Lee & Sue Bennett: A Short Biography

Lee and Sue were privileged to meet the Lord at an early age and be raised in Christian homes. Lee was called to serve and lead a church as a pastor/teacher at the age of sixteen. He took the counsel of his pastor and began pursuing a four-year secular education at Santa Ana College in Orange County, California. It was then that through the efforts of a close friend, Lee met Sue McGill on a blind date.

Lee and Sue were married one and a half years later on May 1st. This was in the Spring of Lee's junior year at Fullerton State University where he was majoring in speech communication, with a minor emphasis in psychology. With graduation came decision time. Would it be seminary, a Campus Crusade ministry, or graduate school in speech? After much prayer the Bennett's were confident that they Lord was directing them to campus Crusade. They sold their southern California bungalow, packed their belongings and moved to San Bernardino, where they received extensive Bible and evangelization training. The next move came in September of 1966 when the Bennett's were assigned to train at Washington State University. Their Christmas gift that year arrived on December 22, a son, Bradley Paul Bennett. They also finished their training that month and moved to Moscow, Idaho, to begin Campus Crusade work at the University of Idaho.

Summer of 1967 was a time for more in-depth Bible school and new assignments. For the school year of 1967-68 Lee and Sue directed Washington and Northern Idaho, which meant overseeing seven staff members and five college workers. After another summer of in-depth Bible study they were assigned to direct Orange County, Long Beach, and Pomona Valley in the 1968-69 school year, where they directed twelve staff members.

On December 22, 1968 in Fullerton, California, Lisa Marie Bennett arrived on the scene. Her proud parents now had their ideal family!

After three wonderful years the Bennett's left Crusade in March of 1969 and Lee began what was to be a ten year career in medical sales.

In the winter of 1969, after searching for a church home, the Bennett's visited Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. There they experienced what they had so long sought after--a releasing in the Spirit of God like that of the early church in the Book of Acts.

Although Lee and Sue were somewhat apprehensive, one taste led to another. They regularly attended Sunday services, as well as Monday and Thursday nights. At the depth of their need, both were released in the Holy Spirit which birthed a new joy and ability in each of their lives. Ministry grew out of relationship and soon Lee was counseling, teaching a marriage class, and leading an early morning prayer meeting. Lee was ordained on November 8, 1972 in response to God's fruitfulness in his life.

The Bennett's moved to Dana Point in the Fall of 1974 and on December 23, Greg, the first member of Lee and Sue's "second family" put in an appearance, and two years later on December 31, 1976, Mark Timothy joined the family.

In 1975 came involvement with a new church pastored by Chuck Smith, Jr., Calvary Chapel, Dana Point. As an elder and lay pastor, Lee ministered along with Chuck for three years.

After nine years at Calvary Chapel Churches, the Bennett's clearly heard God's voice telling them it was time to be sent out. Desiring to be led only by the Holy Spirit, they told only a few close friends of God's call.

During this time of waiting they were visited by two couples who were close friends and past members of Calvary Chapel of Dana Point. Both couples had moved to the Seattle area and were involved in a home Bible study with eight other couples, all originally from California. Because of their Calvary Chapel/Vineyard background they desired to start a church with the same style of ministry in the Northwest. The Bennett's friends shared with them their vision and one step led to another and Lee and Sue visited the group in June of 1979. They were subsequently called to begin the church that Fall, which would be called Calvary Northshore.