A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and pastor, Rev. Lindell Ray Ballenger went home to be with the Lord on June 8, 2014, after a long battle with cancer. Pastor Ballenger was married to Darlene Ballenger for 52 years. They relocated to the Pensacola Gulf Coast exactly 30 years ago this month and lived here together with their family since then. Lindell Ballenger was born in the small rural town of Gateway, Arkansas in 1944 to a ministry family. He received Christ and his call to ministry in his early teen years pushing him forward as a third-generation minister in his family. He began ministry shortly after he married while intermittently working on his ministerial education throughout his life. He held a Bachelor of Biblical Studies, a Master of Biblical Studies, a Doctor of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry. In 1969, after some years travelling evangelistically with his wife, Pastor Ballenger built his first church in Springdale, Arkansas, Faith Assembly of God. The church grew and was blessed and still remains today. In 1976 Pastor Ballenger and his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he became the pastor of a church formerly known as Home Gardens Assembly of God, now Calvary Temple Assembly of God, and built it with a great team of people over the next several years. It grew into a thriving body of Christ in Northwest Tulsa. In June of 1984, Pastor Ballenger moved his family to Pensacola, Florida where he became the pastor of First Assembly of God. After taking a strong stand as a Christian leader against challenging moral issues in his community, Pastor Ballenger was led by God to build a vibrant, new ministry in Pensacola. This church, now known as Jubilee International Ministries, has grown into a thriving ministry with influence around the world. Leading a church of blended cultures and nationalities was no easy task, but Pastor Ballenger took the challenge to break down cultural and religious walls to see a successful ministry which embraces diversity and worships together as family. The diversity doesn't end within the four walls of the local body, but extends into more than 70 nations around the world. With a strong desire to train young leaders, Pastor Ballenger also founded two schools in Pensacola: Jubilee Christian Academy, a private Christian school reaching students from two years to High School; and Jubilee College International, a ministry-training college offering study programs on both undergraduate and graduate levels. Training and sending has become a regular part of Jubilee's history making its target two-fold: nations and generations. For his fifty-two year ministry history Pastor Ballenger has served as a great pastor, leader, mentor, chancellor, missionary, and friend to tens of thousands of people around the world. He continued to serve faithfully in ministry until a few weeks ago, when his battle with cancer finally rendered him unable to continue. Despite the brutal affects of cancer in his colon and more recently in his liver, he continued to minister, lead, write, and preach for the past four years. During this time and throughout his life Pastor Ballenger experienced several miracles both in his own body and in the lives of many others. He continued to spend hours pouring into preaching, training, and equipping many leaders, old and young, for the work of the ministry, often disregarding his own pain and physical limitations in the process. Though not as well known as others, Pastor Ballenger has been one of the greatest pastoral leaders of this generation. His highest passion was always God's presence and his highest priority was building the church. He constantly put emphasis on his love and fervor for the Holy Spirit. He would pray continually in the Spirit, he would teach and practice walking in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and he would never approach any difficult situation or crisis without absolute faith in the ability of God. His greatest desire was to see the Kingdom of God come and His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Though his family and church mourns his loss, they are filled with joy knowing that Pastor Ballenger is now standing in the place he preached of so often and face to face with the One he loved so dearly. Today, he has finally heard those words every minister of the gospel longs to hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Pastor Ballenger gave everything he had and laid down his life for whatever the Lord asked of him. Nothing was ever done half-heartedly but with complete dedication. He was vigilant, always striving for God's desire in everything. He lived his life with intense passion, giving his heart and soul to everything he did, which is why in 52 years of ministry, he was able to accomplish the work of several lifetimes. He is a spiritual father to countless sons and daughters leaving a lasting legacy that will continue until Jesus returns. He is preceded by his father Ira Albert Ballenger (1913-1992) and his mother Emma Faye Ballenger (1919-1980). He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Darlene Ballenger; son, Lendel Duane Ballenger; daughter, Angela Darlene (Ballenger) Fox; son-in-law, Timothy Lee Fox; daughter-in-law Pamela Gaynell (Bowen) Ballenger; and seven grandchildren, Julia Ballenger, Adam Ballenger, Oliviah Ballenger, Jasmine Fox, Sophia Fox, Andre Bowen, and Aaron Bowen. Visitation will be held 6-8pm Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel. Funeral Service will be 10:00am Friday, June 13, 2014 at Jubilee International Ministries, 5910 North W Street, Pensacola, Florida. Committal Service will be held at 12:30pm Friday, June 13, 2014 at Bayview Memorial Park, 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, FL 32503. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Lindell Ballenger Memorial Fund through Jubilee Church. Condolences may be expressed on the Jubilee Church Facebook page.