Gino Jennings

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Gino Jennings
First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Pastor and General Overseer
Pastor Gino Jennings.jpg
Pastor Gino N. Jennings
ChurchFirst Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. Headquarters, 5105 North 5th Street Philadelphia, PA
Personal details
Born (1963-02-10) February 10, 1963 (age 59)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DenominationOneness Pentecostalism
SpouseDarlene Gayman Jennings
Children3 daughters, 4 sons

Gino N. Jennings (born February 10, 1963) is an American Oneness Pentecostal[1] pastor and Christian leader, who is best known as being the current leader of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (FCOOLJC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Church originally started out in the basement of his parents home, organized by Jennings in 1984. Today, the church organization can be found in several locations in over 20 states across the continental United States, and around the world, with a radio and television broadcasting station in Philadelphia, called The Truth of God Broadcasting Network, and boasts of nearly 200 congregations across the Caribbean, and the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe as well.[2]

Biography[]

Gino Jennings was born the fourth of eight siblings on February 10, 1963. His father, Ernest Jennings was a Bishop in their Church, and his mother was a Sunday School teacher. Gino’s great-uncle, Haywood Hinton, was their pastor and self-proclaimed Apostle. Gino was baptized at six years old and claimed the baptism of Holy Ghost at the age of eleven. At the age of thirteen, after preaching his first sermon from Hebrews 11:6, the young Gino was appointed as an assistant pastor of the church in 1975.[2][3] As a teenager, he began preaching regularly under the tutelage of his father and great-uncle, and also began evangelizing at revivals and crusades at other churches around the city of Philadelphia with his parents.

During his teen years, Jennings claimed that he had dreams and visions from God after being led to go on different three, seven, and twelve-night fasts. In these dreams and visions, Jennings has said that he was shown the ministry work that he is doing now as a pastor and church overseer, telling many family, friends, and even his pastor at the time, who didn’t believe him. In 1976-1978 when he was around the age of 15 he began preaching controversial sermons against the by-laws and doctrines of his great-uncle's teaching, much to his great-uncle's anger and dismay. After graduating from high school in 1981, he began preaching against his great-uncle's continuously changing views on Holiness. He began preaching that the church and those in church leadership need to have stricter and more scripture-based, conservative standards for such concepts. He also began preaching a distinct form of Modalistic Monarchianism, denying the doctrine of the Trinity. Hinton asked Gino if he would stick to only preaching their church's approved doctrine but Gino stuck strictly with his personal interpretations and understanding of The Bible which he claimed he received from studying and from the Holy Spirit. Bishop Hinton was angry about this and put him on a year-long sabbatical from preaching. Despite the vast majority of the members leaving the Church, Gino was determined to stay there, even after repetitive cycles of being put on sabbaticals by his great-uncle. Finally in 1984, at the age of 21, Gino left the Church to start his independent ministry.[2][3]

He started the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. (FCOOLJC) on May 21, 1984 in the basement of his family home, starting out with only 15 members, (family not included). Many of his teenage and young adult friends from high school and college, and their families also joined the church in 1984 as well. Between 1984 and 1988, several of the former members of his great-uncle's church and some from Bishop S. C. Johnson’s organization began to join, the congregation steadily grew. As time passed, several rooms of the basement and other areas of the house had to be used as overflow rooms.

Between 1986 and 1988, many members of his great-uncle's church began to antagonize First Church and taunt Jennings; calling him a false teacher, saying that he was putting too much of a strict emphasis on legalism. Several church and ministry auxiliaries were formed around this time as well, allowing Jennings to rent out auditoriums of public facilities around Philadelphia to use for First Church worship services and meetings.[2]

Between 1988 and 1989, Jennings began planting branch churches in other cities in Pennsylvania, and in other states such as Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. The Services at the headquarters church in Philadelphia were moved to the auditorium of the former Hunting Park Recreation Center. In April 1989, First Church began having its services in the fellowship hall of an old Episcopalian Church building. Because the fellowship hall of the church was very large, the location provided enough room to accommodate the growing congregation. As the Philadelphia congregation exponentially grew, it was also at this time that Jennings fell in love with Darlene Gayman, a fellow member of the church whom he had been courting with. The two were married on April 15, 1989[4] when Jennings was 26. And to not take away from the focus of the ministry he also conducted a revival service after the wedding for the wedding guests as well.

By March 1990, Jennings and First Church had also set up their own local radio broadcasting equipment within their church and began broadcasting audio tapes and live recordings of their services on local Philadelphia radio stations. First Church was also given a thirty-minute international broadcast on WWCR Nashville, and a one-hour broadcast on WTMR Camden, New Jersey. Jennings then named the broadcasts, "The Truth of God" claiming that that was the name God gave him to give as a title to the radio broadcast, to help them reach souls and inspire interest in any Christians willing to tune in and listen. By 1991, over 11 radio stations across several states and even international radio stations in other countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe were broadcasting Jennings' sermons to international listeners.

