PASTOR BENJAMIN DRONE
Bio
Pastor Benjamin Drone is a graduate of Akron University and began teaching in the Akron Public School system in 1972 at Perkins middle school after his student teaching tenure. He was transferred to Buchtel High School in the summer of 1972 and taught ten years there before being transferred to Central Hower. He was reassigned to Buchtel in 1982 after teaching one year at Central Hower and continued his career in teaching until his retirement in 2003.
During his teaching career he supervised and instructed the Gospel Choir which he reorganized in 1972. The Gospel choir performed throughout the city at elementary schools, civic events, religious services, appeared on all three TV networks in Cleveland Ohio, and traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania each year to participate in a national music workshop. Many of the students that participated in the choir transitioned into professional recording artist. He was awarded Teacher of the year. 1995 & 2001, and the Shinning Apple award 1997 & 2001 (The shining apple award is selected by the class valedictorian.
One of Pastor Drone’s passions is working with young people. He organized a group for young men ages eight to thirteen in 1990 entitled “A.A.D” (assertive discipline development) which emphasized character development and teaching home repair and maintenance. From that initial group birthed doctors, engineers, educators, and business entrepreneurs.
Pastor Drone was ordained as a Bishop in the Church of the Living God in October 2015. He has served as president, vice president and treasurer of the “Akron and Vicinity Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.” He also served as president of “Concerned Clergy and Citizens for a Safe Community” a group that represented and advocated for people within the community.
Presently Pastor Drone is senior pastor of Faith Temple Church and works with Frank Williams instructing a Fatherhood Initiative Class entitled “Man 2 Man.” The class consists of men seeking to improve their character and child rearing skills. After attending the class, many of the men regain a positive self image, become employed and are reunited with their children, granted visitation rights, joint custody or custody. This has become one of the passions of his career along with pastoring Faith Temple Church. He states that it is very inspiring and rewarding working with the young fathers and hearing the reports of their success after attending the class.
In April of this year (2020), Pastor Drone was inducted into the East High School Hall of Fame honoring his social and religious activities in the community.
“If I can help somebody as I travel along the way, then my living will not be in vain.”
