Earl Darling – Pastor
Pastor Earl’s first encounter with God was July 1977 at his sister-in-law’s home in Memphis, Tennessee. Earl was sitting on the bed with his wife casually reading the bible she had given him for Father’s Day. As Earl read a passage in Galatians chapter 5, his eyes became opened and he knew the word was speaking directly to him. He handed the bible to his wife and she also read the passage and responded with alarm as the bible described their life. Together they were led by God to seek forgiveness of sins and right there in that bedroom received their salvation in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Earl began a serious study of the scriptures and was ordained in the Bible Way Churches. He attended and ministered at the Refuge Church in Peekskill, Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Peekskill and Peekskill Fellowship from 1992 until the merge with Light of the World in January of 1994.
After the Senior pastor, Rick Smail, left Light of the World in May of 1996, Earl was one of three elders who kept the church going for a period of two years. In 1998 Earl became the senior pastor of Light of The World, now Yorktown Vineyard Community Church.
Through the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Pastor Earl has been called to minister Christ’s compassion to the hurting. On January 1, 1987, his first wife, Margaret, died from breast cancer. Because of the encouraging words from leaders that she would live and the prevailing beliefs on faith and healing taught by prominent teachers of the day, her untimely death greatly challenged Earl’s faith and resulted in a period of withdrawal from God. By the grace of God, he recovered and developed a one day seminar on faith for people to know the true way to apply faith.
On September 11th, 2001, Pastor Earl’s daughter Elizabeth died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Although this was yet another painful event, the lessons Pastor Earl learned on trusting God stood the test. He never blamed nor questioned God, nor did he retreat into sorrow and despair.
Pastor Earl is a strong believer in the power of God to set His people free. He has personally experienced the power of God to grant freedom from sin and bondages. As a result of the freedom God has given him through His word, he has dedicated his life to bring that same freedom to those still in bondages. Pastor Earl has a passionate desire to be God’s vessel to set people free. To know that God has appointed him for this purpose is one of the motivating factors of his life.
“….I have appeared to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:16-18
Many people have received remarkable results from Pastor Earl’s one day “S.H.A.R.P.” Solution Seminar. This seminar provides practical training in a workshop format allowing participants to experience release from bondages and to stay free.
Pastor Earl has an Executive MBA degree from Pace University and many years of bible study and practical experience. He has ministered in Mexico, Jamaica, and Kenya. He is a member-in-good-standing of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Pastor Earl has been married to his present wife, Gwen, for over 25 years. They have four wonderful children, Joseph and John from their current marriage, Richard from Pastor Earl’s first marriage and Elizabeth, who went home to be with the Lord on September 11, 2001. They reside in the town of Cortlandt Manor, NY.