Pastor Ben Thompson, an Abington resident, has been an assistant pastor at New Life Presbyterian Church in Glenside for roughly a year.

He received his ordination from Westminster Theological Seminary last November.

“There’s been a huge learning curve. Overall, it’s been a huge growing experience, and being able to see a lot of people’s lives impacted already has been great. We’ve been able to help three formerly homeless persons get off the streets, and a good part of it is more intangible,” Pastor Thompson said. “We run small Bible studies throughout the week, and we see people helping each other out. Some have been able to get out of their shells and become more involved in the community. You can’t necessarily quantify it, but you see lives changed in subtle ways.”

The Arizona native also serves as the off-campus religious advisor at Arcadia University, an institution he crossed paths with during his time at Westminster.

At Arcadia University, he mentors a group of student leaders who run a club called Arcadia Christian Fellowship.

“They plan events, do on the ground leadership and tell me what they need. I try to support that group as much as I can and meet with students who are struggling to find community,” he said. “I try to be there for those students in small ways.”

Part of that role involves identifying students in need.

“There’ve been other times when I helped students struggling with anxiety or depression and try to help them find counseling services. However I can be of help, that’s what I try and do,” he said.

Pastor Ben also works for an organization called Coalition for Christian Outreach and helps out with the credentialing committee for the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church of America where he helps examine candidates for ministry.

For more on New Life Presbyterian’s staff and leadership, including Pastor Thompson, you can click here.

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Photo: Ben Thompson