Gino Jennings

Last updated
Gino Jennings
Pastor and Overseer of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ., Inc.
ChurchFirst Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.
Personal details
Born (1963-02-10) February 10, 1963 (age 61)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SpouseDarlene Gayman Jennings
Children3 daughters, 4 sons

Gino Jennings (born February 10, 1963) is an African-American religious leader, known for establishing the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1]

Contents

Biography

Born on February 10, 1963, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gino Jennings began his ministry initially as a Bible reader for his father and uncle in church before becoming a child preacher at the age of 13. [2] During his adolescence, Jennings claimed that God appeared to him after different periods of prayer and fasting, [3] leading to the eventual establishment of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. after claiming to have received divine revelation for it. [4]

Starting the church in his parents' basement in 1984, [1] the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. grew through Jennings emphasizing and teaching doctrines of inner and outward holiness, Jesus' name-only baptism, baptism with the Holy Spirit alongside required evidence of glossolalia, and an embrace of nontrinitarianism—teachings common among Oneness Pentecostals and others descending from the Holiness movement. By 2016, Jennings and his First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. acquired its headquarters in Philadelphia, with numerous churches spread throughout the United States and elsewhere globally.

Through leading this Christian denomination, Gino Jennings has become subject to international controversy. Many people of other Christian denominations and churches have criticized Jennings and the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ movement for some of their strict beliefs and views, such as their rejection of women as clergy based on 1st Timothy 2:12, alongside a traditionally conservative dress code with headcoverings, long skirts or dresses, and rejecting makeup and jewelry. [5] [6] —teachings which many Christians and others have accused them of being "religiously misogynistic"; [7] [8] [9]

Presenting a staunch advocacy for nontrinitarianism, [10] Jennings has also been known for rejecting and advocating forgoing the usage of the term "Christianity", for he believes that "Christianity" is not a term found in the Bible, unlike the term “Christian”. Instead the word Jennings believes more accurately describes his congregation's faith should be the term "Holiness," or the "religion of Holiness". [11] He has even attracted additional criticism for advocating a very fundamentalist Christian exclusivism via divine revelation for his denomination as well. [4]

In 2018, Jennings made headlines in Jamaica when he agreed to meet famed Jamaican entertainer Mr. Vegas for a debate. [12] During the debate, Jennings 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. [13] This later led to the debate going viral throughout Jamaica, and two other ministers that agreed to debate him canceled afterwards. In 2019, Jennings was banned from Australia due to his preaching against the LGBTQ+ community, which was denounced in Australia as hate speech and inciting towards violence. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

Oneness Pentecostalism is a nontrinitarian religious movement within the Protestant Christian family of churches known as Pentecostalism. It derives its name from its teaching on the Godhead, a form of Modalistic Monarchianism commonly referred to as the Oneness doctrine. The doctrine states that there is one God―a singular divine spirit with no distinction of persons―who manifests himself in many ways, including as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This stands in sharp contrast to the mainstream doctrine of three distinct, eternal persons posited by Trinitarian theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)</span> Christian movement

The Church of God , also called the Church of God Ministries, is an international holiness Christian denomination with roots in Wesleyan-Arminianism and also in the restorationist traditions. The organization grew out of the evangelistic efforts of several Holiness evangelists in Indiana and Michigan in the early 1880s, most notably Daniel Sidney Warner.

The universal call to holiness is a teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that all people are called to be holy, and is based on Matthew 5:48: "Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect". In the first book of the Bible, the call to holiness is expressed in the Lord's words to Abraham: "Walk before me, and be blameless".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist</span> Doctrine that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically

The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically, but in a true, real and substantial way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martyn Lloyd-Jones</span> Welsh pastor, author, and physician (1899–1981)

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and medical doctor who was influential in the Calvinist wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. C. Sproul</span> American Presbyterian theologian and pastor (1939–2017)

Robert Charles Sproul was an American Reformed theologian and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and could be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and internationally. Under Sproul's direction, Ligonier Ministries produced the Ligonier Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, which would eventually grow into the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. Along with Norman Geisler, Sproul was one of the chief architects of the statement. Sproul has been described as "the greatest and most influential proponent of the recovery of Reformed theology in the last century."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John MacArthur (American pastor)</span> American Reformed Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author (born 1939)

John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. is an American pastor and author who hosts the national Christian radio and television program Grace to You. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. He is currently the chancellor emeritus of The Master's University in Santa Clarita and The Master's Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew 6:10</span>

