Breaking Bread With Jane and Pastor Jerry

Dinner with Jane and Pastor Jerry

Jane is married to Pastor Jerry, and the two have been together for a long time; having met while both lived with their parents in the Canal Zone in Panama.  Jane is a gracious hostess.  We had a 2:30 PM interview set with Pastor Jerry, in his modest home in Racine. (See Blog Post “An Afternoon with Pastor Jerry and Jane).  Jane offered to serve us a home cooked meal afterwards.  We accepted and we sure are glad that we did.  A previous night we ate a Prime Rib Dinner at the fund raiser for the Veterans’ Tiny House Project.  That evening was interesting, but the meal sounds a lot better than it was.

Fresh, “from the garden” Dinner

Jane and Jerry had just returned from a Mission Trip to Bolivia, and Jane particularly said that she was looking forward to some healthy food.  We were too.  First we took a look at the “vegetable tower” that she is growing outside and learned that she grew vegetables in this way in their basement, using grow lights, during the winter.  Fresh and wholesome food is important to her.

Unbelievable selection of roasted veg...just enough for the 4 of us!

I wish that we had a photo of the spread she put out.  It included baked salmon, with herbs on top, an array of potato types, all roasted, a beautiful salad with multiple greens and vegetables, with slivered almonds on top and a choice of two oil and vinegar dressings.  There were also probably five types of other vegetables, all roasted, all really fresh and healthy, and all very tasty.  It was the best evening meal of the trip; nothing else was close.

Pastor Jerry led us in a blessing, brief and relevant to the event, before we ate.  It was a privilege to be invited to eat with these warm and kind people.

Relief AID, with Gospel included

We continued our conversation.  Jerry explained their overseas missions and particularly that the mission work was Gospel-centered.  It has to reflect the centrality of the teachings of Jesus.  It has to care for the spiritual well being of the people receiving the help and not just their physical care.  “If UNICEF wants to provide for people, they can go ahead.  We won’t be contributing to the effort because UNICEF is not based on the Gospel.”  The proper interpretation of Scripture is to reveal God’s redeeming plan.  This is essential for the care of people, of healing their brokenness.  “You can push back if you want,” he offered.

Peter tries an example to get additional information.  “Let’s consider what happens when a huge hurricane goes through Puerto Rico and devastates the island.  The need is huge.  You said that you won’t support UNICEF because they are not preaching the Gospel.  What would you, at Grace Church, do?”

Helping In Jesus' Name

Pastor Jerry said that he did donate to Puerto Rico relief.  He said it goes through one of two groups:  “Samaritan’s Purse” or “Compassion.”  Jerry tells us that Samaritan’s Purse is the premier Gospel centered social giving organization.  It is run by Billy Graham’s son, Franklin.  They do “everything.”  They mobilize, snapping his fingers, “like that!”  It is different from Red Cross and others because the recipients will know that the relief is done in Jesus’ name.   I asked about the Mexico City earthquake and the participation of Samaritan’s Purse in the relief.  My concern about sending money to charity is that much of the money sent may be syphoned off to corrupt officials and operators.  Jerry and Jane assure me that the best chance for relief reaching those in need is through Samaritan’s Purse.

Christmas Inspiring to a Christian Family

Pastor Jerry changes the subject to a Christmas based “theme” for his family, including children and six grandchildren.  It includes a value lesson that can be used through the coming year, and some sort of family project.  Some of these themes may be repeated in future years.  He is trying to come up with some themes that help the grandchildren overcome white suburbia, where they live, and one of these is dealing with poverty.  A limitation he has placed is that it must be sustainable and that this year they will be discussing food.  In previous years they have bought a sheep, a goat and flocks of chickens.  The chickens proved to be the “best project they have had, producing 88,000 eggs through the year; excellent sources of nutrition.”

Government: how small is “right sized?

Peter asks, “what is the role of government” in, for example, poverty eradication.  Jerry says, “People tell us that the government has a role, but that there is danger that people will choose to not take care of themselves.”  So Peter asks about the comparative  role of government, non-profits, civic organizations and churches.

