A dynamic and motivating minister of the Gospel, Bishop Beninate teaches and preaches the Word of God in a most unique way, drawing on his vast and diversified experiences in life. His enthusiasm for the Lord is contagious to the congregation. Hilarity, sobriety, laughter, tears, revelation, and conviction describe his teaching of the Word. He is a man with a mature minitry, whose message and convictions have been born out of a deep and sensitive relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Bishop Beninate is a living testimony of the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Through the ministry of Teen Challenge, directed by David Wilkerson, his life was miraculously transformed from a New York City hoodlum to the overcoming life of a child of God. A portion of his testimony is detailed in Wilkerson's book, The Cross and the Switchblade.
In 1980, along with his wife, Susan, he founded the Abundant Life Christian Training Center. From humble beginnings in his mother-in-law's home, the church moved to a small building in the West Park area of Pittsburgh. There, they spent eight years in which the vision for a Christian performing arts center began to formulate. To that end, the congregation began to train in the various expressions of the arts, such as dance, mime, drama, and pageant. Over the years, this church has become known for its worship pageants and drama presentations.
In 1990, the Lord uprooted the congregation from the comfort and convenience of their church building and took them to Mt. Zion - a thirty-eight acre tract of land near the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport in Imperial, Pennsylvania. Little did this band of believers realize that for the next three and a half years their sanctuary would be a tent. Undaunted by the facility limitations, Bishop Beninate challenged the congregation to continue every phase of ministry that had been previously developed, including maintaining the Abundant Life Academy. In those early years, it was a common practice for students and staff alike to have to chop wood, which they would burn in a central potbelly stove for warmth and to transport water from home to drink. Rather than be a cause of discouragement, the circumstance provoked the congregation to become more firmly committed to the vision of the house. They pressed through the difficulties and limitations.
Now, Christ the King Church has settled into new facilities in Upper St. Clair.
Those who have come to know Bishop Beninate appreciate him as a uniquely refreshing minister. The impact of his ministry is felt by all segments of the church family, from seasoned ministers to the newest of saints. Young and old enjoy his unorthodox style of open communication. Bishop Beninate has also written seven books:
The Jesus Strategy - A unique perspective of Jesus' strategy to disciple the nations.
Knowing God - A practical workbook identifying God's nature and attributes.
Thus Saith the Lord - A systematic theological presentation of present day prophecy.
The Epistle of Jesus - An in-depth analysis of the bood of Revelation from a Kingdom perspective.
Symbolism in Revelation - A detailed analysis of the symbolic language used in Revelation.
The Age of Glory - A present day truth for the church in the 3rd millennium.
Prophetic Worship - A study of the Biblical protocol for New Testament worship.
