About Pastor Bennie Blevins

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Bennie proudly declares that he has a bromance with Jesus Christ. “He is my best-friend and my Everything. Jesus literally saved my life. Specifically, when I was twenty-one, after I was rejected and shunned by my church and lost my best friend because I was gay. I attempted suicide and Jesus saved me.”
After decades of being a disciple of Jesus without attending a church, in 2018, Bennie discovered Community of Christ at the very first Portsmouth, Ohio Pride Festival. Bennie’s love and devotion for Jesus and his passion for being an advocate for his brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ+ Community was recognized. He was ordained as an Elder in 2019, and was appointed pastor of the Portsmouth Welcoming Community in 2020.  Bennie is passionate about spiritual practices and formation and knows that Jesus has called him to share His message with all people, especially His LGBTQ+ children,  “You are Loved exactly as you are!”  Pastor Bennie graduated from Graceland University & Community of Christ Seminary in January 2023 with a Master of Arts in Religion with a concentration in Spiritual Leadership. Bennie lives in Portsmouth with his husband Chase and their fur-babies Prue and Presto.

Member of the Church since: 2018
Favorite Scripture(s): "So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them." ~1 John 4:16
"Collectively and individually, you are loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken,. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened." ~D&C 163:10a
Favorite Quote: "I was one way and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between was Him." ~The Chosen. 
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