Benjamin Apollos

Benjamin Lee Crawford Apollos (born September 20th) is an American business consultant, general contractor, building contractor, fitness professional, ordained Christian minister, writer, inventor, mentor, and motivational speaker. He is the founder of several organizations such as American Pillars Contracting, LLC.; Club Self Control, Inc.; a 501(C)3 non-profit organization; Genetic Fitness Matrix, Inc.; Crawford Modern Principles, Inc.; and Flip My Trailer.

Benjamin Apollos

Early Life, Education, and Military

Apollos was born to Benjamin and Claretha.

He completed his elementary and middle school education at Archer Community School and earned a high school diploma from Newberry High School. Throughout high school, he was elected the Youth Advisory Council President and earned National Beta Club status. He was named an All-American Academia by Who's Who Among American High School Students. During his senior year in high school, Apollos lettered in four sports, and he was named to All-State teams in football, baseball, track and field, and weightlifting, earning All-Conference and All-District in each sport. He received several athletic scholarships as well as academic scholarship offers from the University of Florida (track and field), Valdosta State University (Football and Baseball), Western Arizona University (Football), William Penn College (Football), Wofford College (Football), and Alabama State University (Baseball). Alabama State University is where Apollos decided to attend and play baseball for two seasons. He earned SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) Freshman of the Year and was subsequently voted Mr. Alabama State University by his peers.

The summer of his Sophomore year, Apollos attended the United States Marine Corps, Boot Camp, where he led his company. He was awarded a meritorious promotion, followed by enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve. In 1987, he entered the active duty branch of the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended several military schools, including Infantry Training School and Special Forces Training, where he mastered nine different weapons, learned to destroy tanks on the battlefield, in TOW Missile School, studied explosives and how to destroy enemy structures such as bridges and buildings, in Demolition School, earned his Tactical Hummer Driver's License, secured his license to pilot an amphibious vehicle, in Amphibious Assault School, and became Master at Arms trained in Prisoner Escort School. While onboard the USS Pelelui (LHA), where he served the first of two deployments. He served aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA) for his second term during the first Iraq War, Desert Storm, Panama Conflict, Just Cause, and the Philippine Coupe. After a shoulder injury, Apollos began bodybuilding training in his off time and became a world-famous bodybuilder, winning several major championships.

Within three years after honorably discharging from the Marine Corps Active Duty Branch, he answered the call to become a credentialed Christian minister. He applied and was accepted to the Florida National Guard Army Chaplain Officer School; then, he attended Army Officer Candidate School for phases I and II. Having a couple of hiatuses, he served 14 years as an Army Chaplain Officer, where he became a world-renowned expert on suicide prevention. During this same period, Apollos authored UCORPS, Unit Commander's Offensive Restoration Plan for Soldiers (suicide prevention). He was medically retired in 2018 as a captain.

His time serving as an Army Chaplain Officer and suicide prevention expert inspired Apollos to write a franchise program on self-control that he named Mastering Self-Control and Club Self-Control, Inc. in response to his desire to help individuals master their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions.

Apollos earned an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs with a minor in Environmental Health Studies. He obtained both the Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from the prestigious liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida, Rollins College. Following that, he pursued a Master of Divinity majoring in Psychology/Pastoral Care and Counseling from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with honors with a 3.7 GPA. Later, he acquired an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the American Fellowship Church.

Certificates and Licenses

Apollos earned a Top Secret Security Clearance from the US Government (1994– 2008). He is OSHA certified through the Atlanta Homebuilders Association, a certified personal trainer from the National Association of Strength Medicine (NASM) (2010), a certified CPR and first aid instructor from the American Red Cross, and a certified CPR, AED, first aid instructor from the American Heart Association. Apollos was trained and served as a supervisor for Youth Academic Tutors and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). He is a licensed general contractor in Georgia, a licensed residential contractor in Florida, and a reciprocation contractor license in 13 additional states.

Career

Apollos is the President, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of American Pillars Contracting, LLC; Genetic Fitness Matrix, Inc.; Club Self-Control, Inc.; and Crawford Modern Principles, Inc. Also, he established Flip My Trailer, Inc. He assumed the role of general contracting picking up a 4th generation trade reeling from his great grandfather in 1996 while completing his master's degree and serving in the Army Reserves as a chaplain officer .

