Sam Benson
Campus Pastor – Southern Oaks
Dr. Sam Benson and his wife Cheri have been in ministry for more than half a century, having served since 1967 as pastor, evangelist, and missionary traveling all over the world preaching the Gospel. He and Cheri have led several congregations through major expansions, pastoring churches in South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and more. He joined the Live Oaks staff in 2019 as Executive Pastor; in November 2021, he began serving as Campus Pastor for the Southern Oaks Campus congregation (his official role since July 2022), shepherding that “flock” as part of the one mission, vision, and culture of LOCC.
Sam also is part of the gifted team of preaching pastors at LOCC, delivering inspired preaching to stir the hearts of his listeners to purposed-filled action. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from North Central University in Minneapolis, and on January 21, 2001, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he was awarded the Ecclesiastical Degree of Doctor of Divinity (DD) by the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the Methodist-Episcopal Church and the National Clergy Council.
Sam’s wife Cheri, an insightful Bible teacher, is also an entrepreneur and certified Life Coach, in demand as a women’s conference speaker and mentor of both business and ministry professionals around the globe. The couple met at college in Minnesota and married in June 1969. They have two grown sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.
Sam Benson
Campus Pastor – Southern Oaks
Dr. Sam Benson and his wife Cheri have been in ministry for more than half a century, having served since 1967 as pastor, evangelist, and missionary traveling all over the world preaching the Gospel. He and Cheri have led several congregations through major expansions, pastoring churches in South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and more. He joined the Live Oaks staff in 2019 as Executive Pastor; in November 2021, he began serving as Campus Pastor for the Southern Oaks Campus congregation (his official role since July 2022), shepherding that “flock” as part of the one mission, vision, and culture of LOCC.
Sam also is part of the gifted team of preaching pastors at LOCC, delivering inspired preaching to stir the hearts of his listeners to purposed-filled action. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from North Central University in Minneapolis, and on January 21, 2001, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he was awarded the Ecclesiastical Degree of Doctor of Divinity (DD) by the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the Methodist-Episcopal Church and the National Clergy Council.
Sam’s wife Cheri, an insightful Bible teacher, is also an entrepreneur and certified Life Coach, in demand as a women’s conference speaker and mentor of both business and ministry professionals around the globe. The couple met at college in Minnesota and married in June 1969. They have two grown sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.