Written by Ben Cox – For this week’s Portraits of the Pulpit, we travel just a few minutes outside of our normal coverage area to take a look at a dedicated pastor, and a church that has been going strong for over a century.

 

Blanket United Methodist Church sits a few blocks down Main Street from the highway turn off, just past the downtown Blanket area. Its pastor, John Seth, is an affable man who likes to brag on his congregation.

Blanket United Methodist Church sits just off Main Street in Blanket, its new Family Life Center visible in the left corner of the picture

A bi-vocational preacher, Seth is also a Family Nurse Practitioner for the Family Practice Clinic in Mills County, serving the physical needs of his patients and spiritual needs of his congregation. “The two vocations blend themselves really well,” says Seth.

Seth didn’t know he would be a preacher all his life as other pastors have, but it was obvious to some. A preacher during his youth made it very clear he knew Seth was destined for ministry. “He would squeeze my cheek and say ‘here’s my little preacher man’!”

Beginning at Blanket UMC in the fall of 2001, Seth has worked his way through a set of 20 classes designed by the Methodist Church to become the pastor. The classes were created by the Church for lay people (non-ordained church members) to take leadership roles in smaller churches like Blanket UMC.

Updated within the last 20 years, the sanctuary still shows many signs of the original construction, from the windows added in the 1930’s to the trim that was shaped by hand in the early 1900’s

An experience with the Walk to Emmaus set the tone for Seth’s journey into ministry. Calling it a “weekend Vacation bible School for adults,” Seth says he realized his need for forgiveness during the three day Bible Study. “God said man have I got some doors I’m gonna open for you!”

These steps eventually lead him to Blanket, and a congregation that he says is full of love, showing him exactly that in what would be his family’s darkest hour. “We are raising a granddaughter after we lost our son to a heroin overdose about seven years ago. It was the most terrible day of our lives, but yet the church surrounded us with love.”

It is that loving spirit that makes Seth feel honored to be called their pastor.

Longevity in membership is another defining trait of the church body. “There’s a lot of ranch families that started the church that continue to come. The Damron family, the Switzer family, the Lanford Family all helped start the church.” Seth says those families continue to make up the congregation, which he describes as “so loving… There’s been times of joy, there’s been times of need, and the church comes together.”

Originally founded in 1881 as a consolidation of seven other churches, Blanket UMC moved from four miles north of town to its current location in 1905. The building was renovated during the last 20 years, to replace original siding and preserve the windows added in the 1930’s.

The center stained glass window is original to the church, built in 1905

The Family Life Center built on the site of a former parsonage at the height of construction material prices, and the members banded together to eliminate the incurred debt. “Incredible selfless donations helped us pay off this $400,00 building in just eight years.”

The church is awarding $10,000 in scholarships to local graduates this year, “and they’re not all members of this church. The congregation really sees the need to serve the community.”

The services on Sunday morning are of a traditional nature, as one would expect in such a historic church. More contemporary services are offered every fourth Sunday of the month in the Family Life Center, and include a meal for all who attend.

The church can be reached via their Facebook page. Sunday school starts at 9:30 and Worship Service begins at 10:30.