Matthew 6:10 is the tenth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse is the second one of the Lord's Prayer, one of the best known parts of the entire New Testament. This verse contains the second and third petitions to God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucharistic theology</span> Branch of Christian theology

Eucharistic theology is a branch of Christian theology which treats doctrines concerning the Holy Eucharist, also commonly known as the Lord's Supper and Holy Communion. It exists exclusively in Christianity, as others generally do not contain a Eucharistic ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. James Kennedy</span> American pastor, televangelist, and writer (1930–2007)

Dennis James Kennedy was an American Presbyterian pastor, evangelist, Christian broadcaster, and author. He was the senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from 1960 until his death in 2007. Kennedy also founded Evangelism Explosion International, Coral Ridge Ministries, the Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, the Knox Theological Seminary, radio station WAFG-FM, and the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, a socially conservative political group.

Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Sr. was an American Holiness–Pentecostal pastor and minister. He was the founder and first Senior Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, based in Memphis, Tennessee. It developed into what is today the largest Holiness Pentecostal church denomination and one of the largest predominantly African-American Christian denominations in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian child's prayer</span> Easily memorable prayers recited by children

A Christian child's prayer is Christian prayer recited primarily by children that is typically short, rhyming, or has a memorable tune. It is usually said before bedtime, to give thanks for a meal, or as a nursery rhyme. Many of these prayers are either quotes from the Bible, or set traditional texts.

The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church is one of five established Doctrinal Standards of the United Methodist Church, along with the Articles of Religion, the General Rules of United Societies, the Standard Sermons of John Wesley, and John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the New Testament. The United Methodist Church adopted the Confession of Faith in 1968 when the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church. The Confession of Faith covers much of the same ground as the Articles of Religion, but it is shorter and the language is more contemporary. The Confession of Faith also contains an article on the Judgment and Future State which had not been present in the Methodist Articles of Religion.

Outward holiness, or external holiness, is a Wesleyan–Arminian doctrine emphasizing modest dress and sober speech. It is a testimony of a Christian believer's regeneration, done in obedience to God. The doctrine is prevalent among denominations emerging during the revival movements, including the Methodists, as well as Pentecostals. It is taken from 1 Peter 1:15: "He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."

The theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church resembles early Protestant Christianity, combining elements from Lutheran, Wesleyan-Arminian, and Anabaptist branches of Protestantism. Adventists believe in the infallibility of the Scripture's teaching regarding salvation, which comes from grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The 28 fundamental beliefs constitute the church's current doctrinal positions, but they are revisable under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and are not a creed.

Good Friday Prayer can refer to any of the prayers prayed by Christians on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, or to all such prayers collectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesleyan theology</span> Protestant Christian theological tradition

Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles Wesley. More broadly it refers to the theological system inferred from the various sermons, theological treatises, letters, journals, diaries, hymns, and other spiritual writings of the Wesleys and their contemporary coadjutors such as John William Fletcher, Methodism's systematic theologian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Campbell Morgan</span> British evangelist

Reverend Doctor George Campbell Morgan D.D. was a British evangelist, preacher, a leading Bible teacher, and a prolific author.

While both rhema and logos are translated into the English word, in the original Greek there was a substantial distinction. The use of the term rhema has special significance in some Christian groups, especially those advocating the Five-Fold Ministry that God gave of five gifts or callings to some people. Christians denominations that advocate the Five-Fold Ministry include Charismatic Christianity, the Pentecostal Movement, the Apostolic-Prophetic Movement and the Word of Faith Movement.

