Bennie Randolph

Rev. Bennie Randolph was born on October 10, 1950, in Nettleton, Mississippi. He was a bus kid who attended Bro. G.H. Hill’s church. Growing up there, Buddy Hill served as the Sunday School superintendent, and Bennie always admired him and desired to be like him. At that time, Bennie never thought about becoming a minister. However, his grandmother had a different vision for his life. She once told him that when he was a little boy sitting on her knees, she would bounce him and pray that the Lord would allow him to become the little preacher of the family.

Times were very hard during those years, and Bennie grew up understanding the meaning of hard work. When he first entered the workforce, he earned $5.00 a day working from sunup to sundown. Later, he found a job paying 79 cents an hour, and eventually moved to another position where he earned 97 cents an hour. He purchased his first car, an old ’53 Chevy, for just $50.

Not long after, Bennie met his bride-to-be, Joyce Steele, from Fulton. They were married on December 22, 1967. They began their family while living in Fulton. Eventually, they purchased a small farm where they began farming and raising a few animals.

Bennie began working in construction for a specialty contractor, where he remained for approximately 20 years before starting his own construction business.

Then, in the late 1970s, Bennie received his call to the ministry. This brought a significant change to his life. He became more involved in the church and began evangelizing, ministering in churches across many states.

At the beginning of 1991, Rev. Charles James, pastor of the church in Pontotoc, asked Bennie to come and minister there. The church had gone through a difficult season, and only a few people remained. Shortly after Bennie’s arrival, Pastor James suffered a heart attack and was not expected to survive. While visiting him in the hospital, an agreement was made for Bennie to help pastor the church until Pastor James was able to return.

In April 1991, Bennie came to Pontotoc as a helper pastor and eventually became the pastor. After he had been there for some time, a special church service brought back a dream he had experienced years earlier. He suddenly realized that the church building he had seen in that dream was the very same building where he was now ministering.

In the beginning, there were only 11 people, but the church has continued to grow. The original building has been remodeled, a new 60-by-100-foot family center has been added, and additional land and buildings have been purchased. Today, there is a thriving campus and a revived church known as Pontotoc Apostolic Church (PAC).

Throughout his ministry, Pastor Randolph has witnessed many miracles in the lives of people. He believes that God can do anything and that nothing is too small or too great for the Lord.

His faith has also been tested within his own family. Bennie and Joyce had two children: a son, Bennie Jr., known as Freddy, and a daughter, Connie. In June 2018, their son suffered a stroke that left him without the use of his right side. Then, on August 16, 2018, their daughter, Connie, passed away from a rare form of cancer.

After 35 years of serving as pastor to a great congregation, Pastor Randolph continues to look forward to another great revival. PAC is still alive and growing, and his passion for ministry remains strong.

Throughout much of his ministry, Pastor Randolph has mentored approximately 12–15 ministers each year. He believes the hope of the church for tomorrow lies in ministers who are on fire for God. He also believes ministers should be trained within their home church, and he intentionally makes room for young ministers to grow, serve, and develop their calling.

His goal is simple: To influence someone for Jesus.