Encouragement Meetings and Concerts
Before you hand a man your pulpit
You are probably here because someone mentioned my name, or a video crossed your screen, and now you are doing what a careful shepherd does before putting a man in front of his people. Good. That instinct is right, and this page exists to honor it. I'll do my best to provide plain answers to the questions you are actually asking.
Who I Am
Thirty-two years, six thousand services
I have been an evangelist for thirty-two years, twenty-five of them full time. Over six thousand services in churches across forty-eight states, Canada, and Mexico.
Calvary Baptist Church in Midland, Michigan, a conservative GARBC church, was my home church for forty-seven years. I grew up there, graduated from its Christian academy, and was ordained to the Gospel ministry there. In 2025 my wife and I moved to Weatherford, Texas, and joined Victory Baptist Church, which now serves as our home and sending church.
Churches sometimes assume I am a musician who preaches. That gets it backwards. I am a singing preacher, not a preaching singer. The preaching carries the meeting. The music opens hearts for it.
My burden in the pulpit has not changed in three decades: preach the Scriptures accurately, and send people home with handles to carry the truth. A sermon a man cannot remember on Tuesday did not finish its work on Sunday.
What I Believe
Where I stand, in print
I am a conservative, dispensational Baptist. I am a traditional text preacher, and I use the King James in all aspects of our ministry. But the thrust of my ministry is not the text debate, and I exercise graciousness toward those who take a different reasonable view as I minister across a few stripes of conservative Bible-believing churches.
My music is on the conservative side, but it is not strict. I am a creative man, and I believe sacred music should reflect all of God's attributes: His majesty, certainly, but also His joy, His tenderness, His inventiveness. I write and arrange for the church, not for the market. I have written several books on music in the church, most recently Playlist Theology, so if you want to know exactly where I stand, it is in print and I will stand behind every page.
A full doctrinal statement is available here, and I would rather you read it than wonder.
Building the Meeting
Two decisions, and they are separate
First you decide how long we are together. Then you decide what the meeting is about. Any track below fits inside any of the three formats, so a church that wants one evening on music discernment and a church that wants four days of it are both asking for something I can build.
First, how long
The Encouragement Meeting
Sunday through WednesdayThe fullest of the three. Four days of enjoyable, biblical preaching and copious amounts of music, built to leave a church stronger than we found it.
A Cappella and More
One weeknightA single evening of music with the Gospel at its center.
An Encouragement Sunday
One Lord's Day, morning and eveningA single Sunday serves best when a neighboring church shares the surrounding week, so if you know a pastor down the road, bring him into the conversation.
Then, what it is about
Encouragement
The default, and for most churches the right oneNo theme to organize around beyond the Scriptures themselves. Preaching that sends a weary congregation home with something they can still carry on Tuesday, and music in its service.
Playlist Theology
Music discernmentWalks a congregation through music discernment without dividing over preferences. It grew out of my book by the same name.
Fragile Faith
For the believer who is barely holding onFor the believer who still believes, but barely: what to do when God seems silent and life weighs more than faith can carry.
Unshaken
Conviction in a collapsing cultureA call to conviction in a collapsing culture, for churches and families tired of being told to bend.
Each one is preaching and music together, with the Scriptures doing the heavy lifting. The schedule is yours to shape, and I will tell you honestly what I think will bear the most fruit in your context.
The Music
You cannot judge it from a description
The signature is one-man a cappella: every voice mine, arranged in harmony, built live in front of the congregation. Pastors have watched a skeptical congregation lean forward inside the first verse.
But that is about sixty percent of what we carry. I also sit down at the piano with the classic hymns, sometimes taking requests from the pews. I write new music for congregations to sing. And some of what we bring travels with full orchestration. I would rather show you than explain it, and our YouTube channel exists for exactly that purpose.
The Rooms
Churches of thirty and churches of six thousand
We bring everything we need: a sound system that fits in the vehicle and no rider of requirements. The meeting is built the same way in a fellowship hall and in an auditorium.
A few of the rooms. Scroll for more.
We
Amanda travels with me, and she sings
She is essential to this ministry, not an addition to it. What we bring into a church, we bring together.
We have ministered in churches of thirty and churches of six thousand, and the meeting is built the same way in both: the Word at the center, the music in its service.
The Practical Questions
The entire arrangement
Currently Open
October 22 through November 28, and we are scheduling 2027 now.
References
“I may not see you again this side of glory, but I want you to know: you have always done my church good.”A pastor, on the eve of his retirement
I can provide scores of references. Start with the two men who know me best. Dr. Dan Dickerson pastors Calvary Baptist Church in Midland, Michigan, the church I grew up in. Rob Catuto pastors Victory Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas, our sending church. Either will tell you plainly what kind of man you would be inviting.
They both exhibit a servant's spirit and their ministry is marked by humility, clarity, and a strong commitment to biblical truth. We recommend them without hesitation to any church looking for encouragement through biblical music and preaching.
Pastor Rob Catuto, Victory Baptist Church, Weatherford, TexasExcellent preaching and singing. I still remember the first message Ben preached here... In all my years I have never heard that passage explained so well.
Dr. Johnny Pope, Christchurch Baptist Fellowship, Houston, TexasI have loved Ben Everson's music, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear his preaching for the first time. He is an underrated preacher. We've had him and his family back to Smyrna Baptist Church on multiple occasions.
Dr. Bill Adams, Smyrna Baptist Church, Pensacola, FloridaBeyond these men, I have served alongside churches and institutions across this country for over thirty years, and I am glad to put you in touch with pastors who can tell you what a meeting with me actually did for their people, six months after I left. Read Pastor Catuto's letter.
The Invitation
Write to me
If what you have read here sounds like a fit for your church, tell me about your congregation, what season your church is in, and what you are praying a meeting would accomplish. I read every one of these myself.
Or see the current schedule and open dates on the Tour page.
