About Us

Pastor-Teacher, Bishop, Abundant Life Coach

Tom Benjamin, Senior Pastor of the historic Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis, Indiana, celebrated 37 years as our Senior Pastor as well as his 40th year in ministry in October, 2006. With this significant milestone, Bishop Benjamin has the longest pastorate of any Senior Pastor in the history of LWCC.

He is also the 4th Senior Pastor in the 140-year history of the church. He is known widely for his commitment to excellence as a pastor and life coach. He is also widely known for his gifts of hospitality and generosity.

Bishop Benjamin’s ministry has produced 32 seminary graduates with M.Div. degrees, 5 (five) of that number with D.Min. degrees, and three (3) on the doctoral track. They serve the church globally and ecumenically.

They are one-third female and range from local pastors and chaplains to seminary administrators and denominational department heads. They serve mostly Disciples of Christ, but also United Methodist and Southern Baptist congregations.

Their involvement ranges from being the first African American Dean of Students of the University of Chicago Divinity School, to the first African American female pastor of a white Indiana Disciples of Christ congregation, to the first African American Disciple to be the associate pastor of the largest United Methodist church in Indiana, to the Christian Education Department executive for the Disciples of Christ, to the Chaplain of the Robin Run Senior Living facility.

This collectively is one of the unique, unparalleled and unprecedented contributions of Dr. Benjamin to the whole church and both confirms and helps us understand his calling as Bishop. He was consecrated as Bishop in 1996.

Earning his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University (B.A.), he also holds two (2) earned cum laude graduate degrees (M.Div. and D.Min.) from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. He holds 5 (five) honorary doctorate degrees and a host of other awards that recognize his deep commitment to quality preparation for ministers as well as his bridge building between races and denominations in the City of Indianapolis.

Bishop Benjamin is a lifetime member of the NAACP and a community activist. He is the founder of Project Impact Indianapolis which is an intervention and counseling program for court-referred teens. It is a vital part of the community and is staffed by many members and ministers of our church. In Indianapolis, he is called the “City’s Pastor.” He is nationally known for his standard of excellence in ministry. Pastor Benjamin was selected as one of the recipients of the Morehouse College Distinguished Preacher’s Award as well as being the immediate past National President of the Black Disciples Ministers’ Fellowship.

Bishop Benjamin’s passion is children, and he has authored three books: Boys To Men, The Home Alone Syndrome, and his most recent book, Mama’s Boy. He is an international speaker and life coach. Bishop is an avid golfer as well as a sports enthusiast. His pride is his family, consisting of his beautiful and creative life partner, Lady Beverly, three awesome adult sons, and one darling daughter-in-law. Our Leader….

Our Bishop

40 years in the Ministry

37 years as our Shepherd/Pastor

10 years in the Bishopric

Has been

· Our Shepherd/Pastor for 37 years

· The longest serving Senior Pastor in the 140-year history of our church

· Is the husband of one wife for 39 years

· Is the father of 3 college educated sons

· Has earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees

· Recipient of 5 honorary degrees

· Recipient of Morehouse College Distinguished Preacher’s Award

Our Preacher

Has preached…

· Over 5,000 sermons in 37 years

· The Gospel on almost every continent on this planet and half of these 50 United States

· Significant events include: Promise Keepers Convention in Los Angeles, CA and Minneapolis, MN;

· At Robert H. Schuller Successful Church Leadership, Garden Grove, CA on national television

· In almost every penitentiary in Indiana

· At 3 of the General Assembly sessions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Our Teacher

Has 32 sons and daughters in active ministry from New York to California. In this group can be found:

· Pastors

· An Associate Pastor of the largest Methodist Church in Indiana

· Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Divinity School

· All have at least Master’s Degrees and 5 hold earned Doctorate Degrees

· Founded the Christian Ecumenical Covenant Fellowship (CECF) to provide covering, counsel and connection for these Ministers.

Our Administrator

Our Chief Administrator has

· Raised over $50 million for the cause of Christ through our local church

· Raised over $10 million seeded to a variety of outreach causes

· Raised over $12 million for the rescue of children and families through gifts and grants

· Raised over $2 million in scholarship aid

· Founder of the Respect Academy (Early Childhood Education) and Project Impact Indianapolis (At-risk teens and families).

Our Leader

· Has led our congregation to buy the largest and most beautiful African American Church land site in the city of Indianapolis to build the City on the Hill

· Built one Senior Living Center on the city’s eastside and to complete a second one in 2007 on the City on the Hill

Our Prophet

· Preaches truth to power

· Community activist

· Pioneer Preacher on Armed Forces Network, BET, TBN

· Longest running radio ministry and television ministry in the city of Indianapolis

· Host/Producer of longest running public affairs television show (Living for the City) in Indiana

· First Pastor to receive the prestigious Charles L. Whistler Award presented by the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee.

· First Pastor to sit on a bank board (First of America)

· Co-Founder of Celebration of Hope

· Co-founder of United Northwest Area (UNWA)

· Served on numerous civic task forces

· Lifetime member of NAACP

· Author of three books and a contributing columnist to The Indianapolis Recorder

· Served on almost every National Board of the Disciples of Christ (DOC)

· Past President of the National Evangelistic Association (DOC)

· Past President of the National Convocation (DOC)

· Past President of the National Black Ministers (DOC)