While assisting Pastor Terry Tucker in Sun, Louisiana, Mike and Danan Benson felt the Lord calling them to foreign missions and applied for an AIM appointment to Madagascar. There they worked under the direction of missionary Chris Richardson for eleven months. Along with teaching in the Madagascar Bible school, Benson ministered in conferences and evangelized  throughout the island. He was also permitted to speak in the Malagasy military Academy. As a result several high ranking officers visited UPC churches, with reports of some receiving Acts 2:38 salvation.

Viewing photos of missionary Randy Adams baptizing new converts in the Central African Republic, the Bensons felt the Lord speak that He was calling them to this country. Responding to the call, they were appointed by the United Pentecostal Church as foreign missionaries to the Central African Republic in February 2007. They will be the first United Pentecostal Church International resident missionaries in that nation.