December 14, 2021

Debleaire Snell will also be the senior pastor of Oakwood University Church.

By Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review

Debleaire Snell and his wife, Gianna, were recently introduced to the Oakwood University church community and regional church leaders. Snell is the new senior pastor for the congregation on the Oakwood University campus. He is also the new Breath of Life TV Ministries Director / Lecturer. The Snells’ introduction took place on the second night of the 2021 Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council, December 6, 2021.

Regional church and education officials praised the Snells as they prayed that God would shower His bountiful blessings on their ministry. Debleaire Snell replaces Carlton Byrd, who was recently elected president of the Southwestern Regional Conference of the Adventist Church.

Oakwood University president Leslie Pollard welcomed the Snells to Oakwood and said he was happy they were serving the historically black Adventist school church.

“Oakwood University, built on land that was a former plantation, has the goal and mission of having ‘God First’, as the school motto says. We are happy that you and your family are a part of this mission, ”said Pollard. The school recently celebrated 125 years of service to church and community in the region and around the world.

During the brief ceremony on December 6, North American Division (NAD) President G. Alex Bryant led a group of regional conference presidents (historically administrative territories of the African American church) to congratulate the Snells . Bryant said the process for selecting a new speaker / director for Breath of Life was thorough.

“We have had a lot of consultation and had a lot of discussion,” said Bryant. The leaders also prayed. In late July 2021, the Adventist Media Ministries Board of the North American Division of the Adventist Media Ministries Board of the North American Division announced that it had elected Snell. “Pastor Snell is a gifted communicator of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bryant said at the time. “God called him to build on the great legacy of the Breath of Life ministries forged by those who came before him. I believe God brought him to this ministry for a time like this.

Bryant stressed that church leaders are committed to supporting Snell’s ministry and, in particular, Deblaire’s leadership as the head of Breath of Life.

“We want to make sure that viewers have access and can watch Breath of Life programs,” Bryant said during the Dec. 6 introduction. “And we want the ministry to air in prime time – not in times when no one is watching, but in prime time,” he said.

About Deblaire and Gianna Snell

According to Regional Conference sources, Debleaire Snell is from Tallahassee, Florida. He is a graduate of Oakwood University and Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. For more than two decades he served as a pastor in the US states of Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama. Gianna Snell is a graduate of Andrews University. She is a wife, mother of three and an entrepreneur. She owns Gianna Snell Photography in Huntsville.

Since 2010, Debleaire has served as senior pastor on the three campuses of the First Seventh-day Adventist Church (First Church, Abundant Life, and The Bridge) in Huntsville. He has led several large evangelistic meetings for the church. During his time at First Church, there were 878 baptisms. In 2020, Snell launched a local television ministry with the Huntsville affiliate CBS.

Snell has taught at Oakwood University as an Assistant Professor since 2010. In addition to writing a devotional column in a local newspaper while in Kentucky, Snell is the author of six books.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve my Lord and Savior in this capacity,” said Snell. “My goal is to zealously share Christ with the preaching of the gospel. ”

About Breath of Life

Breath of Life is a televised ministry dedicated to sharing the healing gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of the three angels’ messages from Revelation 14, according to its website. The ministry has accomplished this by producing and distributing quality Christ-centered television and media programs, as well as intellectually stimulating, Bible-based support material designed to help people choose a quality of life that the we can only find by following Christ.

Breath of Life began broadcasting in 1974. It was pastor and recording artist Walter Arties’ dream to create a program that would appeal to African Americans seeking hope and guidance. For 23 years, CD Brooks has been the featured speaker.

In 1997 Walter L. Pearson Jr. became the speaker / director, and he continued the legacy started by Arties and Brooks. Over the years, the show has broadened its target audience to include all who seek hope and assurance in God’s powerful message of salvation.

In December 2010, Carlton P. Byrd assumed the role of speaker / director. Byrd continued to expand the vision and scope of Breath of Life building on the foundations laid by those who came before him.

Snell said his goal was to build on such a rich history. “I look forward, with the help of God, to add to the rich heritage established by the pastor [C. D.] Brooks, Walter Pearson and Dr Byrd. I want to thank the leadership of the North American Division, as well as the board members of Breath of Life and Adventist media ministries, for entrusting me with this sacred responsibility, ”he said.

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