Jerry is the lead pastor here at GraceLife. After graduating from the Air Force academy in 1964 and completing multiple tours of duty in Vietnam, he expected to be a career Air Force pilot. However, God had a different flight plan for his life. As a result, Jerry attended Fuller Theological Seminary and graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in 1972 with a Master of Divinity degree. Since then, he has been enjoying the process of church planting and equipping others to do the same.

In 1972, Jerry moved to Fayetteville, NC where he started MannaChurch. Since that time, he also started Grace Covenant in Rocky Mount, NC, Grace Church in Chapel Hill, NC and now, GraceLife in Columbia, SC. Jerry also founded Manna Christian College, Grace College of Divinity and Grace Churches International.

Happily married for nearly 43 years, Nan and Jerry have three grown children and seven grandchildren. They are passionate about teaching others to have successful marriages and leading others to know God and make Him known. Jerry travels extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Japan training and encouraging other church planters.