Dr. Michael Vallandingham, Pastor, was called to minister at Eastern Heights in May 2010. His wife Tara and their 2 children moved to Bartlesville from Wewoka, OK. After receiving his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Seminary in 2002, Bro. Michael received his Doctor of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008. His interests are OU football, golf and hunting.
Jaymi Blankenship - Associate Pastor of Students
E-mail JaymiJaymi Blankenship joined the staff in January 2009. He and his wife, Kara move to Bartlesville from the Arlington TX.
Jaymi was born in Peoria, Illinois, and lived in Alaska until his junior year of high school. He graduated from Malvern High School in Malvern, Arkansas in 1994. Jaymi spent a year at Ouachita Baptist University before transferring and completing his bachelor degree in Church Recreation at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In December of 2008 he received his Masters of Divinity with Biblical Languages and a concentration in Student Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jaymi has said that his salvation experience was a life-changing event.
On September 16, 1994, I hit the lowest point in my life. I had been stripped of all my dignity. Without my knowledge I had a friend who was praying for me. God took the time to make sure that in my lowest point I would cross his path. This friend confronted me and pointed out that God was not in control of my life but the world was. God just wanted to be in control; all that I had to do was pray. This was my prayer: I admit to God that I am a sinner completely disobedient to His word, then I proclaim that Jesus Christ died for me, and now I commit my life to God in completeness to love God with all my heart in turn to love others the same and to go make disciples of all nations.
When asked about his call to ministry Jaymi said,
During the summer of 1996 I was working as a staffer for Super Summer Arkansas. Each evening I had the privilege of listening to Louie Giglio speak. During the Wednesday evening service he was discussing the call of changing other people’s lives and how that important for all believers to accept and do. The next morning in my devotional time my passage of scripture was 1 Peter 2. In the verses 9-25, it became very apparent that I was called to the ministry. As all believers have a roll in God’s ministry.
Jaymi felt that it was very obvious that God was calling my wife and I to Eastern Heights Baptist Church during the interview process. He was confident that there was a clear agreement of biblical understanding. Jaymi said he was encouraged that the idea of student ministry reaching students, parents, and equipping others in student ministry was important to the church. He also knew there was an overwhelming sense of God being able to use his family at Eastern Heights Baptist Church.
Jaymi’s favorite scripture is Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” His favorite biblical passage is the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.
Jaymi says that the 2nd best day in his life was the day he married Kara on May 20, 2006 at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Arkansas.
Lonnie Hoelscher - Student Sunday School Director
Lonnie is active in several areas of Student ministry including teaching the boys Sunday morning Bible study, leads in World Changer mission trips, and assists with Wednesday night activities. Lonnie is a deacon of EHBC.
