Former Army chaplain, author and minister James C. Pippin died on July 16. He was 91 years old.
Pippin entered the U.S. Army in 1951 as a chaplain and eventually rose to the rank of full bird colonel. According to The Oklahoman, “He was one of the highest-ranking denominational clergymen to minister in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
Pippin resigned as senior pastor of the 3,600-member First Christian Church in Oklahoma City, Okla.—one of the five largest churches in his denomination—in 1972. His work in ministry saw him travel all over the world, including Melodyland in Anaheim, Calif., where he began a longtime friendship with the Rev. Ralph Wilkerson and served on the board of directors for Nora Lam Ministries.
He had A.B., M.Div. and D.D. degrees from Phillips University, where he met longtime friend the Rev. Oral Roberts. He also received a doctor of ministry degree from American Christian College and Seminary in Oklahoma City, where he was a professor.
Using laughter as a vital part of his ministry, Pippin hosted Laughing With the Lord! a weekly series on Trinity Broadcasting Network. Creation House published his autobiography, A Miracle a Minute! in 2001, and he had hoped to write a second book, titled Laughing With the Lord: The Humor of Christ.
Pippin and his wife of 62 years, Allene, owned Flower Mini-Mart and Parr’s Flowers. He is survived by Allene, daughter Anne, granddaughter Alecia and great-grandson Otis.
