History of the Restoration Movement


Jerry Austin Jenkins

1936-2010

Table Of Contents
Biographical Sketch - Jeff Jenkins
Invitation To A Gospel Meeting
Jerry Jenkins: Missionary To Belize
The Jenkins Family Honored
The Living Word Television Show
Obituary for J.A. Jenkins
Directions To The Grave & Photos
Acknowledgements
Links

Sermons By Jerry Jenkins

JERRY AUSTIN JENKINS

January 15, 1936-October 26, 2010

     "God Speaks Today" & "The Living Word" are both phrases that became synonymous with the name Jerry Jenkins. He passed from this life on October 26, 2010, at the age of 74 surrounded by his family. "Jerry was as focused on Jesus more than any man I've ever known," were the words used to describe him by one friend of many years.

Jerry was born on January 15, 1936, in Huntsville, Alabama to John & Geneva (Bates) Jenkins. He had one brother (Dan) and two sisters (Barbara & Dot). Jerry graduated from Athens Bible School.

He attended Freed Hardeman University (AA), David Lipscomb University (BA), Harding Graduate School of Religion (MA), Alabama Christian College of Biblical Studies (MT), and Abilene Christian University (DM). For a time Jerry served as Dean and Greek Instructor for Alabama Christian College of Biblical Studies.

Jerry and his High School sweetheart Mamie Frame were happily married for nearly fifty years. Mamie encouraged him in every good work in which he was involved. They had four children, Jeff, Carey, Dale, and Melissa. They also had nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. During the last two years of his life Jerry was married to Mona Eason.

During the early years of his preaching life Jerry worked with churches in Truman, Arkansas and Hamilton, Alabama. For the last forty-four years of his life he preached for the Roebuck Parkway Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

     Jerry spent his life being involved in numerous good works. He was a builder. The works he helped establish show that he loved people of all ages and all backgrounds. He was the founder of Maywood Christian Camp in Hamilton, Alabama. He directed a week of camp each year and served on the Board of MCC until his passing.

Jerry was co-founder of Jefferson Christian Academy in Birmingham. He believed strongly in Christian education. He served on the board of JCA until his death. Along with these boards Jerry also served on the Board of Directors for Rainbow Omega and the Advisory Board for Freed Hardeman University. He was also the President of the Tuthill Foundation.

Jerry had a passion for mission work. He and his wife Mamie were the first missionary couple to Belize, Central America in 1969. He directed sixty-four campaigns and spoke for all of them throughout the country of Belize. In addition he conducted radio and TV programs throughout the country of Belize. He baptized and developed a long time friendship with brother Melvin Davis who serves as the preacher for the Belize City Church of Christ. Jerry conducted over 100 evangelist campaigns and preached for each of them during his life.

Shortly after moving to Birmingham to work with the Roebuck Parkway Church (at the time it was known as the Woodlawn Church), Jerry began a weekly television program. He hosted The Living Word television broadcast for forty-three years. It became the longest running religious broadcast in the state of Alabama. The Living Word was shown throughout the state of Alabama and around the world on the Gospel Broadcast Network.

Jerry's greatest passion was soul-winning. He conducted thousands of Bible studies using the Jewel Miller Filmstrips. Early in his preaching life he developed a special "close" to be used following each film. These "closes" are still being used today. He once said that he baptized every person he studied with who invited him into their home for a meal. For many years the Roebuck Parkway Church averaged baptizing one person every week.

Not long after he began making mission trips to Belize Jerry developed a Bible study that he felt would be best suited for the people of Belize. "God Speaks Today," became the primary tool for teaching the people of Belize for many years. Many souls were won to the Lord through the teaching of "God Speaks Today." This study continues to be used in mission trips to Belize.

Besides "God Speaks Today," Jerry wrote the following books. "God's Plan for Life," "Lovingly Leading Men to the Savior," "Fundamentals of the Faith," "Principles From Paul," "The Church that Jesus Built," "Do You Love Jesus," and "Go into All the World." He also contributed chapters for many other books and articles for numerous publications.

Jerry Jenkins loved the Lord and the Lord's Church. He loved people of all ages, social standings, nations, and all walks of life. He exemplified what it means to be a Gospel Preacher and a man of God. His life could be characterized as a life of humility, grace, concern, and love.

He is greatly missed by his family, the Roebuck Parkway Church, the people of Belize, and everyone who knew him. As his friend said, "Jerry was as focused on Jesus as any man I've ever known."

