Cover Story
The traditional definition of the word “sabbatical” (according to the Oxford Dictionary) is “a period of leave granted to a professional worker for study or travel.” A more archaic definition says it’s “of or appropriate to the sabbath.” When Dale Benton, the successful owner of four car dealerships in Alabama and Tennessee, took a sabbatical in 2021, the word fit both of those definitions and surprised many people- including himself. It was a break from his high-stress career and a chance to get closer to God. Benton said that the break gave him a brand-new perspective on life and finally made his relationship with Christ his ultimate priority.
daughters in 2003. Victoria said her husband’s “leadership and wisdom”
helped them through those challenging times. God later blessed them with
son Daniel.
Stressed Out. Benton became one of the region’s most successful businessmen in the automobile industry, but it came with a price. Working up from sales associate, Benton owns three car dealerships in Alabama (Hoover, Bessemer, and Oxford), plus a dealership in Columbia, Tenn. As the founder and owner of Benton Automotive Group, he has been recognized with many industry accolades. This year he represented the entire state of Alabama as a TIME Dealer of the Year finalist. The prestigious award is given to the country’s most successful auto dealers who show a commitment to community service. Benton’s wife Victoria, an attorney, works with him in the business, and they are the proud parents of 15 year old son Daniel.
Despite all of his outward success, Benton said that throughout his life he always had a striving for the next big thing. He attended and played baseball at Coastal Community College in Brewton, Ala., and then attended Kennesaw State University. When his dreams of playing professional baseball were dashed due to an injury, he went to work from the ground up at a car dealership in Atlanta. “I’d always been very competitive, and it’s a competitive business,” he said. “It fits my personality.” Benton found instant success in 1994 as a sales associate and after marrying Victoria, they moved to Alabama to continue his career. From that point on, the opportunities and advancements continued as he moved into finance and management; after that, the logical step was to own his own dealerships. He purchased his first dealership in Oxford in 2010 followed by the Hoover location in 2014. “I started to move up, and I always wanted the next step. I always wanted to achieve and get to the next level and next thing,” he said. “I was always searching.” In 2016, Benton ventured out of state with his work and purchased a Nissan dealership in Columbia, Tenn., and that same year also bought his Bessemer Nissan dealership and a Chevrolet dealership in 2018 he has since sold. “I was still looking for more,” he said.
Throughout those days Benton had his faith to lean on. He had become a Christian soon after meeting Victoria. They attended church and Bible studies. But he knew there had to be more. “We were always involved in church, and tithing was very important to us,” he said. “But Christ wasn’t my priority. I was working every night either at a store or at home, and I was always looking for another opportunity. I was trying to fill a void. I had given my life to Christ, but I didn’t have victory in Christ.” In 2018, Benton said that he began to feel distinctly aware that something wasn’t right. Then, as Covid shut down things in 2020, he also began to shut down. “Things just felt wrong. Life didn’t taste good. I always had told myself that if the stores were doing well, I was doing well,” he said. “But I knew something was different in 2018. And in 2020, nothing felt right. I couldn’t get joy. I couldn’t find happiness or peace with anything I did. I was in a cave, and I couldn’t see myself out.” In 2021, he continued searching for meaning through his work– by looking for more opportunities and buying more real estate. At that time, he said, it was all about “more, more, and more.” A health scare made him think he’d had a heart attack, but doctors couldn’t find anything wrong.
Taking a Break. What was the answer? Benton knew he had to do something but felt helpless. He counseled with his pastor, who encouraged him to do something unexpected and out of character- take a sabbatical. His pastor’s instructions? Leave work at the office, take a break from the job for as long as possible, abandon his cell phone, and rest in Christ through study, prayer, and other practices. “He told me I needed a sabbatical to take every stressor away. He asked me if I could take two months away, and I said yes,” Benton explained. “He told me to give my phone to my wife and let go of anything that was stressful. And that included anything related to buying or selling.” He gave his phone to Victoria, picked up a flip phone instead, and told everyone (including his employees) what he was doing. He essentially disconnected from everything. Benton said that a change didn’t happen immediately, but as he started filling himself up with Scripture and spiritual practices, he noticed a shift. He realized that he’d been a Christian for 27 years and, while everyone thought he was “fine,” there was so much missing from his life. “When you take everything else out and then start filling yourself with all the truths and the goodness of the Lord, then things change,” he said. Benton clung to 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, “If any man comes to Christ, he is a new creature. Old things pass away and all things become new.” He shares, “I had to start believing those words. I had to open my hands and arms and surrender completely.” Benton said that it was a daily battle to change his focus from what it had been before, but after about six weeks he started seeing a difference. The hard work began to be worth it, he said. As his sabbatical ended Benton began to make changes in outside ways. He went back to work and began taking time for things like small groups and sharing his testimony. “Most men go to the grave still trying to fill the hole in their heart,” he said. “In our business, it may mean another car or another dealership. But the only thing that can fill that hole is Christ and the Holy Spirit.”
Looking to the Future. Benton also continued and increased his company’s work in the community. That work includes the annual Benton Nissan Bass Fishing Tournament to benefit King’s Home, which serves youth, women, and children fleeing abuse, neglect, or homelessness. His company also gives generously to the Foundry Ministries in Bessemer, and his employees help children in need through its annual Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway. In Anniston, he supports Interfaith Missions and in Columbia, he supports The Well Outreach. Benton also strives to be the best employer possible and credits his employees with taking care of business during his sabbatical. “Even though I want my stores to do well, I want them to be more blessed because we do more for others. I desire more favor and more influence to have more opportunity to share with others,” he said. “And I want to provide a good place to work for my employees.” He credits his family for sustaining and encouraging him during the trying times of his journey and takes every opportunity today to tell his story. “Every time I can, I want to tell my testimony,” Benton said. “I have a before and after story. And I have victory.”
— Cheryl Wray
