Ben and Mary Maxson eagerly embrace a new milestone in their ministry. On Oct. 1, 2004, the Maxsons officially begin their pastorate at the Paradise church.

Ben, after serving 10 years at the General Conference as the Stewardship Director in Columbia, Maryland, and Mary, currently the director of the North American Division Women’s Ministries, have a two-fold reason to resume their pastoral ministry.

“I feel a strong sense of God’s leading to our first love, which is pastoring,” said Ben. “I also feel a strong burden to focus our ministry on discipleship.”

The Maxsons’ extensive academic and work experience will continue to strengthen their ministry. After graduating from Southern Missionary College (now Southern Adventist University) in Collegedale, Tenn., the Maxsons began their pastoral ministry in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. Their work eventually extended into Argentina and Uruguay, with Ben serving as youth and stewardship director for two separate conferences. He then completed a Master of Divinity degree at the Andrews University Theological Seminary.

They both then pastored in Joplin, Mo., and in Dalton, Ga., where Ben completed his Doctor of Ministry degree. He later accepted a position with the Carolina conference as the ministerial secretary, stewardship director and evangelism coordinator. Mary worked part-time as a secretary in the office and as the Shepherdess coordinator, which called her to empower and minister to pastors’ wives. They continued their work within the Upper Columbia Conference in Spokane, Wash., until they began their service with the General Conference and North American Division.

The Northern California Conference is happy to be welcoming the Maxsons to the family. “We are fortunate to get Pastor and Mrs. Ben Maxson in the Northern California Conference,” said Ricardo Graham, president. “The deep experience in pastoral and departmental ministry on several levels of the church organization is obviously valuable to our entire conference. From pastorate to local conference and to the General Conference, he has served well. Mrs. Maxson is also a most valuable resource, serving as Women’s Ministry Director for the North American Division. The reaction to their coming to pastor the Paradise church has been overwhelmingly positive.”

According to the Maxsons, the feeling is mutual. “I look forward to building a ministry that explores God’s will for revival in His church,” said Ben.