God’s predestinated
purpose for District Bishop Darnell Larry Easton began on October 28,
1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, upon his birth.
He was often showered with much
affection, being the youngest of nine children born to the late Deacon
Joseph and Mother Viola Easton.
He grew up in Anne Arundel County,
Maryland, where his humble beginnings were on a farm, which he
diligently labored. He attended the public schools of Anne Arundel
County, graduating from Southern Senior High School.
He went on to complete advance studies
at Bowie State College, and obtained home study courses through The
Washington Bible College. Bishop Darnell was
trained by his parents in the way a child should go.
At the early age of 10, he was a
baptized believer, and was filled with the precious gift of the Holy
Ghost at 13.
He loved church and carried zeal and
devotion toward ministries in the church.
As years past, God continued to order
the steps of Bishop Darnell, preparing him for a greater charge.
He faithfully served in many
capacities, including but not limited to choir president and member,
board member, groups and committees, all under the pastoral leadership
of the late Bishop Jacob A. Green.
God equipped him to serve in whatever
capacity that was called of him.
As
a young man, one of Bishop Darnell’s goals was to marry and have a
family.
In 1971, God blessed him to meet his
lovely wife, First Lady Margo Easton.
They were wedded on September 14, 1974.
Bishop Darnell and Sister Margo have an
exquisite marriage relationship, one of love, trust, respect, and
commitment to God and the marriage covenant.
From their union, they were blessed
with three beautiful children: Shawn, Monica and Cherise.
Bishop Darnell cherishes his family and
is grateful to God for the wonderful bond that they share. It was in April 1975,
when Bishop Darnell Easton was called into the ministry.
He answered the call and later preached
his trial sermon in June 1977.
He was ordained a minister by the late
Bishop Jacob A. Green.
One of Bishop Green’s favorite
scriptures concerning Bishop Darnell’s life was – 2 Timothy 3:15 – “And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Having served loyally, faithfully, and
with integrity in his calling, in August 1996, God saw fit to elevate
him to the ministry of an Elder.
Shortly thereafter, in July 2000, he
was consecrated to the office of First Assistant Pastor, blessed to
serve under his brother, the late Bishop Allen H. Easton, until the Lord
called Bishop Allen home.
He executed his duties effectively, and
met the demands and challenging responsibilities of his church family.
In January 2003, Bishop Darnell Easton
was installed as Pastor of the Bethel Way of the Cross Church of Christ.
He had to undertake the charge of God,
to activate the vision of Reaping the Harvest, Church Building
Expansion, Community Relations and Out-Reach.
The changing of the guards occurred,
fully sanctioned and concurred by the late Bishop Jacob A. Green, the
Official Board and members of the Bethel Way of the Cross Church.
But more importantly, the Lord Jesus
Christ himself put His stamp of approval, His anointing and blessings
upon this change. In August 2005, Bishop Darnell was appointed District
Elder. Bishop Darnell has served
and assisted in enhancing and developing many ministry curriculums.
He has taught the New Members Class,
served as the Youth Department’s Advisor and Coordinator of the Prison
Ministry.
He has been called upon to instruct and
present many seminars.
In addition to his responsibilities and
duties of a Pastor, he has had a strong involvement and leadership role
in the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Care Ministry and Trustee Board.
His commitment to the Pastoral Care of
the Chaplin at the Calvert Memorial Hospital was one of his many
services to the community. Bishop Darnell is an anointed, effective and aspiring Man of God. He gives life to one of his favorite scriptures, which is close to his heart – St. Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
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"....come thou with us, and we will do thee good." Numbers 10:29