-Jeff Jenkins, 04.09.2013

Invitation To A Gospel Meeting In The Early 1970s


Invitation to A Gospel Meeting In Jasper, Alabama
Hear Sermons By Jerry Jenkins

Jerry Jenkins: Missionary To Belize

Jerry Jenkins with Melvin Davis In Belize

The Jenkins Family Honored

In 2006, The Brown Trail School Of Preaching In Fort Worth, Texas Honored The Jenkins Family
For Their Dedication To The Cause Of Christ. Honored were Jerry Jenkins, Dan Jenkins, and Ancil Jenkins
Picture above (LtoR) Jeremy, Jerry, Jeff, Allen, Jonathon, Dan, & Ancil


The Living Word Television Program

Facebook post by Dale Jenkins, 02.12.2024

Obituary For J.A. Jenkins

Jerry Austin Jenkins, 74 of Birmingham passed away on October 26, 2010. Bro. Jenkins served as minister for Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ and hosted The Living Word television broadcast for 44 years (the longest running religious broadcast in the State of Alabama). He was the founder of Maywood Christian Camp, co-founder of Jefferson Christian Academy, and co-founder of Birmingham Bible School for the Deaf. He also served on the board of directors for Maywood Christian Camp, Jefferson Christian Academy, Rainbow Omega, and served on the Advisory Board for Freed-Hardeman University. He and his wife Mamie were the first missionary couple to Belize, Central American in 1969. He conducted over 100 evangelistic campaigns, he preached in all of those campaigns. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mamie Frame. Survivors include his wife, Mona Jenkins; his children, Jeff A. Jenkins (Laura), Carey Jenkins, Dale Jenkins (Melanie) and Melissa Jenkins; two sisters, Barbara Flatt (Ottis) and Dot Watson; one brother, Dan Jenkins (Judy); ten grandchildren, London, Brandon, Philip, Amanda, Andrew, Jeremy, Ren, Blake, Drake and Kelsi; three great grandchildren and a host of family and friends. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 27 from 5:00 - 9:00 PM at Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ and also beginning at 1:00 PM on Thursday. Funeral services will be held in the church building on Thursday, October 28 at 2:00 PM with Jeff Jenkins and Dale Jenkins officiating and burial to follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens East. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Freed-Hardeman University, Maywood Christian Camp, Jefferson Christian Academy or Rainbow Omega. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.

OBIT – The Birmingham News
Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens-
205-322-0543

www.imgardens.com

Directions To The Grave of Jerry A. Jenkins

Jerry Jenkins is buried in the Jefferson Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Trussville, Alabama. From Birmingham head NE on I-59 to the I-459 interchange. Head south on I-459 one exit to the Gadsden Hwy./Hwy 11,7. Head north and the cemetery will be on your right. Enter the cemetery at the main gate. The drive will go to a T. Turn right and make your way around the large center section to the rear. When reaching the rear, look for two benches close together on the left. One will be a black marble looking on with the name BLACKWELL FAMILY on it. From that bench walk directly behind it toward the middle of the section. Near the center of the hill you will find the Jenkins plot.

GPS Location
33.599958,-86.636738

View Larger Map


Loving Mother And Grandmother
Mamie F. Jenkins
August 12, 1936
December 22, 2005


Jerry A.
January 15, 1936
October 25, 2010

Photos Taken 04.11.2013
Courtesy of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com

Editor's Note: Since my childhood, the name Jerry Jenkins has been a household name in our home. Jerry, his brother Dan, and cousin, Ancil have long been known and loved preachers in Alabama, throughout the South, and around the world. They have preached the gospel faithfully for many decades. Many of their offsprings, both sons and grandsons, continue to preach the gospel faithfully. It is the esteemed pleasure of your webeditor to have known the Jenkins family personally, to have worked closely by many of the family members in ministry, and consider them to be among my dearest friends. Special thanks are extended to Jeff, Jerry's eldest son, for providing the biographical sketch you see above. Jeff and his brother Dale are undeniably "chips off the old block," as they so much have continued the cause of Christ, that their dad so faithfully persued all the days of his life. He was most proud of them when he was living, and would continue to be so if he were alive today. Jerry Jenkins will long be remembered by those of us who loved him for his excellence in faith, his evangelistic fervor, and his call to all he met to honor the Christ he loved.

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