported his ministry and served by his side all the way. The members of Tri-City Baptist Church would like to invite everyone to join us this Sunday at 11 a.m. at Tri-City Baptist Church on NC 135 to worship the Lord and celebrate Preacher Wood as he delivers his final sermon as the Pastor of the Church.
News Release • June 15, 2022
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