Destin's ‘preacher' captain becomes a true fisher of men

This is the final installment in a three-part series on Capt. Ben Marler. To read the previous stories, see thedestinlog.com.

To read more memories from and about Capt. Ben Marler, visit The Destin History Project. Just click on the history button at thedestinlog.com.

SEPT. 2: Meet Capt. Ben Marler
SEPT. 5: The best moment of Capt. Ben’s life
TODAY: Living a life of service

Capt. Ben Marler’s life took many directions which he had not expected after he and his young family returned to Destin in 1963.

He and his wife, Joan, kept the family business going after the sudden death of his father in 1970 — which he continued until the late 1990s.

But, most importantly, Capt. Ben also experienced what he says was, without a doubt, the best day of his life — when he invited Jesus into his heart.

God also gave him new callings at this time — and one was to minister to those in jail.

“God led me to ask John Moore to join with me, and for two years we drove at least once a week to Crestview to share the Gospel,” Marler said. “During this time we were rewarded to see real miracles of healings, deliverances and many inmates making a confession of faith in Jesus. This was a very long and difficult two years, but a time which blessed me exceedingly.”

‘The preacher’

During this time, Capt. Ben continued to witness daily to his deep sea fishing customers.

“I concealed the Gospel within my fishing lesson,” he said. “From time to time someone would say, ‘My friend came with me not knowing I wanted him to hear about Jesus.’ I can look back and honestly say the best part of my life each day was when I shared Jesus. Some were a bit shaken, especially when I asked them to join with me in singing ‘Blessed Assurance.’ The good Baptist folks didn’t have to be asked twice, which encouraged many others to join in.”

Many people said a loved one became a believer after hearing Capt. Ben talk about Jesus, his daughter, Beth, remembers.

“He became affectionately known as ‘the preacher,’ ” Beth told The Log. “He cared that the people caught fish and was genuinely upset if they had a bad day.”

Many times customers would come to the cabin to speak with Capt. Ben, and they would tell him they were a bit nervous about going out on the Gulf until they had the little “church service.”

“One thing for sure, I wasn’t as gifted as many in Destin captaining a large deep sea fishing vessel with up to 120 passengers, but God was always there to help me,” Marler said. “I knew He would be, for I got up an hour early each day to read 10 chapters from my Bible before visiting Him at our church where my singing of ‘How Great Thou Art’ quickly caused the vagrants to leave in the darkness. I wasn’t trying to get them to go, but I suspect the Lord’s presence was a bit too much for them.”

After the fishing

About 35 years ago, God led Capt. Ben to write a column, Walking with Jesus, for the paper in Fort Walton Beach that lasted 52 days.

“The daily ads cost between $38 and $42 depending upon the length,” Capt. Ben told The Log. “At the end of the series, which God ended with a scripture from Nehemiah, the Lord had the $2,000 I had spent laid into my hand unexpectedly. The Lord always pays His way!”

Capt. Ben has continued to write messages of encouragement throughout the years, probably several hundred by now, and often writes for The Log.

“What’s interesting to me is I wasn’t good in English or composition and hated to write,” he said. “But the Lord has anointed me to write and write and write. I believe they make a difference in folks lives, for they do not arise from my head but from my heart where Jesus lives. Some of them minister to me so much that I might read them eight to 10 times.”

One of the joys Capt. Ben has found in serving God has been the blessing to pray for childless couples and later see a photo in the mail with a note of thanks.

“God gave me the perfect prayer for this and with it I have seven fantastic grandkids,” he said. “Once they were on the way, I would pray for them and God in His faithfulness always answered. Actually all children belong to Him, and He calls us children, too. Isn’t that wonderful?”

His daughter Beth told The Log that Capt. Ben knew it was time to retire when people started saying “we don’t want the fish, just the experience.”

“It was hard to take for an old time Destin captain who knew how delicious and valuable the fish were. He had done everything by the book, but was tired and ready for the next chapter in his life ... and his life has become one of continual service to our Lord and mankind.”

Friends say Capt. Ben is a truly special person, a loving and generous man who has blessed not only his family but also many others.

“When God hears Ben’s voice, He smiles,” Claire Ogle of Destin told The Log. “Ben is a true evangelist; he cares deeply about people and where they will be going when they die. He is faithful and consistent in preaching the Good News of the Gospel to any and all.

“Capt. Ben is Destin’s first and true evangelist. Knowing him is knowing a part of Destin history. May God continue to bless him.”

Capt. Ben considers himself the most blessed person he knows.

“I had 2,500 bumper stickers made up with Mark 8:38 on them,” he said. “It was fun giving them away and it’s even more fun when I see a car with one of them on the bumper. I suppose you might say that I might like to be remembered as someone who wasn’t ashamed of Jesus.”

Capt. Ben’s wife says he has always pointed the family to Jesus. The couple now has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“He has always been a fine example to our children and grandchildren, never wavering in his trust in a loving and powerful God.”

All in all, a wonderful life for the captain with the servant’s heart — the only boy born in Destin in 1938.