Profile of Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Y. Benda was born on Sunday, March 4, 1962 unto the union of Mr. & Mrs. Benda in the town of Gbarnga Gborketa, Lower Lofa County, Liberia. He is the last child of a family of ten (10) children. He is 5'8", married with two children, a devoted Christian and in excellent health. He is presently catering to the needs of a large congregation of about 1000 persons at the Sinkor United Pentecostal Church in Sinkor Monrovia. He is meanwhile catering to the spiritual needs of thousands of people throughout the length and breadth of Liberia by means of a Christian Radio Ministry.

Rev. Dr. Benda started his Kindergarten Education in 1973 at the Gungbeta Public School in Lower Lofa County, Liberia. At the Gungbeta Public School he received double promotion from Kg-I to the 1^st Grade and later from the 1^st Grade to 2^nd Grade the very year he entered school. Rev. Dr. Benda later enrolled at the Belle Yella Public School in Lower Lofa County in the year 1977. Here he completed the 6^th to 8^th Grades education. In 1979, Rev. Dr. Benda traveled to Monrovia, and enrolled at the G.W. Gibson Junior High School where he completed his Junior High education.  From 1980 to 1981, Rev. Dr. Benda enrolled at the Haywood Mission School where he completed the 10^th and 11^th Grades. In 1986, Rev. Dr. Benda again left Monrovia for Grand Bassa County and enrolled at the R.C. Lawson Mission School. He graduated at the top of his class and also took first place in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams in 1986.

Still not satisfied, Rev. Dr. Benda enrolled at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) Accelerated Vocational Training Program in Kakata, Margibi County, Liberia, where he completed one-year studies of Secretarial Science at the top of his class. In 1988, Rev. Dr. Benda had an opportunity to enroll at the Bethel Christian College where he completed two years of external degree study in Theology. He later entered the Maranatha College of Theology in Monrovia in 1996 where he completed Theological studies in 1999 and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Sacred Theology with distinction.

Still not pleased with his level of education, Rev. Dr. Benda was again fortunate to obtain enrollment at the Cypress Bible College in Texas, USA in 2000. Here, he completed Theology studies and graduated in 2001 with a Master Degree in Theology with distinction. Still not satisfied, Rev. Dr. Benda again enrolled at the same college for further studies in 2002.

Rev. Dr. Benda is also computer literate. In 2004 he received a certificate in Computer Science from the Computer Lab International School as an Operator. On February 15, 2006, a Doctorate of Theology Degree was conferred on Rev. Dr. Benda from the Cypress Bible College in Texas, USA, where he had enrolled in the early 2002.

On April 29, 2009, Rev. Dr. Benda received a Bachelor Degree (BA) in Sociology as major and Public Administration as minor from the University of Liberia with distinction in quest of secular education in addition to his Theological knowledge.  

Rev. Dr. Benda

 & Family

Rev. Dr. Benda got converted to Christianity in May 1974 in Lower Lofa County, Liberia and since then has been a devoted Christian. From 1982 to April of 1991, Rev. Dr. Benda served as a Local Evangelist. From 1987 to 1988, he served as a classroom teacher and Assistant Pastor at the Samuel Grimes School in Kakata, Margibi County, Liberia. In 1989, January to August, Rev. Dr. Benda served as Principal for the Olivia Shannon Elementary & Junior High School in Bond Mines, Bong County, Liberia. From 1989 August to October 1990, Rev. Dr. Benda also served as Executive Secretary at the Bong Range Supermarket in Bong Mines, Bong County.

From 1991 to 1995, Rev. Dr. Benda served as Sectional Evangelist for Lower Lofa County. In December of 1995, the National Board of the United Pentecostal Church of Liberia appointed Rev. Dr. Benda as the National Evangelist. This position he held until February 1999. On March 28, 1997, the Elders and the National Board of the United Pentecostal Church of Liberia ordained Rev. Dr. Benda.

From 1999 to 2000, Rev. Dr. Benda served as Secretary-Treasurer of the United Pentecostal Church; Rev. Dr. Benda became Pastor of the Apostolic Gateway United Pentecostal Church from November 8, 1999 to May 9, 2003. On January 14, 2001, Rev. Dr. was installed as Senior Pastor of the Headquarters Church of the United Pentecostal Church of Liberia. This Position he still holds today.

Finally, Rev. Dr. Benda has over the past years traveled extensively throughout the length and breadth of Liberia and he has also traveled to ten (10) Countries around the world preaching and teaching at various workshops, seminars and churches. Over the time, Rev. Dr. Benda has served also as conference Speaker at the National and Sectional levels of the United Pentecostal Church of Liberia. Presently, he is the National Assistant Superintendent/Bishop of the United Pentecostal Church of Liberia.