Clifton and Sharnell Blevins
Clifton and Sharnell Blevins’ love story began as a dare when the two college students met at an internship in Los Angeles, California during the summer of 1990. Their first date was initiated by a conversation about restaurants that each had visited in the city. Clifton could not believe that Sharnell had not been to a popular restaurant at the time, despite being a lifelong resident of the city, and so Sharnell dared him to take her. Clifton was delighted and planned a dinner date at a place they jokingly called “Southern Accident” because the service was so bad. But that first, memorable date sparked a connection that could not be denied.
As they spent the remaining part of the summer getting to know one another, the time came for both to return to their college campuses, Clifton to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and Sharnell to Howard University in Washington, D.C. Despite the long distance between them, their bond grew as they discovered they shared the same Christian values and an attraction that was beyond the surface level. On March 5, 1995, Clifton proposed marriage to Sharnell, and she accepted. They completed Faithful Central Bible Church’s marriage preparation program by the end of the year, and were joined in holy matrimony on April 20, 1996 in Los Angeles, California. The couple decided to use Ephesians 5:21-33 as the theme for their wedding ceremony to showcase the foundation for their marriage, and reveal God’s purpose and plan for marriage to family and friends in attendance.
As members of Faithful Central Bible Church, Clifton and Sharnell have served as marriage mentors, pre-marital workshop instructors, and have led individual discipleship groups for husbands and wives. They have also been invited to present as guest speakers at marriage conferences, seminars, and podcasts. After nearly 25 years of experience mentoring and counseling pre-married and married couples, the Holy Spirit led Clifton and Sharnell to create the First Fruits of Marriage as a work-booklet for married couples which examines 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8 and how God’s love language grows in marriages.
Clifton was born and raised in San Diego, California, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He has spent over 30 years in the financial services industry, and is currently a marketing and communications executive at Corebridge Financial. He has been awarded for his volunteerism and community service by the company.
Sharnell grew up in Carson, California, and graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. She also attained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Mount Saint Mary’s University. She has over 30 years of experience in educational nonprofits, and currently is the Family and Community Engagement Director for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board District 7. She is also a published poet, playwright, and fiction and non-fiction writer.
Clifton and Sharnell have six young adult children – Jasmine, Clifton III, Olivia, William and Sydney (twins), and Michael. They reside in the greater Los Angeles, California area.