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In Memory
of
Rev. Ben F. Turner, Jr,
9/16/1927
- 10/7/2006
The Rev. Ben F. Turner, the Pastor Emeritus of Calvary
Baptist Church in Powder Springs, died Saturday.
He was 79.
Rev. Turner founded the Calvary Children's Home in June 1966 after
a shocking experience on the streets of Jerusalem. A woman tried
to sell her baby to the preacher in order to feed her four
starving children. Rev. Turner never expected to see the same
situation in Cobb County.
But he did.
In 1965, a couple was killed by a drunk driver, leaving their
six children without parents. The children were sent to four
different homes. Rev. Turner asked himself, "If children can't have
their parents, why can't they live together as brother and
sister?" He decided to start the Calvary Children's Home at 1257
Belmont Ave. in Smyrna.
Since its founding, the home has been a caring place for over
400 children and is the favorite charity of many in Cobb County.
Rev. Turner was ordained into ministry in May 1954. He was
assistant pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Marietta. He
pastured Sardis Baptist Church in Marietta, Spring Street
Baptist Church in Smyrna, Austin Avenue Baptist Church in
Marietta, New Liberty Baptist Church in Ringgold, Calvary
Baptist Church in Smyrna, Maranatha Baptist Church in Calhoun
and Calvary Baptist Church in Powder Springs.
The tireless preacher reached many through a weekly radio
ministry in which he preached more than 2,000 weeks of revivals
in the north, south and eastern United States. Rev. Turner has
baptized more than 3,000 converts and led the state in baptisms
for two years.
His great love for foreign missions led him to build many
churches in Central and South America, while supporting
missionaries around the world. An 18-lesson bible study Rev.
Turner
wrote has been distributed to churches, homes and prisons around
the world.
During his ministry, Rev. Turner served on the Board of Trustees
for Baptist International Missions in Chattanooga, Tenn., for 10
years. He was on the executive committee and advisory board.
Rev. Turner was also on the Board of Trustees for Antioch Bible
College and Messianic School of Theology.
His awards include Georgia's Outstanding Young Men in 1961,
Who's Who in America in 1962, Cobb County Chamber of Commerce
Public Service Award in 1973 and an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree from Messianic School of Theology.
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