Deed and Truth is a fiscally sponsored project of OneOC a 501c3 tax id #95-2021700.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17
Pacific Coast Church and the Union Rescue Mission began a wildly successful ministry five years ago to develop a joint Men’s Conference and a Mentoring Ministry called “Iron Man”.
The Iron Man will hold its 5th Annual Conference on Skid Row this October but it will be missing an important piece… the man who has done more to help reach men on skid row and develop a mentoring ministry that has seen over 50 mentoring friendships that God has used to literally change lives.
We are heart-broken to see our key leader leave us and go home to be with the Lord. Jerry Jenkins is THE IRON MAN. He loves the men at the mission. He majors on the marginalized, he defends dignity for the disenfranchised, he demonstrated respect for the rejected in society, he showed affection for the afflicted. Jerry is the REAL DEAL.
Jerry Jenkins has a heart for those experiencing homelessness on skid row. He not only helped develop the Iron Man Ministry but he also was a founding board member for Deed & Truth, a ministry we started just this past year to expand help to those experiencing homelessness at the Union Rescue Mission. He gave of his time and his resources. He especially wanted to help the men who graduate from the discipleship program to help provide a better transition when they need to leave the mission and re-enter society. That can be a very difficult time. Jerry wanted to see the work of Iron Man go past the time these men spend at the mission to become life-long friendships.
In Jerry’s honor, his wife Viviana, has asked us to encourage Jerry’s friends to keep his vision and ministry alive. She told me, “I don’t believe Jerry’s race is finished. I believe others will pick up the torch and finish his race”.
With this in mind, we have established the Iron Man Scholarship Fund in memory of Jerry Jenkins. This fund will provide financial support for mission graduates when it’s their time to transition out of the mission and back into society. To qualify, the men must graduate the one year discipleship program, leave the mission in good standing with leadership, be connected to a church, and join the Alumni Association so we know they are in Christian Community for support and accountability.
You will notice I have been referring to Jerry in the present tense because he is still alive… “Absent from the body is PRESENT with the Lord”. Jerry is alive and well in the presence of his Savior. And his influence is alive and well on skid row and in our hearts to inspire us to finish well.
“Jerry… We will miss your leadership… We will do our best to inspire others to carry on the ministry you were instrumental in starting. Most of all… I will miss your friendship. I am so very proud of how God used you brother. ”
– Pastor Dan
If you would like to contribute to Jerry’s legacy we invite you to make a donation in his honor to the IRON MAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND. Just click on the button below to use a credit card or send a check to:
Mail Checks To:
Deed & Truth
c/o OneOC
1901 E. 4th Street Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Deed and Truth is a fiscally sponsored project of OneOC a 501c3 tax id #95-2021700.
You can see a testimony of Jerry’s influence in the video below.
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