He holds several bodybuilding championship titles, including NPC Bodybuilder of the Year, Mr. California (NPC), Mr. West Coast Armed Forces (NPC), Mr. San Diego (NPC), Mr. Pacific USA (NPC), Bodybuilder of the Year (NPC), and Mr. Florida (NGA) . He was the editor of the Health & Fitness Witness Newsletter and the health & fitness columnist in AHEADD Christian Magazine.

Apollos has contributed to various charity organizations, including World Changers Church International (WCCI) (2001 – 2017), World Council of Independent Christian Churches (WCICC) (2010 - 2018), Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) (2010 – Present), Congressman Bill Young's Soldier Assistance Program (2012 – 2013), and Soldiers to Scholars (2012 – 2014). Moreover, he has volunteered for the American Red Cross (1998 - Present), Winston Elementary School (2003 - 2009), True Vine M.B. Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Allied Health's Silver and Fit Program (2012 – Present) as well as the Explorer Cadet Program as a mentor worker for delinquent youth.

Apollos is associated with the following people, Chris Tucker (colleague), Martin Luther King, III (ministry colleague), Al Sharpton (ministry colleague), Creflo Dollar (ministry colleague), Flex Wheeler (bodybuilding colleague), CT Fletcher (fitness colleague), and Dexter Jackson (bodybuilding colleague).

Memberships and Affiliations

• Toastmasters International, Alpharetta, Georgia
• Westside Home Builders Association, Douglasville, Georgia
• National Physique Committee, Hollywood, Florida
• National Gym Association, New York
• Bodybuilding Promoter, National Gym Association
• Bodybuilding Judge, National Gym Association
• Professional Bodybuilder, National Gym Association
• President, Youth Advisory Council, Newberry High School
• President, Ministers Fellowship Alliance

Bibliography and author contributions

• Author - General Contractors' Certification Course
• Author - Mastering Self Control Book & Workbook
• Author - Mastering Self Control Book & Workbook (Philosophical Version)
• Author - Mastering Self Control Book & Workbook for Teenagers
• Author - Mastering Self Control Book & Workbook for Teachers
• Author - Mastering Self Control Book & Workbook for Law Enforcement Officers
• Author - Club Self Control Instructor's Manual
• Author - Club Self Control, Instructor's Quick Reference Guide
• Author - Club Self Control, Member Manual
• Author - My Garden (Relationship Management Program)
• Author - Genetic Fitness Matrix, Franchise Manual
• Author - Genetic Fitness Matrix, Operation's Manual
• Author - Genetic Fitness Matrix Personal Trainer Certification Manuals, Levels 1 thru 7
• Author - Genetic Fitness Matrix Personal Trainer Certification Guidelines
• Author - Genetic Fitness Matrix, Fitness Professional Gift Assessment Program
• Author - Bodytrax Fitness, Franchise Manual
• Author - Bodytrax Fitness, Operation's Manual
• Author - Flip My Trailer, Inc. Franchise Manual
• Author - Flip My Trailer, Inc. Operation's Manual
• Author - UCORPS, Unit Commander's Offensive Restoration Plan for Soldiers (Suicide Prevention)
• Author - Life book, A Daily Devotional for Christians
• Author - Healing Balm, Weekly Inspirational
• Author - Harsh Words
• Author - Hosea's Triumph
• Author - Personal Trainer Certification Manual, American Council on Health & Fitness, Inc.

Awards and recognition

• Desert Storm Veteran
• Philippine Coupe Veteran
• Operation Just Cause Veteran
• National Defense Medal, 2nd Medal
• Ranked 4th, World's Best Personal Trainer Contest, Life Fitness, 2012
• Ranked #1 Male Trainer, World's Best Personal Trainer Contest, Life Fitness, 2012
• Honor Graduate, Morehouse College
• Academic Excellence Award, Theta Phi Chapter, Interdenominational Theological Center
• Letter of Appreciation, Quality of Work Initiative, US Food & Drug Administration
• National and World Bodybuilding Champion (US Armed Forces World and National Champion)
• Bodybuilder of the Year, National Physique Committee
• Meritorious Promotions, United States Marine Corps, Twice
• Letters of Appreciation, United States Marine Corps, Twice
• National Defense Ribbon, United States Marine Corps, Twice
• Good Conduct Medals, United States Marine Corps, Twice
• Meritorious Promotion, Continental Assurance Insurance Companies
• Top Fitness Awards, United States Army, Twice
• Top Fitness Awards, United States Marine Corps, Twelve
• Rifle Expert Awards, United States Marine Corps, 5th Award
• Pistol Expert Award, United States Marine Corps, 4th Award