Rev. Ben Harding
Pastor

Reverend Benjamin Harding is deeply grateful to be returning "home" to serve as pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap, VA.

Trinity has long been a meaningful part of his life. As a teenager, Ben was a member of Scout Troop 604, proudly hosted by the church. Though a graduate of Appalachia High School in 2006, he spent his school years at Powell Valley and summer seasons with ProArt alongside many other Trinity youth, forming friendships and memories that helped shape his faith and calling. Even in Ben's professional life, many of his most formational experiences have taken place through his participation in many of our activities and studies throughout the years.

After almost a decade of instrumental music education beforehand, Ben stepped into direct pastoral ministry, beginning as a Local Licensed Pastor in Coeburn, Virginia, in July of 2019. He comes to Trinity from First United Methodist Church in Pennington Gap, VA, where he was most recently serving as a Provisional Elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a 2024 Master of Divinity graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree, with a projected graduation date of May 2027. Above all, he is the proud father of Ezra and Gracie and cherishes every moment he gets to spend with them.

Returning to Trinity feels like coming full circle. With a deep love for preaching, pastoral care, and practicing the way of Christ, both personally, and in helping congregations grow in their love for Christ and their neighbors, Ben is joyfully and gratefully looking forward to walking alongside this congregation in worship, service, and faithful witness in the community he has always called home.