When you think of a “pastor,” what image comes to mind?  Maybe a person who is clean-cut and straight-laced?  Someone studious, with white shirts and black shoes, who prays in the eloquent language of King James?  Well, Pastor James is no king.  In fact, with long hair and lots of tattoos, he looks at first glance to be part of a local motorcycle gang, and indeed, that was part of his old life.  But make no mistake – James Blankinship is a pastor – we are blessed to have him as our “Outreach Pastor” – having earned his degree from the Tucson Theological Seminary and his ordination from the Evangelical Association of America in 2009.

James gave his life to the Lord early in 2007 – right here at Community Christian – but it was in the springtime at a meeting of the S.O.B.E.R. Project in Tucson – a church dedicated to addiction recovery through the power of Jesus Christ – that he really “caught fire for the Lord.”

And he has been doing ministry for Jesus Christ ever since.  James started a S.O.B.E.R. group at Community Christian, which is still going strong today (currently led by Selena Fraley).  And with his wife Kim, and a variety of music leaders including Cathy and Wayne Honea, he started the weekly 6:30 p.m. Saturday night Cross/Fire worship service, which also is still going strong.  He also is an Elder.

Kim was actually the first person in touch with our church.  In late 2006, with things going very badly for the family, Kim – a DES-certified child caregiver – had hung a flyer at the Marana Food Bank, advertising care at her home.  It so happened that Pastor Dave was wanting to hire a paid Nursery Worker for the church.  He didn’t know where to start -  but when he went to the Food Bank one day, and saw Kim’s flyer, he called her up and… well, the rest is history.  Kim started as our Sunday Nursery Worker, and eventually was hired on as teacher at our Preschool, where she worked until she got a job at Bashas.  When Bashas closed about a year and a half ago, Kim has been unemployed, except for her new job as our Nursery Coordinator.

James’ and Kim’s middle daughter, Brandi, is one of our Nursery Workers, and is on our “Youth and Children’s Ministry Design Team,” helping to transform these ministries over the next two years.  Brandi will be a senior at Marana High School.  She has overcome much to be in a position to graduate, and has plans to be a Special Education Teacher one day.  Both Brandi and Kim are Deacons (Brandi is a Junior Deacon).

Their youngest daughter, Toni, will be a sophomore at Marana High.  Toni might be seen with any number of colors in her hair from week to week.  Though it takes awhile to get to know Toni, she is very creative and has a quick wit.  Both Toni and Brandi have been involved in our youth ministry, and all three women – Kim, Brandi, and Toni – have been baptized at Community Christian.

James and Kim have other children, including their oldest daughter Brittnay, who lives nearby and has a beautiful baby boy, Tristan, with her husband Jordan.  Brittnay has a degree in massage therapy, and according to our Youth Ministry Coordinator Barb Churchill, gives an awesome massage.

The whole family has been experiencing health problems recently – and Pastor James in particular, with diagnoses of emphysema, “valley fever,” and narcolepsy.  Yet he and the family continue to serve the Lord, caring for and helping many even under adverse circumstances.   We invite your prayers for them as they go through this difficult time in their lives, and we give thanks for their ministry.