the journey of a strong woman: works of building a church without walls

As the Lord leads her, Pastor Valda Bennett shares her journey through life, which depicts her as a strong woman of God who walks in obedience to the calling of God on her life.

Pastor Valda Bennett’s journey with God started at the very young age of 14. This is not a surprise because she grew up in her local Church of God of Prophecy church. Her father, George Hutchinson, was an evangelist in that church and he had the support of her mother, Edith Hutchinson. At a young age, she became active in the church as a Sunday School teacher, care group leader, and took on many other roles.

Before her calling to become a pastor at Cross Keys Church of God of Prophecy she served in several capacities in the church; such as, a Sunday School teacher, local Women’s Ministry Director, Parish Women’s Ministry Director, Care Group Leader, secretary for the church, minister, and assistant pastor. She took over from her husband, Bishop Neville Bennett, to become the pastor of the Cross Keys Church of God of Prophecy. He became a bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy. They therefore work together in activities for their churches congregations as well as in activities in the communities.

As a minister of the gospel, Pastor Valda is in a unique position to touch the lives of people in multiple ways. She not just cares for her congregants, but for other members of the communities around her - both saved and unsaved. The love of God abides within her.

Pastor Valda Bennett is one who knows what it is like to be physically and verbally abused, as she suffered through this from a family member. She is able to use her abusive experience to relate to her congregants and members of the community, when counselling them. Her heart pains for those who are suffering and in need. She turns her pain into action by serving the communities around her in many ways. She is a Justice of the Peace, Chaplin for police officers, agent for bringing help to farmers, agent for seeking employment for young people in the communities, agent for assisting senior citizens and the poor, chairman of the board for a local high school, and a facilitator of empowerment sessions for young people and married couples.

There are multiple needs in the communities. Pastor Valda Bennett therefore establishes relationships with different government agencies and personnel to gain access to programs that are beneficial to the communities she serves. She also forms partnerships with other charitable organizations to get assistance in providing help to the communities.

Her book speaks to her works in the communities and serves as a guidepost to those in ministry who would like to serve their communities in meaningful ways. It also gives insight to those who are in need of help as they can seek out similar programs that might be available to them from their government or organizations within their countries.