Rev. Benjamin Lee Turner

Rev. Benjamin Lee Turner passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2024 after succumbing to the Covid-19 virus that affected an underlying autoimmune disease. Ben was born on December 14, 1959 to the late Benjamin F. and Frankie Lee (Mauldin) Turner in Ocala, Florida. He attended Ocala schools until his senior year when the family moved to Eagle River, Alaska. He met Melodie Cameron at Eagle River Church of the Nazarene. Her family had moved from Council, Idaho at the same time as the Turner family. Ben and Melodie were married in 1980, and served as youth leaders at the church. In 1982, Ben began his higher education at Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. During their time there, Micah Benjamin Turner was born in 1986. Ben and Melodie served as youth group teachers, sang in the College Church choir, and Ben served as an interim youth pastor in 1987.After graduation from NBC with Associates Degree in Theology, Ben served as a youth pastor and later a lead pastor in three churches in western Kansas. Their second-born, Phillip Lindsey Turner, was born in Scott City, Kansas in 1989. Ben and Melodie moved to Layton, Utah to pastor Rosewood Lane Church of the Nazarene in 1995, and in 2003, moved to Boise, ID to pastor Five Mile Church of the Nazarene. Ben continued his education throughout his pastoral career. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theological Studies from Mid-America Nazarene College in 1987 and completed a Master's Degree in Pastoral Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University in 2020. “Pastor Ben” was known for his sense of humor, often including what became known as "ben-isms" during his sermons. He also was known for using physical illustrations, such as doors placed down the aisles of the church to show how we often shut people out of the kingdom of God by slamming doors shut with expectations that they cannot meet.Pastor Ben constantly looked for ways to bring people of all cultures together to show the world Jesus is Love. The Five Mile Church shares their facility with Good Word Church, a beautiful partnership with a Ukrainian/Russian congregation that began in 2004. In 2020, a group of Congolese Christian refugees came to Five Mile Church. They had become Nazarenes while living in the Kigoma Refugee Camp in Tanzania. Pastor Ben worked hard to give the Swahili-speaking people a place in the Five Mile Family, providing teaching and leadership training. Several Five Mile young adults are now in training for ministry.During the long summer of hospitalizations, Ben determined to use his time to continue serving God. He visited with medical and housekeeping staff as they tended to his health care or cleaned his room, finding out their stories, sharing a little of his, and always testifying to why Jesus meant so much to him. His gentle spirit allowed the staff to hear how Jesus could help them, too.The family would like to thank the medical staff of Meridian St. Luke's Medical Center for their excellent care in every stage of his illness, from the Emergency Department to the 6th floor Medical/Surgical unit to the Intensive Care Unit. The family also thanks the pulmonology team that threw all their knowledge into his healing, supporting his decisions to keep trying until he was ready for heaven.Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Paul Douglas Turner. Ben leaves behind his wife off 44 years, Melodie Dawn (Cameron) Turner; his children, Micah Benjamin (wife Mallory) and Lindsey Meza-Turner (wife Britney), two granddaughters, Lydian and Audrey; his brother, Timothy Allen Turner, and many nieces and nephews. 

Services for Pastor Ben Turner will be at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene, 150 W. Maestra Street, Meridian, Idaho on Saturday, September 28th. A viewing time will begin at 2 PM and the Funeral Service and Celebration of Life will begin at 3 PM. A live stream of the service will be available on www.myvsn.org. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Five Mile pavilion fund at 2701 S. Five Mile Road, Boise, Idaho 83709.