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Ben Rutledge

Ben Rutledge — Class of 2027
Married to Sarah Rutledge
Where and how did you grow up?
I have been blessed to grow up in Apex, NC and at The Shepherd’s Church for all of my life. I have 4 brothers and 1 sister, of which I am the second oldest. I graduated from NC State in 2024 with a BA in Religious Studies. I work part time for the college ministry at Shepherds, and serve with the 12th grade guys in the student ministry.
What life circumstances or situations did God use to create in you a desire for pastoral ministry?
I served for two summers at a Christian summer camp in Winston-Salem, and this is where God stirred a desire for full-time ministry in my heart. I also worked part-time at Shepherd’s as a janitor and was cleaning the chapel for Solomon’s Porch, when Dr. Al Potter asked me what I was doing with my summer in the winter of 2023. He invited me to apply for the pastoral internship he offered over the summer, and through it, I learned what it means to be a pastor, how to preach, and how to love people with the Gospel. This gave me a sense of direction desiring to go into pastoral ministry, and being affirmed by Dr. Potter and my fellow interns that they believed God had gifted me with the gift of teaching.
How do you anticipate seminary helping you specifically to prepare for ministry?
I anticipate and have already seen it challenge many doctrines/beliefs that I take at face value or make me question, in a healthy way, why I hold to certain convictions from certain passages. Learning the original languages of the Bible has made me see how much deeper the word of God is than I thought.
What kind of ministry, people group, or geographical area are you passionate about or planning to be involved in after graduating and why?
I am passionate and would love to be involved with planting a church from Shepherds, and specifically in the New England area. Hearing from Dr. Potter and his heart for people as a church planter was infectious in me wanting to do the same and love people with the Gospel. I went on a camping trip with some friends a few years ago in Vermont and New Hampshire, and saw how spiritually dark the areas were, and if there were churches, they were not biblical churches holding to the Word firmly.