The New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement is an association of conservative, King James Only, independent Baptist churches. The New IFB began with Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in response to perceived liberalism in other independent Baptist churches. The New IFB does not consider itself to be a denomination. As of 2019, the New IFB listed 32 affiliated congregations on its website, most in the U.S. with some in Australia, Canada, the Philippines and South Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 "First Church of our Lord Jesus Christ: Growing and serving the community". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  2. ↑ "History". First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. - Truth of God. Retrieved 2022-08-05. The family continued sincerely in what truth they knew for many years. The church where they worshipped was headed by Pastor Jennings' great uncle. Bishop Ernest Jennings was the second in-charge and Pastor Jennings, despite his tender age was third in-charge. He was also the Bible reader for his leader and would often accompany him in his travels. He began preaching at the age of thirteen with a message that could not be more fitting than from Hebrews chapter 11 v 6: "...But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..."
  3. ↑ "History". First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. - Truth of God. Retrieved 2022-08-05. He stood there before me ... I saw his hands...something just comes over me when I talk about it...," Pastor Jennings has often testified..."...He showed me my work...," he would say,..."...my calling was made known to me : Jeremiah 1 verse 5...'...Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.' ,... He placed his hands in my face and made it hard as flint...""It was then that the knowledge of and light of the scriptures began to be made known to him. His preaching began to call for True Holiness, his inspired messages began to hold the attention of the congregation; souls began receiving the Holy Ghost and the people were encouraged to walk with the Lord. The biblical wisdom given to him was noticed by others who began asking him questions. All this greatly displeased his pastor (Bishop Haywood Hinton), who silenced him for an entire year. Yet the vision remained before him, in his heat and fixed firmly in his mind.
  4. 1 2 "History". First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. - Truth of God. Retrieved 2022-08-05. The beginning of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. (the incorporated organization) began with Pastor Gino N. Jennings and the divine vision given him of his ministry. The fourth of five sons born to Bishop Ernest and Mother Jennings, Pastor Jennings has been involved with the worship of God since he was a child.
  5. ↑ "Women Preachers". First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. - Truth of God. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Pastor under fire for calling women hoes - Female church leaders say clergyman's comments were degrading". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15. In the late December broadcast, currently making the rounds on social media, Jennings, who is the head of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus, said: "You so called Christian looking hoes, jumping in some church, flopping your ankle chains around. On the choir, breasts hanging out, lips all red, nails painted red, purple, blue, green, long like bird claws, all this fake hair, breasts implant, toe nails painted with little fake diamonds in it, your toes ain't richer. You're nothing but a prostitute." He continued: You're nothing but a singing hoe, a shouting hoe, an organ playing hoe, a choir director hoe. Preacher, if what I just said describes your wife, you are married to a hoe! A man that's a real man don't want his wife out in the street looking like a prostitute and you're a holy woman, or claim you are a Christian. Christian with skin tight pants showing the very shape of your birth canal."
  8. ↑ "Pastor threatens to sue Gino Jennings". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15. Both Dunbar and Mr Vegas were responding to Jennings after a video of him classifying women who chose to be fashionably dressed in church as 'whores' went viral. But, according to Robinson, he does not think it is extremely out of line to use their images and names in the advertisement as they were not using it to make a profit.
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ "Sad but true; Israel Folau's church really does not like the Trinity - Eternity News". www.eternitynews.com.au. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2022-07-14. Jennings also discussed how the devil has blinded people, and he directly addressed Aussies: "I think about all the brothers and sisters that came to America from Australia just to be baptised. Came all the way from Australia. I think of brother Chris sitting there, next to brother Williams, I first met him [when] he came all the way to Houston, Texas, and in fact I thought he lived in Houston." "I talked to him and he asked me about the Trinity. I went and opened it up in the Bible. He said 'I see there is one God.' After this, Chris went down into water in the name of Jesus Christ … I thought he came from Houston and he said 'man, I came all the way from Australia.' … This message is worth going from one continent to another.
  11. ↑ "Literature". First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. - Truth of God. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  12. ↑ "A Sting we a go - Mr Vegas ready for showdown with Gino Jennings". jamaica-star.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16. Entertainer Mr Vegas says he will be showing up to have a discussion with Pastor Gino Jennings when the controversial clergyman comes to Jamaica this month end.
  13. ↑ "Mr Vegas ejected from religious gathering during debate with pastor Gino Jennings". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 2018-09-16. However, yesterday, no sooner than Vegas being called up to the platform where Jennings had already been waiting, the much-hyped debate descended into a shouting match as the former dancehall artiste turned Christian found himself no match for Jennings and his supporters who effectively muted him. As Vegas attempted to build an argument, Jennings shouted, "Debate Pastor Jennings like a man, debate Pastor Jennings or sit down, debate Pastor Jennings or get out". "Call your chapter and your verse," Jennings repeated as he dared Vegas to find support in the scriptures that women should wear make-up. But, having not been able to find a verse in the Bible, Vegas provoked Jennings to play the tape of his infamous sermon which had sparked criticisms. It was at that point the pastor requested that security officers to "usher out" Vegas. "I'm already here," Vegas retorted. "Call the police if you've gotta move me."
  14. ↑ "Radical US pastor who inspired Folau banned from Australia". The Daily Telegraph. The American preacher with millions of followers who helped inspired Israel Folau's Truth Of Jesus Christ Church has been denied a visa.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.