“Christ is truly at the center of everything I do, and Montreat played a huge role in developing that for me.”
For Ben Hall (Class of 2011), his years at Montreat College were deeply impactful on both his professional and spiritual life. Hailing from Columbus, North Carolina, Hall prayed about his next steps after graduating from high school and did not feel peace about the school he had originally planned to attend. As he continued searching, Montreat mailed him several promotional cards, and his family decided to visit campus. Once they drove through the gate, Hall was struck by the beauty of the surroundings and set his heart on attending Montreat. As he continued pursuing enrollment, he felt covered by the “peace of God that transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7, New International Version).
Hall desired to run in college, but at the time, Montreat did not have a cross-country or track program. Despite this, he remained fully committed and planned to run trails independently. Shortly before he began classes in fall 2007, Montreat revived its cross-country program and hired Jose Larios as head coach. What began as a coach-athlete relationship quickly developed into a meaningful friendship and mentorship.
After graduating from Montreat, Hall joined Larios at Emmanuel University (formerly Emmanuel College) to coach cross-country. While at Emmanuel, Hall met his wife, Libby, who encouraged him to pursue physical therapy school and earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Ben had been interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy since high school but went into coaching for a few years first. He enjoyed serving Jesus in that way but due to the travel demands, could not see coaching as his lifelong career. Libby reminded him of his dream of attending physical therapy school saying “In ten years, you won’t regret trying.” Hall felt peace that physical therapy was God’s calling for him and moved forward with that conviction.
Following graduation from physical therapy school, Hall’s pastor encouraged the congregation one Sunday morning to write a letter to someone who had significantly impacted their lives. Hall felt led to write to Larios, thanking him for his friendship and example. Upon receiving the letter, Larios immediately called Hall and urged him to apply for the newly formed Director of Sports Medicine position at Montreat College. After prayer and reflection, Hall felt at peace to apply.
Today, Hall, Libby, and their two sons, are members of the Montreat College community. Hall reflects on his time at Montreat as a season of taking ownership of his faith. He was surrounded by professors, coaches, and faculty members who modeled their faith daily.
Dr. Mark Lassiter, professor of biology and environmental science, and Dr. Brad Daniel, former professor, challenged Hall throughout his undergraduate career to pursue Christ-centered excellence in his academic work, reminding him that everything is done for God’s glory rather than personal recognition. They also encouraged him to steward well the knowledge he gained during his undergraduate studies. As a future medical professional entering a field with the potential to significantly impact lives, Hall was urged to understand the weight and responsibility of that calling.
Hall believes students are uniquely immersed in Christian faith at Montreat College. He encourages current students to take full advantage of their time there, trusting that God will use their experiences to prepare them for both joys and hardships.
While in physical therapy school, Hall wanted to honor God while healing physical needs. But he views his profession as an opportunity to address both physical and spiritual brokeness, recognizing that caring for the body can open doors to meaningful spiritual conversations. Hall considers it a privilege to walk alongside students during such a pivotal season of life and encourages them not to take the Montreat experience for granted.
Hall remains grateful for the impact his four years at Montreat had on his life and champions the college’s mission to advance the gospel. He encourages alumni to give back in any way they can—through time, resources, or service—remembering the lasting care and investment they received during their time at Montreat.