We are excited about the direction of Fellowship and know that God is preparing us for wonderful things ahead.
Our leadership team is supported by a wonderful group of volunteer ministry team-leaders, community group leaders, and coaches. We are big fans of team-based ministry. We believe the burdens and blessings of ministry should be shared, and we should all participate in the work and the rewards of serving God’s kingdom. Now, let's introduce you to our staff!
Ben Pukas
Lead Pastor
Ben was born in the amazing city of Tampa, Florida where he was raised and received a love for the beach and the outdoors. He ended up staying in Tampa to get his degree in finance and economics at the University of South Florida, and to this day remains a die-hard Bulls fan. During his time at USF, he felt God calling him away from the business world and into the ministry world. Ben became a student pastor for Grace Community Church in Brandon, Florida, and a year and a half later moved to Dallas, Texas to be trained in the fellowship at Watermark Community Church for 10 months. Ben has a huge heart for students and for them to see that the abundant life is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and that following Him can be fun and fulfilling, not boring and restricting.
Ben is not married but hopes to one day have a family. He has a German Shepherd puppy, and she is like his child, and as such, is his family.
Ben loves playing and watching sports of all kinds, but doing things with people is what gives him the most joy. Whether watching movies (favorite movies are The Notebook and Remember the Titans), playing games or sports, or just talking, it doesn’t matter as long as he’s with the people he loves.
Courtney Dawson
Local Outreach Pastor
Courtney Dawson was born and raised in McRae, Arkansas. Growing up, she attended church but did not have a real passion to surrender her life to Jesus. That all changed when she and her husband, Rodney, had their first daughter. God gave Courtney a clear message at that time, "You can't give her what you don't have.", and she knew that she wanted her daughter to grow up personally knowing the One who created her and loved her. She received Jesus' grace and was blessed to be mentored by women in her local church who fostered in her a love for studying and teaching God's Word and a love for serving people.
Since then, she has spent the last 20 plus years teaching ladies bible classes, leading ladies' retreats, organizing VBS, leading food ministries and service projects, coaching her daughters' basketball teams for 10 years, and volunteering with her family at the local nursing home for 10 years.
Courtney is passionate about discipleship and showing compassion to those that are hurting, overlooked, and ignored.
In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, watching movies, and enjoying good food with friends and family. Courtney lives next to her in-laws' cattle farm in Judsonia, Arkansas, with her husband Rodney and their two girls, Rachel and Anna.
Jasmine Harris
100 Families Case Manager
Jasmine was born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She graduated from Three Rivers College in 2018 with an Associates Degree in General Education. She moved to Searcy in 2021 and began attending Fellowship.
Jasmine is not married but does hope to be with kids one day. She enjoys being an Aunt/God-mom to 10 kids. In her free time, she enjoys singing, painting, exploring nature, and spending time with family.
Lily Bendickson
Children's Pastor
Lily was born in Atlanta, Georgia where she was raised through 5th grade. Her family then moved to Donahue, Iowa in order to continue an archery ministry called Heart Shot Ministry begun by her grandfather before his passing. There, she grew up closely with her five siblings, realizing a love for reading, music, and being outside. Ever since she can remember, Lily wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but little did she know, she would be called to Children’s Ministry at the time of her graduation. Recently graduated from Harding University with an Elementary Education degree, she is very excited to be staying in Searcy. She feels as though her desire to teach, her love of children, and her passion for Jesus have merged to lead her right here.
Lily can usually be found somewhere with a book and a song stuck in her head. She’s always up for a walk and a good laugh!
Sara Wise
Administrative Assistant
Sara was born in the twin city of Texarkana, Texas, but grew up on the Arkansas side of town. Go Hogs! She married her high school sweetheart, Josh, while they were both attending college to become registered nurses. Although she has worked in nursing off and on through the years, her true love was homeschooling her three kids, Gracie, Faith, and Gabe.
Sara and her family began worshiping at Fellowship Bible Church when they moved to Searcy in 2015. They were connected with several amazing families through community groups who have become like true family. In her free time, Sara enjoys watching her son swim for the Searcy Lions, getting coffee with her daughters, and watching Harding baseball/softball games with her husband.
Enjoying God‘s creation, reminds her of what a powerful creator He is, but what most blows her mind is his intentionality and how he sustains during hard times. Meeting and interacting with people is what brings her joy, so if you see her around, say hi!
Shane Tucker
Director Of Finance
Shane was born and raised in the small college town of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While Shane studied secondary education at Henderson State University, her grandmother taught her the bookkeeping side of the business, which eventually changed Shane's career path.
Growing up Shane was exposed to the Baptist faith as well as Catholic and Episcopalian. It wasn't until her late twenties when she took a job with a company in Memphis, Tennessee where the owner held weekly Bible study for all who chose to attend, did she begin to realize that it wasn't religion that was important, but instead having a relationship with Jesus that matters.
Shane and her three young children relocated to Searcy in 2004. After being in Searcy about two weeks she and her young children began the search of finding a church home. After visiting Fellowship Bible Church and many others during the first couple of months, Shane knew Fellowship was where she and her young family belonged. She quickly joined a community group, and says being in community at Fellowship has been the biggest blessing to her and the people she's been in community with feel like family.
Over the years Shane has served in children's ministry and led women's bible study. She feels blessed to have been asked to join staff part time overseeing the daily accounting of Fellowship.
Shane married her husband James in 2017, and between them they share five children and four grandchildren. Shane loves spending time with her family, traveling with her husband and crafting.
Hannah London
Media Coordinator
Hannah was born and raised in Searcy, Arkansas where she was homeschooled and attended Crosspointe Preparatory Academy. After graduating she moved to Conway to pursue a degree in Communications with an emphasis in PR and Photojournalism. As a lover of stories, Hannah’s favorite thing about her degree is that she gets to highlight so many different stories through social media. Her goal is to create positive, joyful spaces that make people stop and want to know more about the people she gets to post about. Hannah has attended Fellowship Bible Church since she was approximately 3 years old. She loves the community that Fellowship has given her and is thankful for its impact on her life. In each season, God has used the church to bless her in such amazing ways.
Hannah has a passion for reading and would be happy to spend her days with her family, her dog, and a good book.
Henely Sanders
Interim Student Pastor
Henely and her family are from Cabot, Arkansas. She graduated from Beebe High School and is currently working on her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Theological Studies at Harding University with hopes to continue with a masters in counseling and pursue being a therapist.
Henely began involvement at Fellowship Bible Church as a college freshman, serving as a girls small group leader. This past year, Henely has been leading Fellowship Student Ministry and has really enjoyed seeing how God can use all of us in unique ways.
Henely spends her free time working at Midnight Oil Coffeehouse, crafting, traveling, and playing music.
The Elder Board
 Jim Davidson Elder |
 Todd Brackins Elder |
 Andrew Abraham Elder |
 Jack London Elder |
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 Keith Neaville Elder |
 Gerald Harlan Elder |
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 Elder |
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 JR Davidson Elder |
 Matthew Harbin Elder |
 Bruce Brown Elder |
