I am a true living testimony of what a miracle looks like. I am a true example of God’s promises being manifested and the prayers of saints being answered. Raised by two people who were sold out for Jesus Christ, believed His word and were not moved to the point of giving up on me even though I was running a much as a young adult. They knew that they had raised me in the way a child should go (Proverbs 22:6) and the faith of a mustard seed. When I was ten years I said the sinners’ prayer but I have to confess that I didn’t know what I was doing. I just knew that I saw my dad up there preaching and wanted to be just like him. When I was fifteen I had first drink, met my first girlfriend and it was all about booze, drugs and girls. I started playing music in night clubs at seventeen and just went crazy for quite some time. In 1984 I had my first real experience with Christ. I invited Him into my life and I felt His spirit pour over me like warm oil from head to toe. About a year later my late wife past away and I was not strong enough in my faith to hold on and backslid.
In 1996, approximately three months after my dad past away, the spirit of God spoke to me and said your prayer covering is gone and I had to choose for myself if I was going to serve Him or not. It was as if I was physically arrested by His spirit and I literally could not move until I made a choice. I said yes and from that moment I have not turned away from Jesus Christ. For the past 15 years I have been serving God with my whole heart. I spent seven of those years serving at Joy Christian Fellowship. I participated on the worship team for several of those years and in their bible college as well. I also spent about seven years at the Jerusalem Center Church, served on the worship team and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel in April 2004. Later the senior pastor named me as his administrative pastor. While with Jerusalem Center I was blessed to participate on several mission trips, to London, Hawaii, and Africa.
Early 2011 the spirit of God began to speak to me about starting a church in Southern Oregon that would provide some focus musically on the African American community. He said the population of African Americans has grown significantly in the valley however they are not in church. He also said that there are many people who the church has hurt unwittingly through religious practices, or perhaps by someone in authority and they are still looking for answers and a place to feel safe. After a year of prayer and watching how things have developed in my life, I said yes to Jesus. I am ready to serve as your pastor if you are looking for a home church, something a little different than anything else you may have experienced in the valley. I look forward to assisting you in establishing and/or enhancing your RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST!!
NAME: DENNIS E. FRANKLIN JR.
MARRIED (34 YRS)
6 children, 25 grandchildren, 5 great grands