Darren Rankins Biography

A Rising Poet Darren Barnard Rankins was born to James William and Barbara E. Rankins on September 24,1966 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He is the sixth child of seven children. He has one sister, Maxine, and five brothers: James, Kerry, Kevin, Felix, and Vernon. Darren resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In addition to working full-time, he has four wonderful children which he loves very much: Joshua, Michael, Ashley, and Amy. Some of his greatest learning experiences have came from his young children. Darren is a very talented poet. He began his writing career in sixth grade. He really became excited about poetry when the MTSU Honors Program Director, John Paul Montgomery suggested that Darren take part in the 1994 MTSU Poetry Slam. This was his first opportunity to share his poetry with other writers in an informal setting. He began to submit his poems to publishers and found satisfaction in seeing his work in print. He has since had publications in several magazines and newspapers. Darren began feeling that writing Christian poetry was a calling that God had for him to do. He wanted to find a way to make an even bigger impact with his poems, so he changed from writing as a hobby to starting his own business. He called his new business Pure Thoughts and things moved to a new level in 1995. This gave him an avenue to distribute the items he had begun to make. Darren expanded his talents to include designing plaques and Christian T-shirts. His plaques are beautifully made from wood and then lacquered to a shiny finish. Darren's biggest items are his several original screen printed t-shirt designs. He writes an appropriate poem and then designs graphics that illustrate the meaning he wants to convey. Many of his T-shirts also contain Bible scriptures to emphasize the importance of his poems. Even though it is important for Darren to earn money to support his family, he also tries to find good causes to support. He has sold or donated over 7,000 T-shirts worldwide. Darren has a strong conviction that he can make a difference in people's lives by helping them to hear the word of God. He has struggled through hardships in his own life that have given him the strength and empathy to be sensitive to the needs of other around him What are Darren's plans for the future? He will continue to write poetry to spread the word of God to others. As his name becomes more recognized, he hopes to expand his business as well. He continues to design t-shirts and loves to find new ways to share his designs with the community. Publications and Write-ups " The Rose and the Snowflake" , Night Roses, Prospect Heights, Illinois " Grow in God's Love" and " Inner self" , Face the Demon, July/August 1994 " Poets, " Nashville Banner, April 21,1994 page B-2 Poetry Slam, Sidelines, April 25,1994 p.9 Frog Pond, Haiku Society of America, New York, New York, summer 1995 " Poet expresses messages through plaques, T-shirts, " Daily News Journal, April 11,1997 Murfreesboro Magazine, April 1997, p.27. The Spiritual Herald, Vol.2 No.4, April 1999, Murfreesboro, Tennessee " God's Love" , Broken Streets, Bristol Connecticut USA White House October 4,2004 (We Are a Nation) Talking Crocheting with Carol Alexander August 18,2004 www.Anylit.com, www.poetrypoems.com and many other online websites. Search Google For Darren B. Rankins Cannon Courier Newspaper, January 2005 Middle Tennessee business news; November 2002 (Wax Family Printing, LLC) pg.7. Christian Focus Magazine, p.52 March/April,2005 Middle Tennessee State University African American 5th Annual Gospel Music Extravaganza,2005. (DVD) Chapter 2 No Time for God or You (Intermission) Don't Lose the Faith, Homeless and We Are a Nation AMAG Magazine-Issue Number 10,2005 Rebel Poetry, Ivrocks.com studio Las Vegas, NV http: //poeticmic.com/personal_pages.php? UserId=816(Fallenkid) Ivrocks.com studio (Poems on the air) [email protected] George L Cook III (interviewed 11/24/05 www.letstalkhonestly.com Live on the air 1/22/2006 www.disilgold.citymaker.com/page/page/2807198.htm alone with picture 1/16/2006 Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, January 30,2006 and MTSU Records for Concert Benefiting Katrina Victims. http: //blackexpression2005.com/GettoknowDarrenRankins.html 4/12/06 Conversation May Issue www.cawebbconversations.com 5/1/06 2008 http: //www.divasontheprowl.com/poetry.htm The Murfressboro PULSE pg.20 2/2008 Freedom; The Day I Died and The Memories of Yesterday http: //www.divasontheprowl.com/ 2008 Introduction pg. xvii in Literary Divas The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature (Heather Covington) Bridge Your Soulful Journey The Margaret Smith-Beach Award April 17,2010 Nashville, TN www.artistfirst.com http: //66.49.193.35/Authors-First_2010-09-15_Darren_Rankins.mp3 http: //authormichellealford.viviti.com/ The Cat's Meow for Writers and Readers July-Sept.2014 Vol.14 and 15 www.ireport.cnn.com/1d651ed Darren B. Rankins www.ravellomagazine.com 2014 (Italy Magazine) Good Shepherd 2013 (India) Magazine www.purethoughts.info http: //pridepublishinggroup.com/pride/2015/03/27/darren-b-rankins-man-of-the-times/ Murfreesboro VIP Magazine 2/2020 issue photo Frosty 5K Run page 21 JUL 30 AT 3 PM CDT - JUL 31 AT 6 PM CDT Narratives: Arts Activism, Creativity, Social Responsibility, Resiliency & Joy (Lorraine Currelley) 2021 National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. 