Lead Pastor Kenneth and Children’s Pastor Jill Jefferies
Pastor Ken
Ken has been in ministry at Trinity since 1976. In 1990, he enrolled at Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God (now known as Southeastern University), graduating in 1994. The Lord brought Ken back to Johnson City when brother Wayne Swihart,speaking on behalf of Trinity’s board,hired him as youth pastor in 1995. Since then Ken has worked in many roles from praise leader and chaplain to van driver and more. Having grown in the church he’s worked as a janitor and contributed to room set up since being in elementary school. Ken has also served as Girls Ministries tutor helping girls complete their Starts program in preparation for the Tennessee Honor Queen competition.
In August 2012, Trinity selected Ken and Jill as lead pastors. In the past, Ken has been bi-vocational, working in another occupation not only for means of financial support but to more fully engage the community. He worked at Lowe’s in Johnson City from 2003-2019 and recently joined Marketplace Chaplaincy.
His dad, a former pastor at Trinity, instructed him, “Don’t give til it hurts. Give til it helps.” One key he’s learned about ministry comes from the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:22-B
“I have become all things to all people so that I may by every possible means to save some.”
Ken believes that the Lord orchestrates each step for every person whether one believes or not. Christ is faithful.
Jill
Jill loves kids and loves watching them grow in Christ. Growing up, Jill’s mother and father regularly took her to God’s house, building her faith in the Lord from an early age. She cherishes the strong Christian values that her parents taught her and lives by them everyday.
Jill also has a prodigious green thumb, enjoying working in her parent’s greenhouse. There she uses water, fertilizer and some elbow grease encouraging the fruit and vegetables to grow, producing their nutritious yield. She also teaches God’s word to the young ones, empowering them to produce fruit for God’s kingdom.
Jill is thankful for the Lord’s many blessings which includes her husband, pastor Ken, and her wonderful cat Samson.
Pastor Emeritus Marlene Jefferies
Marlene was born and raised in Ivan, Florida with her parents, Revada and Mildred Grimes Spears, and a brother and two sisters. She attended Ivan Assembly of God and was saved at nine years of age.
She met her late husband Edward at her church, Riverside Gospel Tabernacle in April of 1962, and married the following August. Edward served in the U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego, Norfolk and Vietnam. While overseas, Marlene remained stateside, raising their son and daughter.
Once separated from the Navy, Ed studied at and graduated from Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, FL, accepting the challenge of pioneering a church in Eden, NC where another girl and their youngest boy, pastor Ken Jefferies joined their family. Marlene and Ed had both victories and hardships, but through it all the Lord always provided.
In 1976 they accepted the pastorate of Trinity Assembly of God in Johnson City where God proved His faithfulness and reassured that they were following His direction. The church was blessed with a growing attendance, finances, and most importantly, salvation of souls and an expanding family of Christians.
Marlene has done many jobs in her churches over the years working with people of all ages, serving as teacher, treasurer, choir director, pianist and other roles as needs arose. Currently she is the organist for Trinity, encouraging and helping in any way she can.
John “Buzz” Laubscher – Honorbound Coordinator
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Darlene George – One Heart Coordinator
Darlene graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1990 with a bachelors in nursing. The lion’s share of her career was spent in the newborn nursery. Darlene spent several years as a travel nurse allowing her the time to go on mission trips.
Darlene met and married her husband, David, in 2003. The Lord has blessed them with two children. Sarah, 15, is successfully traversing both her spiritual and educational paths to young adulthood. Bekah is 14 and has special needs.
My passion is to see souls saved and serving Jesus but more than that, Oneheart is a growing group of women that are growing with Jesus and striving to serve him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father son and of the Holy Spirit.” Mathew 28:19
Cathy LeBlanc – Girls Ministries Coordinator
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Cindy LaFollette – Administrative Director/Treasurer/Secretary
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