Getting To Know Pastor Randy
Pastor Randy was born on July 8, 1959 in Beloit, WI, the fourth of 6 kids in a pastor’s family. Several years later the family moved to Peoria, IL and remained there until after Randy’s high school graduation. He then attended Greenville (IL) College and graduated in 1982 with a B.A. in Religion/Philosophy.
While at GC, Randy met Judy (Kamp) and they married on August 14, 1982. They lived in Springfield, IL for one year while Randy was the Associate Pastor at Knox Knolls FMC. They then moved to Kentucky to attend Asbury Seminary. Randy received his M.A. in Christian Education in 1986. Following graduation they moved to Davison, MI where Randy served as Youth Pastor at Davison FMC for 3 years.
In 1989, the Bennetts moved to Linden, MI where Randy pastored the FM church for 8 years. While in Linden, their daughter Katie was born and 5 ½ years later, daughter Amy joined the family. In 1997, they moved to Lansing to plant a church near the MSU campus.
In 2000, the Bennetts moved to Hillsdale, where God brought the church through an important healing process needed after some tough ministry years. After 5 years there, God impressed upon Randy that his work there was done. In answer to God’s call again, he came to Westland knowing that God would do a great work in this “new place.”
Randy loves to preach, and train leaders, and see the church grow in it’s own potential. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, biking, watching sports (when he can get the remote!), and working on home projects. Judy, who works in the home as a Independent Title Researcher, likes to read, sew and garden (and be chauffeur for her children). Katie graduated from High School in 2008 and loves soccer, horses, and being with friends. She is attending Henry Ford College nearby and has a daughter Paiton Noel who is a joy in our home. Amy, who turned 13 this year, is in 8th grade. She loves her friends, especially on My Space, is on the junior high swim team and enjoys sleeping in and late nights.
“We are excited to be a part of the Westland FMC family. God has been doing many wonderful things through this church in the past and we know that God has wonderful plans for the future. I trust God will bring more people to Christ as we fulfill his mandate for each one of us. We will do this through our motto, ‘Changing Lives In Christ’. The challenge on my heart is this: how many will we take with us when we go to heaven? Our growth in Christ and our desire to reach ‘one more soul’ should answer to that one very important question. Whether you are in our church family, or are just getting to know us, our prayer is that you will see Christ in us, and want the same for yourself.