I serve as teaching pastor of the Ark Church located on Panama City Beach, Florida. Born and raised on Panama City Beach, I have owned and operated several businesses with my family as well as practiced law with my father Julian Bennett. I have always wondered and asked big questions – why do I exist? What is the meaning of life? Is there A truth? This curiosity turned into an obsession which led me to put all religions on trial and based on the overwhelming evidence, I became a Christian. I learned we exist to know God and make Him known. His book, in alignment with the facts of history, provides all the support we need to know and live out this purpose of our existence. I have devoted myself to celebrating and persuading others that God exists and loves them and desires them to take up and live faithfully His calling for the unique plans of their life.
In addition to church activities, I have been involved and served in local and statewide nonprofit and community organizations such as Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast State College, Bay Medical Hospital, Rotary Club and many others. I have taught classes in various organizations related to community support as well as numerous Bible studies. I attended church at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church then onto St. Andrew Baptist Church then called to help newly formed Northstar Church where I served as the Beach Campus Pastor for seven years and finally to start The Ark Church in 2017. The Ark was a team effort with my wife Angela, my brother Mike and his wife Liz and many others. At the Ark I get to do what I love – teach and spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.
For 10 years Angela and I have served with many others at the Ark Ministries. It exists to bring God glory in providing transitional housing, food, clothes, job placement and many other benefits to hurting precious souls of our community. The Ark is a place made up of 140 beds along with clothes closet, food pantry, and other amenities on Panama City Beach. It is at the Ark that I find God closest – so do many others. It is in serving Jesus and His people that we find our purpose.
The work The Ark does is completely funded by private donors, which led to an idea I had years ago – more a dream – to join local churches together in praising God through songs and fellowship as well as raise funds for the Ark – and so Faith Festival was born. Each October, numerous churches meet at Aaron Bessant Park to worship with each other as local church bands rotate throughout the day and together share wonderful food, friends, fellowship and fun – all to the Glory of our God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit.
The Ark has branched off several other groups such as Bible Study, financial guidance classes, parenting classes, teaching and application of the arts, formation of a unique Ark Bank with over 30 artists and most recently the creation of a podcast called Arkcast – all things Ark. Each day is an adventure with our God and the people of the Ark – I invite everyone to enter the Portal called The Pour Coffee Shop located at the entrance of the Ark and see the impact the Lord is making on many precious souls and discover where the Lord may be leading you to serve.
As to my life, my greatest encounter – next to Jesus – happened on the Jinks Jr. High School bus one hot August morning in the late 70s. It was there I met my future wife Angela Rivard who graciously agreed to sit beside me on the bus – in spite of my horrible body odor – another story. We attended Bay High School and separated as she headed to FSU and myself to UF where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, and then obtaining a Juris Doctorate from Stetson Law School. We married and returned to Bay County where I practiced law for many years. We are blessed with six kids and numerous grandchildren – who affectionally call me… Pine – another story
Visit The Ark Church at 10 a.m. Sundays, 12902 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach FL 32407. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and tune in to The Arkcast – all things Ark.
Contact me at (850) 234-3084, or thearkchurchpcb@gmail.com.
