Ben Young (born about 1963 or 1964) is an American Baptist pastor, author, and seminary teacher based in Houston, Texas.
We were able to derive this estimate from a post published by the Houston Chronicle as updated on December 2, 2017, which stated that he was 54 years old.
He is the senior pastor of Second Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in the United States.
His father, Ed Young Sr., named him successor in May 2024 after 46 years in the pulpit.
Ben has served on staff since 1989, wrote several books, and worked as a chaplain for the Houston Astros.
Ben Young at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Young |
| Born | About 1963 or 1964, the Carolinas, USA (exact date not public) |
| Age | About 62 (60 in May 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Krissie Young |
| Children | Six |
| Parents | Ed Young Sr. (father), Jo Beth Young (mother, died 2017) |
| Siblings | Ed Young Jr., Cliff Young |
| Education | |
| Schools | Baylor University, Southwestern Theological Seminary, Bethel Theological Seminary (San Diego) |
| Degree | Doctor of Ministry |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor |
| Church | Second Baptist Church, Houston |
| Denomination | Southern Baptist |
| On staff since | 1989 |
| Senior pastor since | May 2024 |
| Website | benyoung.org |
| Career | |
| Books | Room for Doubt, The Ten Commandments of Dating, Devotions for Dating Couples, Why Mike’s Not a Christian, Survive the Day |
| Net worth | Not publicly reported |
| Salary | Not publicly reported |
Early Life and Background
Ben Young grew up in the Carolinas. His family moved to Texas in 1978, when his father took the pulpit at Second Baptist Church in Houston.
Family and Parents
Ben is the middle of three sons. His father, Ed Young Sr., served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in the early 1990s.
His mother, Jo Beth Young, died on September 7, 2017, at age 80 after 58 years of marriage.
His older brother, Ed Young Jr., leads Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. His younger brother, Cliff Young, is the media director at Second Baptist and a founding member of the band Caedmon’s Call.
Education
Ben studied at Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel Theological Seminary in San Diego.
Ministry Career
Joining Second Baptist in 1989
Ben joined the Second Baptist staff in 1989 and spent the next 35 years as an associate pastor. He preached often across the church’s campuses.
He also taught homiletics, apologetics, and practical theology at Houston Theological Seminary and directed the seminary’s Second Baptist campus.
Radio, Baseball and Writing
Ben hosted a nationally syndicated radio talk show for years. He also served as a chaplain for the Houston Astros.
Today he runs the Ben Young Daily Podcast, and his sermons air on Houston TV and radio.
Books by Ben Young
Baptist News counted six books by Ben as author or co-author. His best known titles are:
- Room for Doubt
- The Ten Commandments of Dating
- Devotions for Dating Couples
- Why Mike’s Not a Christian
- Survive the Day
How Did Ben Young Become Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Houston?
Ed Young Sr. announced his retirement on May 26, 2024, at age 87. He closed his sermon at the Woodway Campus by naming Ben as the next senior pastor. Ed had led the church since 1978, when about 500 people attended on a Sunday.
Ben had preached at Second Baptist for about a decade before the handoff. Ed Sr. said he was thrilled with who God had called. He also hinted he might still preach now and then.
Second Baptist Church Under Ben Young
Second Baptist began in 1927. It became one church in two locations in 1999 and now has six campuses in Houston.
The church says about 20,000 people attend weekly. Membership claims range from 82,000 to 94,000.
Ben preaches at the Woodway and West campuses. His messages cover Moses, the Ten Commandments, Ecclesiastes, and daily struggles like addiction and regret. His style is plain and personal, and he writes the way he talks.
Personal Life
Who Is Pastor Ben Young’s Wife?
Ben’s wife is Krissie Young. They have six children. Church pages list two grandchildren, and his personal site lists four.
The couple also appear on the board of directors page for C3 Global Network.
Hobbies
Ben surfs and practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He describes himself as a heavy reader.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Ben preaches from a conservative Southern Baptist base. He treats doubt as a normal part of faith, which is the point of Room for Doubt. He also reads the Ten Commandments as principles of freedom, not a list of rules.
The church also amended its bylaws in 2023 to state its beliefs on marriage and family. That change became part of the lawsuit covered below.
Criticism and Controversies
The Second Baptist Lawsuit
In April 2025, a nonprofit called Jeremiah Counsel Corporation sued Ben Young, Ed Young Sr., Lee Maxcy, and Dennis Brewer Jr.
The group said a May 2023 bylaws change took away members’ voting rights and cleared the way for Ben’s appointment without a congregational vote.
On July 15, 2026, Texas Business Court Judge Grant Dorfman dismissed most of the claims. He cited the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which keeps courts out of church leadership decisions. He also refused to undo Ben’s appointment.
The judge did say members had a right to ask for a full accounting of church finances and property. Jeremiah Counsel has said it will appeal and has filed a motion for reconsideration.
Ben has denied wrongdoing. He said the church was “deeply grateful” for the ruling.
Influence and Legacy
Ben leads a church that grew from a few hundred people in 1978 to a multi-campus ministry. He carries on a family line that includes two other pastors and a Christian musician.
The Southern Baptist Convention has long counted Second Baptist among its most visible congregations. Jerry Vines and J.D. Greear are two other SBC presidents with big pulpits.
Net Worth and Salary
Ben Young’s net worth and pay are not publicly reported. Church salary data is not published, and online net worth sites give unsourced figures. We left them out.
Interesting Facts About Ben Young
- He moved from the Carolinas to Texas as a teenager in 1978.
- He has been on the Second Baptist staff longer than he has been senior pastor, 35 years against two.
- His Sunday services at Woodway start at 9:30 and 11:11 AM.
- He surfs and trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
- He wrote a book about dating that is still in print.
Timeline
- About 1963 to 1964: Born in the Carolinas.
- 1978: Family moves to Houston as Ed Young Sr. becomes pastor.
- 1989: Joins the Second Baptist staff.
- 2017: His mother, Jo Beth Young, dies.
- May 2023: Church bylaws are changed.
- May 26, 2024: Named senior pastor.
- April 2025: Jeremiah Counsel files its lawsuit.
- July 15, 2026: Judge dismisses most claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ben Young today?
Ben Young is the senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston. He was still preaching there in July 2026. He also records a daily podcast and teaches at Houston Theological Seminary.
How old is pastor Ben Young?
He is about 62. Houston Chronicle called him 54 in a post updated on Dec 2, 2024. His exact birth date is not public.
Who is pastor Ben Young’s wife?
His wife is Krissie Young. They have six children and several grandchildren.
Who is Ben Young married to?
Pastor Ben Young is married to Krissie. No marriage is reported for Neil Young’s son Ben.
Does Neil Young have a disabled son?
Yes. Neil Young has two sons with cerebral palsy. Ben, born in 1978, has a severe form. Zeke, born in 1972, has a milder form.
Neil and Pegi Young started the Bridge School because of Ben. Pegi died on January 1, 2019. Ben is a different man from the Houston pastor.
Is Ben Young related to Ed Young Jr.?
Yes. They are brothers and the sons of Ed Young Sr.
