Pastor Darrel Blankenship recently celebrated his 50th anniversary as the pastor of Springs of Praise World Outreach Center.
Pastor Blankenship on Stage at the Sunday Celebration Service
When he stepped behind the pulpit as lead pastor for the first time on August 21, 1974, Pastor Blankenship was sure that his appointment would only last for a season. However, the Lord had very different plans.
Born in Stratford, Oklahoma, Blankenship grew up an “Okie,” with no ambitions to leave the home state he dearly loved. In 1969, he began college at Southwestern University in Bethany, Oklahoma. Upon completion, he and his wife, Sharon, began working at that same university as the Director of Religious Life on Campus and the Director of Recruiting. Blankenship was settling in and planning to pursue a master’s degree at another local institution when he received a call from the Mississippi Conference Superintendent asking him to “try out” for the pastorate at Springs of Praise World Outreach Center. Blankenship was caught off guard. He had just bought a house on 18th and Meridian! He couldn’t just go to Mississippi!
Darrel and Sharon Blankenship
But on he went, one of six others up for the job of pastor; he was pretty sure he wouldn’t get the job. Even so, while he was in Mississippi, still with no plans to make the move, he felt the Lord tell him, “You will be coming.” Blankenship was chosen for the position, and he sold his home and moved with Sharon halfway across the country.
A Young Pastor Blankenship Preaching
At the time, Blankenship was only 22 years old, almost 23. The transition was tough. Moving from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to a small rural town of 4,000 was “quite an adjustment.” Blankenship shares, “The voice of the Lord had spoken; when the boss speaks, you move.” He and Sharon enjoyed their time in Mississippi and welcomed a son after almost nine years of marriage. Dubbed a “miracle child,” Sharon heard from the Lord, before she was even expecting a baby, that she would have a boy named Justin. Sadly, after 43 years of marriage, Sharon passed away from cancer.
Eight years ago, the Lord blessed Blankenship with a new wife, Karen Lafferty. Lafferty attended Holmes College, and Blankenship joked that there was hope for the future of the IPHC with Holmes and Southwestern graduates marrying together.
Springs of Praise World Outreach Center was small when he arrived, and within eight years, they had purchased land to expand. Since the initial build, the church has been added on to again. The congregation has around 250 members on a Sunday morning, and its heart is one for the community’s people.
Springs of Praise World Outreach Center Interior
The church pours into the Transitional Women’s Ministry, helping women who have recently completed a rehab program obtain a GED (General Education Diploma), a car, and a home. Since the church property has 16 acres, they have committed to building eight homes to aid in this ministry; the church already has five in place. Blankenship shares that the program has already seen many successes, with women reuniting with their children, running a business in town, and a few even marrying within the church.
Blankenship’s greatest joy in pastoring comes from being a mentor for young pastors. He is a Mission Catalyst Trainer, working with Jim Eby, former Superintendent of the Horizon Conference, to train pastors all over the world to go into the unreached people groups. Blankenship also shared that the current Superintendent for the Mississippi Conference is a former Associate Pastor at Springs of Praise who served under him.
When asked about the secret to staying in one place for 50 years, Blankenship explained: “I believe that if I learn to be content where I am, not look for something better, that the Lord will make where I am better.” He shares, “If you will stick it out through the tough times, when the fog clears, you will realize that you made the wise choice to persevere.” A pastor must learn to wade through the feelings and emotions of the moment; if they don’t, the same problem will surface elsewhere.
Thinking back on his time with the IPHC as the Assistant Superintendent, Secretary/Treasurer, and board member, Blankenship shared, “I have been in IPHC just about all of my life, and it has treated me well. I appreciate the opportunity to be a member of the IPHC.” Presiding Bishop A. D. Beacham, Jr. shared his gratitude for Blankenship’s years of service, saying: “Pastors like Darrell Blankenship make a world of difference in congregations around the globe. His commitment to lead people to Jesus, make disciples, and faithfully preach God’s Word is an inspiration to all of us!”
Pastor Blankenship at the Sunday Morning Celebration Service
The 50th Anniversary Celebration began on Saturday, with guests gathering under tents from 3 to 6 p.m. Among the festivities, the mayor, Sally Garland, presented Pastor Darrel Blankenship with a proclamation from the city recognizing his years of pastoring.
Crystal Springs, Mississippi Mayor Sally Garland Presenting Pastor Blankenship with a Proclamation
Blankenship was honored again in service on Sunday, his 73rd birthday. His son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Sarah Blankenship, along with their three children, Benjamin, Boston, and Everly, were able to attend the weekend celebrations.
The Blankenships: Karen, Darrel, Everly, Justin, Boston, Benjamin, and Sarah
Justin shared these words about his father: “I’m very proud of my Dad’s accomplishment of 50 years of ministry to one congregation. What also makes his story unique is that he moved over 500 miles away from his home at the age of 23 to plant roots in a place where he and my mom knew no one. I’m grateful to be his only natural-born child, but I’ve always shared my Dad because he is a spiritual father to many sons and daughters. His faithfulness of endurance for 50 years is inspiring.”
