Mt. Olive General Baptist Church

Pastor Alex Benefiel has served as the Senior Pastor of Mt. Olive General Baptist Church since April 2017. A lifelong resident of Pike County, Pastor Alex brings a heart for the local community and a passion for reaching the lost with the hope of Christ. Before becoming a pastor, he was actively involved in ministry through worship leading and youth group leadership at other churches.

In 2017, after a serious construction accident left him unable to work, God opened the door for Alex to speak at Mt. Olive for a few Sundays. It quickly became clear that he was being called to shepherd the church and serve the people of Pike County. He began preaching under a license and went on to complete the General Baptist LAMP (Leadership and Ministry Preparation) program in 2019. That same year, he was ordained by the Flat Creek Association of General Baptists.

Alex has been married to his wife, Crystal, since 2010. Together, they have two daughters—Alyse and Paislie—who are a vital part of their ministry and life. Paislie has recently started to lead a Wednesday night Bible Study for 5th-10th graders. Pastor Alex is deeply committed to helping people experience true transformation through Jesus Christ. He offers spiritual guidance, baptisms, biblical counseling, pre-marital counseling, and officiates weddings for couples who complete counseling. One of his greatest desires is to see the youth of the community grow into strong Christian leaders who impact the world around them.