2021 National & International Beat Poetry Festival. Certificate The Moment International News 2021 We have reviewed your poetry submissions and are delighted to inform you we will accept 'A Moment in Time, ' 'Homeless, ' and 'Bubbles' for inclusion in Unity, Volume 2! Penned City 10/3/2021 Donations The Potter's House, T.D. Jakes Ministries Amazing Facts Pregnancy Support Center Salvation Army Chapel Computers for a Bible verse contest Hope Ministries Exchange Club Family Center Kaig Jergenson Medical Fund Feed the Children Ever Increasing Faith Ministries Crenshaw Christian Center Columbine High School Tennessee Fosters Supporting Children Charities (Kicks for Children) For Vanderbilt Children Hospital 10/2005 " Walk of Honor" outside the Rosa Park Library and Museum complex in Montgomery, Alabama 2007(Brick) Book donation to Middle Tennessee State University 2007 National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN walkway the Darren B. Rankins Brick 2007 March for Babies, Cancer, Dimes, MS, Lungs etc. 2019 NFL Draft Volunteer Team in Nashville, TN The Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial hosts the inaugural Top Gun Night Run 6k on Friday, May 31 at 9: 00 p.m. in Lee Victory Recreation Park in Smyrna. Photography(Donated free time for photography) Since 2008 my photos and stories as featured on several news programs such as ireport.cnn, News 5,4,2,17 of Nashville, TN and more. Autism, Heart Walk, Leukemia, Lung Walk, MS, Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer(LP Field) , March of Dimes and Step Out Walk to stop Diabetes(November 8,2014) and many others (Free Photography Work) . 50th March on Washington Sat.8/24/2013 8am at the Lincoln Memorial(Jackson, Tn NAACP) Through my www.gofundme.com/Darren2466 I have donated t-shirts to the Nashville Rescue Mission, Cape Town Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, WGNS To God Be the Glory (Mary Glass) and so many other non-profit organizations. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville, Tennessee, Inc. 2144 Fairfax Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37212 GET DIRECTIONS Office: (615) 343-4000 Fax: (615) 343-4004 [email protected] I Proudly Support Alex's Lemonda Stand (Cancer at Aldi stores) Operation Gratitube • Saturday at 10 AM - 4 PM 5 days from now · 72-97°F Mostly Sunny • pin Nashville Music City Center 201 5th Ave S, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Darren B. Rankins (Wounded Warriors 2019 Nashville) Directional Support - Event Perimeter (7: 00 am - 8: 00) Cheering Station at Start Finish Line (8: 00 am - 9: 00 am) Event Breakdown and Cleanup (9: 00am until departure) Darren Rankins Weight Station (7: 30 am - 9: 30 am) Event Breakdown and Cleanup (11: 30 am until departure) The walk/run will take place at Nissan Stadium - Lot C, which is at 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213 St. Judes 2019 6: 30 Handing out t shirts, water and trophies. 9/28/19 Nashville Women's Half Marathon Sunday 9/29/19 5th Ave North at First Tennessee Park Sound Stadium Handing out Trophies. Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5K Run 2/15/2020 (Handing out metals at the Finished line. Let it Happen in the Netherlands (https: //www.facebook.com/ellentv/videos/461249967884813) Pure Thoughts T-shirts and sweatpants 5/23/2021 (Norah, Yarah and Rosa) . Nashville TV Show (Season 2,3) 2013-14 Season 5 The Wayfaring Stranger 1/5/17 Season 5 A Little Bit Stronger 2/5/17 I'll Keep Climbing 1/15/14 Final Episode May 14,2014 On the Other Hand 9/17/2014 Road Happy 10/22-29/2014 (305) She's Got You 11/13/2013 (306) Hanky Panky Woman 11/20/2013 Tomorrow Never Comes 12/11/13 The Toby Mac Video 2017 (Love Broke Thru) Riot Police Still the King (3 Season) 2017 The Motion Picture, " All Saints." August 25,2017 Darren's Favorite Poems The Day I Died Don't look at me as if I were dead, just think of me resting in bed. Now cover me with eternal life and place my favorite flowers upon my head, and if the night shall pass and you miss holding my heart in your hand, just make a wish upon the nearest star and there I'll stand. Now take all my worldly possessions and give them to the needy because my riches now lie with God. Now sing me a love song as I walk down this lonely road, and please don't worry because my Lord waits with opened arms. Darren B. Rankins ©1995 Pure Thoughts www.purethoughts.info [email protected] Darren_Rankins (Instagram)