Pioneer Assemblies of God Evangelist Ben Hardin: “The Little Man with the Big Message”

This Week in AG History — July 5, 1941

By Glenn W. Gohr
Originally published on AG News, 04 July 2024

Ben Hardin (1893-1958), one of the foremost evangelists in the early years of the Assemblies of God, spoke at countless churches, camp meetings, and General Council meetings.

Wherever he traveled, and whatever he did, he always had a heart for evangelism — to win the lost at any cost and to preach revival meetings wherever he was needed. He stayed true to the motto that he lived by. It was written in his Bible, and he often declared it to others: “The will of God — nothing more — nothing less — nothing else!”

Thomas Bennett Hardin (who always went by Ben) was born Dec. 10, 1893, at McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He was brought up in the Methodist Church and later joined the Assemblies of God.

As a young man, he worked as a clerk in the offices of the U.S. Steel Corporation along with Ben Mahan, who became his lifelong friend and brother-in-law. In 1914, at Mahan’s invitation, Hardin attended a revival in Glassport, Pennsylvania, where he made a commitment to Christ. Soon afterwards, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Feeling a calling into full-time ministry, Hardin was ordained with the United Free Gospel and Missionary Society on May 30, 1917. That same year he married Ethel Elizabeth Toms of Pittsburgh.

After their marriage, Hardin pastored a small church at Pittsburgh and helped his brother-in-law, Ben Mahan, establish a church in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. It was during this period that the church members gave the two men nicknames — Big Ben and Little Ben. Hardin was not as tall as Mahan. These nicknames remained with them for the rest of their lives.

By May 1918, Hardin and his wife joined the Assemblies of God and were approved to be missionaries to Africa. Before they left for the field, Hardin felt directed instead to focus on being a pastor and evangelist, instead of going into foreign missions. New credentials were issued for pastor and evangelist status on July 11, 1919.

Hardin engaged in extensive evangelistic work across the U.S. and sometimes filled in as a pastor. One of the churches he filled in for was the Stone Church in Chicago. He filled in for a few months and then was voted in as pastor, serving for two years. When he was doing evangelistic work elsewhere, his wife would fill the pulpit at the Stone Church. During this time, he held meetings for Ernest S. Williams at Highway Tabernacle in Philadelphia and for Harry Collier at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Washington, D.C.

Hardin moved to San Bernardino, California, in 1936 and became an executive presbyter of the Southern California district, and later served as district superintendent for five years (1939-1944). He also served on the board for Southern California College (now Vanguard University) and was chosen as a delegate to the constitutional convention of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).

From 1944 to 1948, while pastoring the Assembly of God Tabernacle in San Diego, he had a powerful ministry with servicemen. Hundreds of naval and marine servicemen came to the servicemen’s center at the church, and many were saved.

Hardin also pastored in Santa Ana from 1948 to 1953. He helped to oversee the building of a 400-seat facility which was dedicated in 1950. When Hardin passed away on March 28, 1958, he had labored in the vineyards of the Assemblies of God for almost 40 years and had much fruit to show from his life of ministry.

Read, “Every Man in His Place,” a devotional by Ben Hardin, on pages 2-3 of the July 5, 1941, issue of the Pentecostal Evangel.

Also featured in this issue:

• “He Led Them All the Night,” by W.F.P. Burton

• “Ye See the Day Approaching,” by P.C. Nelson

• “The Man With the Razor Tongue,” by Stanley H. Frodsham

And many more!

Click here to read this issue now.

Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.

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