LITTLE ROCK – Ben Coulter, 42, has joined the Little Rock Baptist Collegiate Ministry team.
Taking on the campus minister role, Coulter comes to the position after a stint of 4 ½ years as lead pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia. Prior to his time there, the Montrose native served at Wheatley Baptist Church for 10 years.
Coulter first got involved with the BCM while attending the University of Arkansas at Monticello, which was directed by Jeff Noble. He said the ministry made a significant impact on his life.
“I’ve always loved (the BCM) and loved the ministry,” Coulter said.
Having a love for collegiate ministry, Coulter enjoyed pastoring in Magnolia, home of Southern Arkansas University, and having the opportunity to work with and minister to those students alongside his wife, Sheffield.
“We love collegiate ministry and just love SAU,” Coulter said. “We just loved getting on campus, working with students, and reaching the nations through the internationals there. BCM work is like a dream come true for me.”
He said to be able to serve in collegiate ministry in the Little Rock metro area, where his wife is from and where there are so many students to be reached, adds to that dream.
“We feel like God has prepared us at each step of the way for where he has brought us now,” Coulter said.
Bruce Venable, Arkansas Baptist State Convention College + Young Leader Team leader, said Coulter has been reaching college students as a pastor for several years.
“His church’s ministry to the students at SAU, especially internationals, was incredible. I did not think there was any way he would move to the campus full-time. But Ben and Sheffield had been praying for the next step in their lives and by God’s timing, we are super excited to welcome him,” Venable said.
In the Little Rock metro area, Coulter said there are thousands of college students who are at a transition in their lives and who are looking for purpose.
“I just look at it as reaching the campus is key in fulfilling the Great Commission. … You reach the ones that are lost here. They go back home, whether that is in southeast Arkansas or New York or all around the world, and they share the Gospel. You disciple the ones who come here already as believers and shape them to go back and make disciples where they are,” Coulter said. “I just love how students worship Jesus with passion, follow him with passion and they want to change the world. I just love that. That’s one reason I am just so excited about focusing on students.”
“We are so excited. … The Kingdom impact is great,” he added.
Coulter received his bachelor’s degree from Central Baptist College. He earned his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Coulter and his wife have three children, James, 7, Sheffield, 5, and Luke, who will be 2 years old in February.
“It’s an honor to represent Arkansas Baptists on these campuses. We are humbled and challenged and just grateful that Arkansas Baptists would trust us to lead ministry on these campuses,” he said.