InterVarsity Alumni - Benton James

When Benton moved away from home to attend school at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, he missed his family. His family had encouraged him in his Christian faith and supported his interest in music. When he was ten years old, Benton was led to the Lord by his father. Benton sang at his Philadelphia church with his brother and sisters while they were in high school.

But college was a lonely place at first. Then a friend introduced Benton to the InterVarsity chapter at the University of North Carolina—Greensboro.

When Benton moved away from home to attend school at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, he missed his family. His family had encouraged him in his Christian faith and supported his interest in music. When he was ten years old, Benton was led to the Lord by his father. Benton sang at his Philadelphia church with his brother and sisters while they were in high school.

But college was a lonely place at first. Then a friend introduced Benton to the InterVarsity chapter at the University of North Carolina—Greensboro. Here Benton met other people who shared his interest in music and his commitment to serve the Jesus. Soon he joined the worship team, helping to lead the chapter members in praise to the Lord.

During his time with InterVarsity, Benton developed his music and his Christian faith. He wrote songs for the worship team with other members adding original music. One member of the worship team had access to a private recording studio. The team spent several Saturdays there perfecting the songs that they had composed and producing a CD. After he graduated in 2005 with a degree in marketing, Benton continued to pursue his interest in music. In December 2005 his debut album, The Cowards Anthem, was released.

Benton is grateful for his InterVarsity experience. “I want to thank Marshall Benbow and Shawn Morrison for being a steady example of Jesus to me during my time at InterVarsity. The seeds they left are a huge part of the success I have in my faith now.”

As he experiences the emotional ups and downs of the creative process, Benton is learning more about God. In a recent blog entry, he comments on the sadness he felt when he failed his brother. But then Benton realized that when people fail one another and must experience grace to heal the wound, “they remember how much grace God really shows them in a day. Thank God for grace.”

InterVarsity offers opportunities for students to grow in the Lord, in their faith, and in their lives.