Ladell Blanton has proved that you can go home again. But he didn’t do so without leaving a lasting impression on two south Alabama Baptist associations where he served as director of missions.
Blanton retired from his work with Bethlehem Association and Pine Barren Association Nov. 30 to return to his hometown of Kosciusko, Miss., where he and his wife, Claudette, bought a retirement home. However, full retirement isn’t yet in the picture for Blanton. He has accepted the pastorate of Springdale Baptist Church, Kosciusko.
While in Alabama, Blanton worked mainly with rural churches, many of which are served by bivocational pastors. “We worked hard to keep missions at the forefront in the ministries of member churches,” he said. “Both associations have a strong commitment to missions, but I see a trend away from traditional missions education programs.
“I think it’s going to take a more concentrated effort to keep the focus on missions in the future,” he said.
“Our young people need to be taught about the importance of the Cooperative Program and about how we sponsor missions.”
During Blanton’s tenure, teams from both associations made missions trips to help construct churches and hold Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) in other states. And for the past three years Blanton led a team to New Mexico, where they held VBS at a Navajo church. The associations also had ministries within Alabama. Volunteers helped construct an addition to Riverview Baptist Church, Miller’s Ferry, and roofed homes for needy individuals. Last year, the two associations held their first joint “On Missions” celebration. Member churches turned out in full force, with 100 percent participation.
He said another historic “first” occurred in 2002 when Christian Way Baptist Church in Camden became the first black church to join Pine Barren Association.
Life before the ministry
Being a pastor was a second career for Blanton, who graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss., in 1961 with a degree in chemistry. For the next 24 years, he worked as a research chemist and manager for the Mississippi Chemical Corporation in Yazoo City.
When he was called into the ministry, Blanton took early retirement and entered New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), from which he graduated in 1987. He later attended Luther Rice Seminary, receiving his doctor of ministry degree in 1994.
Blanton served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Tchula, Miss., and was pastor of First Baptist Church, Foxworth, Miss., eight years.
But even while he was attending NOBTS, Blanton felt pulled to another type of ministry — missions.
“In 1985 I went on a missions trip to Topeka, Kan., where we worked with three churches,” Blanton said. “The experience impressed me so that I decided that one day I would like to be a director of missions.”
Blanton said his pastor, Charles Pratt at Liberty Baptist Church in Metairie, La., knew of his dream and told him about the opening with Bethlehem and Pine Barren Associations. He came on board in 1999. In addition to missions work, Blanton said he served as a minister to pastors in the association and his wife ministered to their wives.
“We enjoyed our time in Alabama and the warm reception everyone gave us,” he said. “We were also deeply impressed by the work of the convention. But we’re excited about being back in Mississippi [and close to our family].”
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