Sharon Ballinger
Grad Year: (‘94, ’96)
Came to Lee from: Chattanooga, TN
Occupation: Music/Worship Arts Pastor at Redemption Point Church; director of Ladies’ Ministries and Alma’s Closet
Sharon Ballinger has been in full-time ministry for 26 years, leading worship, overseeing women’s ministries, and serving the body of Christ. Even this week, she is running Alma’s Closet to bless the missionaries at the General Assembly where more than 1,000 pieces of clothing will be given away. “Serving others is all I know,” says Sharon. “It’s my heart, and Lee University played a big role in that.”
Sharon grew up attending East Ridge Church of God in Chattanooga, where it was not uncommon to hear about Lee. “Several of our ministers of music were professors at Lee. I went to Church of God Youth Camp every year and met people from Lee. Ensembles from Lee would come sing at our church. All of it made me want to come be a part of what was going on at Lee College.”
At the age of 12, Sharon started taking voice lessons at the North Cleveland Music Academy. In high school, she attended the Governor’s School for the Arts, and then eventually went on to study vocal performance at Lee. After graduation, she travelled with Alvin Slaughter Ministries for several months before returning to Lee to complete a master’s degree in church music.
She met and married Travis Ballinger just before finishing her grad work in 1996. Since then, they have served as youth pastors at East Chattanooga Church of God and the MacArthur COG in Beckley, West Virginia; associate pastor and music minister at Mountain View COG/Christian School in Oak Hill, West Virginia; and senior pastors at Parkway COG in Jackson, Tennessee, and Freedom House COG in Knoxville. From there, Sharon and Travis returned to East Chattanooga Church which merged in 2017 with Redemption Point in Ooltewah, Tennessee, where they currently serve.
In addition to her many roles at Redemption Point, Sharon has carried on the legacy of Alma Kelly, who birthed the vision for Alma’s Closet – through the Church of God World Missions Department – which is made available at each General Assembly to women in missions, allowing them to choose from a wide variety of clothes and accessories.
“My heart and passion is to lead others into the presence of the Lord, for in His presence there is healing, salvation, freedom and anything they need. What an honor and privilege it is to do this each week at Redemption Point Church,” said Sharon. “My other passion is to serve our community and around the world. It is so rewarding watching each family be ministered to through the love of Jesus.”