Leon Blanchette

Professor, Christian Ministry & Director of the Center for Faith & Family


Christian Ministry, School of Theology & Christian Ministry

Dr. Blanchette serves as professor of Christian Ministry and director of the Center for Faith and Family. He teaches in the Christian Education field and specializes in children and family ministry. Dr. Blanchette has published three book chapters and several journal articles. In 2022, with the help of colleagues, he was awarded a $1.3 million grant from Lilly Endowment for the purpose of helping parents and caregivers pass their faith to their children.

Ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 1993, he served as a children’s pastor for 18 years prior to coming to Olivet to teach in 2003. He serves as part-time Kids Worship Pastor at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene and is a member of the Chicago Central District Executive Board of Ministry.

He and his wife, Teri, have two daughters, Sarah and Emily and three grandchildren: Brenden, Cooper and Zoey. His hobbies include cooking, gardening and most any sport.