Many people of other denominations and churches have criticized Jennings and the FCOOLJC for some of their stricter beliefs and views, such as the rejection of women in church clergy based on 1st Timothy 2:12, whereby specifically which many Christians have accused them of being "religiously misogynistic",[5][6][7] and speaking in tongues (glossolalia) as a required sign of evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. They also present a staunch advocacy for Nontrinitarianism,[2][3][8][9] water baptism in the name of “Jesus Christ”, or “Lord Jesus” only,[3][9] requiring women to wear headcoverings and only long skirts or long dresses and rejection of the wearing of jewelry and makeup. Jennings also rejects the usage of the name "Christianity" for he believes that "Christianity" is a not a term found in the Bible, unlike the term “Christian”. Instead the word that he believes more accurately describes the faith of the Saints, should be the term "Holiness," or the "religion of Holiness."[2][3]

On April 12, 1991, Jennings' father, Bishop Ernest Jennings died. The First Church Headquarters in Philadelphia hosted his funeral, and hundreds of people from all around the country came to pay their respects. Gino preached a very charismatic eulogy for his father which was heard on the radio and television across the country through the Truth of God broadcast.[2][3]

In November 1991, Jennings and First Church purchased an 18,000 square foot church building in the Kensington section of Philadelphia on 2431 Frankford Avenue. In February 1992, just after his 29th birthday, the new headquarters was completed and dedicated. It was here that Pastor Jennings took off the term “Apostolic” from all the church signs, as it neither was found in the Bible; name currently being First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. As time passed the ministries grew and flourished, and as of June 25, 2016, Jennings made settlement on a 200,000 square foot church facility on 5105 North 5th Street in the Olney section of Philadelphia, PA. The purchase was made after the building had been pursued by the church since 2014. The facility covers a whole city block and was previously owned by the Catholic Church. It also consists of two schools, a cafeteria, an administration building, and an old convent building that was converted into lodging quarters for members that could not afford anywhere to stay during large events held at the church. The main sanctuary can fit almost 3,000 people and the lower autitorium can fit about 1,200. This building serves as the church's headquarters to this day.[2]

Throughout 1992 to 2016, Jennings also began going to other states around the country including Florida, California, Texas, Washington, Missouri, Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, establishing branch churches and planting pastors in each state, further incorporating the ministries into its own stand-alone, independent church denomination. Today, the church can be found in over 20 states across the continental United States. Jennings is also continuing to work abroad establishing branch churches in Puerto Rico (which although it is a U.S. Territory, it is still considered foreign missions), England, Nigeria, the Philippines, Jamaica, Haiti, and New Zealand, and many more places around the world. His churches have also been dedicated to philanthropy and community services efforts.

Between February and March 2018, Jennings entered the media spotlight for his controversial sermons against women wearing excessive makeup, fake hair, wigs, and jewelry in church; comparing women who do such things to Jezebel and Delilah.[10][7] Reverend Carla Dunbar called his comments erroneous and degrading.[5] Jennings defended his statements by saying not to listen to how he sounded, but to what he said in defense of the teachings of Biblical modesty in dress and clothing.[7][10] Jennings agreed to meet with Jamaican entertainer "Mr. Vegas" to debate him. However he had Vegas escorted out of the building by security after an altercation that ensued between Vegas, the church's audio and visual team, and the other associate ministers on the pulpit.[11][5][12] This later led to the debate going viral throughout Jamaica, and two other ministers that agreed to debate him canceled.

References[]

  1. ^ Alexander, Estrelda Y, ed. (2018). The Dictionary of Pan-African Pentecostalism Volume 1: North America. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-4982-8477-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h FirstChurchStaff. "About FC". truthofgod.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  3. ^ a b c d e f FirstChurchStaff. "Literature". truthofgod.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  4. ^ "First Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc". truthofgod.com. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  5. ^ a b c "Pastor under fire for calling women hoes - Female church leaders say clergyman's comments were degrading". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  6. ^ "Pastor threatens to sue Gino Jennings". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  7. ^ a b c Tony Harvin (2018-03-09), Pastor Gino Jennings - Interview with Fox 29 / 100.3 WRNB K Foxx & Quincy (updated with video), retrieved 2018-09-15
  8. ^ The Word Made Simple (2017-08-13), Why Gino Does Not believe in The Trinity - Wonderful Explanation, retrieved 2018-09-15
  9. ^ a b Tony Harvin (2017-09-03), Apostle Gino Jennings vs. Wayne Little Smith (Church Of God In Christ) Trinity debate, retrieved 2018-09-15
  10. ^ a b "Philadelphia Pastor Calls Women With 'Lips All Red' And 'Fake Hair' Nothing 'But An Organ Playing Hoe'". News One. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  11. ^ "Mr Vegas ejected from religious gathering during debate with pastor Gino Jennings". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  12. ^ "A Sting we a go - Mr Vegas ready for showdown with Gino Jennings". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
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