Elder Anthony B. Benson Sr. was born and raised in New Haven, CT. His first teachings were in the arms of his mother, who reared him in the fear and admonition of the LORD. He received his early teachings under the local pastorship of the late Evangelist-at-Large Jehu Obadiah Smith.
EAL Smith was a teaching pastor who loved God and the leadership he served. EAL Smith’s pastorship was a shining light to Elder Benson as he would work the city to assist those in need, including his congregation.
A love for mankind grew through this example of leadership. Elder Benson, at a young age, traveled with his grandfather, Deacon Eugene Benson, observing how he worked for the Lord. Deacon Eugene assisted the homeland (Belleville, VA), the tabernacle in Salisbury, MD, and even traveled to California to assist the congregation. In March of 1987, Bro. Benson moved back to New Haven, CT, after living a few years in Belleville, VA, and was made a Deacon. Life changed once that honor was bestowed upon him. It seemed as if his grandfather knew he had to show him things at an early age to understanding that helping people was the purpose of life.
After seeing the good deeds of those he loved dearly, he matriculated through middle school and high school. He attended and graduated from Hill Regional Career Magnet High School. Later, he graduated from Connecticut Culinary Institute and attended Gateway Community College and Ashworth Community College, pursuing a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice.
Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, GFA, called upon Deacon Benson to relocate to Maryland to be a personal assistant to the local pastor of the Washington “Jerusalem” Tabernacle, Rabbi Marcus L. Carr. It was shortly after the move that Deacon Benson received a gift from GOD and was blessed in the union of marriage to Sister Elder Melissa R. Ringgold of the Washington Tabernacle. Through their faith in GOD and seven years after this union, GOD saw fit to bless them with three beautiful children; the medical professionals said this would never happen!
While in Washington, the training continued as he traveled the country assisting Rabbi Carr as he preached the word of GOD and promoted the Works of Prophet William Saunders Crowdy. For 16 years being and traveling with Rabbi Carr, Deacon Benson was groomed and prepared by the late Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, GFA, and by Rabbi Marcus L. Carr for the next step. On God’s seventh-day Sabbath, August 4, 2018, Deacon Benson was elevated to an Elder and made the local pastor of Seventh Tabernacle Beth-El Salisbury, MD, by Chief Rabbi Phillip E. McNeil, GFA. Elder Benson is now serving the same congregation that helped to nurture and shape him as a child, and where he watched his grandfather work for many years.
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is Good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 107:1”