Pastor Jerry says that he is a “small government” person and a fiscal conservative.  He also says that he is not extreme in this.  Government has a role, but not an “enabling one.”  From his side of things it is the religious and community organizations that need to step up as they “don’t get bogged down in bureaucracy.”  He is for entitlements for those who need it but not for those who don’t.  He acknowledges that deciding who needs it and who doesn’t is very difficult.

Children of Trauma - What is the Right Approach?

Peter then raises Pastor Jerry’s background and psychology degree, as it relates to something Jerry mentioned earlier in the day.  Jerry had said that he believed people are so traumatized in childhood that they often suffer from PTSD.  Peter asks how we judge their capacity to help themselves in the light of this.  Jerry says that the Milwaukee Journal did an excellent series on the disorder and that there is a very useful 12 question screening test that is pretty good at identifying people who are impacted.

Jerry says that we throw a lot of money at people who suffer from PTSD and that (throwing the money) doesn’t work.  It becomes “normal” for people who suffer to not be able to benefit from training.  If we don’t deal with the underlying trauma no amount of money will solve the problem.  Jerry’s only complaint about the Journal’s series was that they did not give the faith community adequate acknowledgement.

Pastor Jerry says that he believes in “conservatism with compassion.”  “We need to give grants to civic and religious organizations and the government money will be more effective.  Government is otherwise inefficient, wasteful and bureaucratic.”

Peter returns to the issue of Scripture and asks where it guides this approach.  Jerry says that Scripture is not “tactical” but there are plenty of references to care for the poor and the powerless.  God has shown us the way, but not prescribed the methods.

Earlier in his career Pastor Jerry used to do a lot of counseling, much of it in his home, often taking in abused women and letting them stay in the basement.  Now he has trained people and created support groups for others at Grace Church and these groups continue, in people’s homes, a local school and at the church itself.

On President Trump

Jane then raises the issue of dealing with Trump in the light of their core values.   She and Jerry absolutely believe in the sanctity of life and Trump’s stand on immigration is problematic as Jerry’s mother was an immigrant.  They agree that they are embarrassed by Trump.  They felt that they did not have a choice but to vote for him.  They voted “for the Supreme Court.”

Grace Church Parishioner, Reince Priebus with his former boss

Peter raised the disconnect between Christian values and Trump.  Jerry says that the conservatives made the Supreme Court the main issue.  Jerry says that his take at this point is that around him are some really good people.  “Mike Pence is ‘the real deal.’” Reince Priebus was a member of Grace, although he has stayed in Washington DC after he left the administration.  Jerry is glad that the job ended for the sake of Priebus’ well-being.  Jerry says that one of the major points of leadership is humility.  
“Trump is an arrogant egomaniac.  He is narcissistic.  [Jerry’s faith teaches him that] a leader is the servant of those he is leading; that leadership is a pyramid, with the point at the bottom; the leader serving those above.  It is the reverse for Trump.”

Then Jerry and Jane say that there is no way they could have voted for Hillary and discussed whether they should have voted at all.  In the end it came down to the Supreme Court.

Jerry changes the topic to Paul Ryan and says that he is a really nice guy, even though he gets beat up by everyone; liberals and conservatives alike.

One Wish with a Magic Wand

Then Peter asks the Magic Wand question of both of them.  What is the one thing they would do?  Jerry says that it is easy in a sense:  “Giving and living the Gospel of Jesus in a greater, bigger and more inclusive way around the world.”  He says that “in my little corner of the world I am trying, as God gives me strength.”  Jerry knows that his wish cannot come true in totality, but he wants to do all he can to make a dent in it.

Then Jane says, “maybe the whole world, the evil parts, random shootings, sexual assaults, harm done of all types; maybe the world can turn toward Jesus and work toward healing.”

We ended the evening, over five hours of hospitable conversation, on this note.

--David