Jerry Shipp's Story

Shipp HG - Shipp Home GroupI accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 13 year of age, but I did not understand the Gospel.  My christian walk was like a roller coaster.  When I sinned, I thought I was no longer saved.  Then when I was good, I thought I was saved.  But then my eyes were finally opened to the unconditional love of Jesus and what He did on the Cross.  I had done nothing to deserve His love and forgiveness.  I trusted Jesus, Jesus received me as a gift from the Father, and no one can ever take me out of His hand.  PRAISE GOD.

Twenty-eight years ago my lovely DeeDee accepted my proposal for a life commitment.  We blended our two families into one.  My four and her two made quite a crowd.  DeeDee's unconditional love shown to my four children has been more than a blessing.  It had only been two years before that I had such a life altering engagement with my Savior.  The Word says, "he choose me while I was still in my mothers womb".  Now my precious wife was living out her unconditional love right before me.  I am truly a blessed man to be married to a Proverb 31 wife.  Our children are grown and have blessed us with nine grandchildren.

We began our journey with Mercy Hill church ten years ago.  I have been involved in many different ways, including overseeing the set-up and take-down crew.  We have a loyal band of men and women who serve in this way.  To see them serving on Sundays brings a blessing to my soul.

My wife and I also lead a home group.  The purpose of each group is to commune with our God through prayer, praise, the word and ministry to each other.  We encourage each other to share the Good News with the lost in San Jose.

I have also been involved in leading missions teams who rebuild earthquake-damaged homes in north Morocco as a way of bringing the Gospel to an unreached Muslim people group.  I cannot describe how it felt when a Moroccan widow told me: "You Christians have given me hope".  I want to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to look around: Your Morocco, your mission field, is as close as your own neighborhood.  Be a servant to them as Jesus is to us.  Remember, He said, "I did not come to be served, I came to serve".

I am grateful to the opportunity to serve Mercy Hill Church as an elder, and covet your prayers as I seek to fulfill this responsibility.