Faces of Faith: The Rev. Benjamin Favel

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Benjamin Favel is associate pastor at Crestwood Christian Center, in Crestwood, and is the creator of a home Bible study seminar. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 14, 2012 8:00AM

What does he do?

Since July 11, Benjamin Favel has been the associate pastor at Crestwood Christian Center at 4925 Midlothian Parkway.

Favel credits his father, John Favel, and his home church pastor, the Rev. Terry Cox, as major influences in his decision to enter ministry.

How did he get into his job?

Favel was born and raised in Evergreen Park and said since the age of 4 he attended the United Pentecostal Church of Harvey where Cox served as pastor.

“(Cox) was very compassionate and loved people,” Favel said. “He instilled in people the love of God. I found as I was growing up the love for the word (of God), and that love grew exponential in me. And I realized God was calling me to open the word of God to others.”

“My father was disabled (in a chemical plant accident) when I was 4 and he never lost his faith. His love for God never diminished,” Favel said.

“My mother, Debbie, was the church treasurer, and both of my parents showed me that fame and fortune and even health can be taken away, but that if you go after God, God can’t be taken away,” he said.

Consequently, after graduating from Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Favel enrolled at Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis where he graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1999.

After his ordination, his first assignment was as a youth pastor in Ohio, and later he served as a Christian school supervisor in Indiana.

He then went to Midland, Mich., where he served as the assistant pastor of a local church for 10 years. Then in July he returned to Illinois to serve as the associate pastor at Crestwood Christian where he serves closely with senior pastor the Rev. Thomas Breese.

What’s the best part of the job?

“The best part of the job is the absolute joy I get when someone decides he wants to serve Christ,” Favel said.

“It’s incredibly rewarding that someone wants to give his life to Jesus in this age of cynicism,” he said.

What’s the worst part of the job?

“The worst part is trying to manage all these schedules, all the different ministries, everything that’s important,” Favel said.

“And our biggest challenge is we’ve been averaging about 100 members (in our church), and we’re trying to get over that 100 hurdle,” he said.

What does he do for fun?

“I like to play the trumpet and play golf. I also like my alone time with my wife and playing with my kids. And I like to do a little bit of writing,” he said.

Favel has written “The How-To of Home Bible Study,” a practical guide on teaching a home Bible study, and he is the creator of the Home Bible Study Institute, a seminar which has been used by churches across the Midwest and Florida.

Favel and his wife, Linnea, live in Flossmoor and have three children: Allisandra, 6; Isaac, 5 and Edward, 2.