Dennis Jernigan = Awesomeness

Today I had lunch with Alan and Dennis Jernigan. I’ve hung out with Dennis before but in 1992 I went to see him in concert. The notable part of that, for me, is that I was *highly* skeptical of his testimony of having left a homosexual background. It was the first “Christian” concert I had ever been too and I don’t believe I was even a Christian at that point. If I was, it was in that period of a couple of months (right after embracing Christ) where I was convinced I would only be happy as and die a “gay” man.

I remember my friend, let’s call her “Bright Eyes”, convincing me to go even just for the spectacle of it all. We did that kind of thing from time to time. I went expecting him to be a fire breathing weirdo that just ranted on and on about the evils of sodomy.

He didn’t … thank God (literally.)

He was sane, very talented musician, and a wonderful lyricist and when he sang Amazing Grace … I openly wept. I don’t even remember him talking about homosexuality which I thought was odd until I found out that he considers homosexuality as just one of many different issues he has had to face in life.

I like that perspective … in those days, it helped to change mine and I have found it to be true.

Then as I began to question homosexuality and finding freedom from the tyranny of my previous worldview, I went to every worship concert I possibly could just to hear Dennis and worship the Lord. I was young(er) (24) when that all started and my friends and I would jump around and sing till our voices gave out. It was a whole lot of fun and the Lord really ministered to me during those times. I liked knowing that the worship leader wasn’t afraid of and even had empathy for the issues I was wrestling through at that time in my life. His songs mirrored a lot of my prayers so that made those worship times even more meaningful.

The first time I hung out with Dennis was at IHOP (the all night pancake place … not the all night prayer place) after we had both appeared on James Robison’s Life Today program in 1995. It was that conversation that turned my heart toward the arts and praying for the “modern day Levites” (artisans, worship leaders etc.) to return to prominence in the Body of Christ. Dennis is the one that coined that designation. I started praying that they would not continue to be shunned as “extra,” … or weird … but embraced as a necessary manifestation of worship, communication and communion. And, I think the Lord is answering those and millions of other prayers along the same lines.

I love Dennis’ amazing talent, his passion for Christ and the fact that you know he is honest … oh and he loves to laugh.

Go check out his website.