From Gambler to General Overseer: The Conversion of John C. Jernigan
“Oh, wretched man that I was! My life had become miserable, and I decided that my only hope lay in Christ; and to receive Him I would surrender my all.” –John C. Jernigan
By David G. Roebuck
Surrendering all to Christ was no easy decision for Tennessee native John C. Jernigan. Until that spring evening in 1921, Jernigan had lived the life of an accomplished gambler, and the devil reminded him of the potential for riches that the large red dice in his pocket held. But as the young Jernigan stared into a fireplace, he longed for peace, and he pondered the fact that along with his winnings came the companionship of evil men, the unsavory life of gambling dens, and three attempts on his life. Indeed, a life of gambling held the potential of a violent death as well as worldly gain. Pulling the dice from his pocket John Jernigan placed them into the fire, one at a time, and watched them burn.
The 20-year-old Jernigan had no illusion that life would change instantly, but that night he committed to giving up gambling and to seeking the Lord until his salvation came. A revival that Pastor T.A. Richard was preaching in Nashville had given him hope. Jernigan had come to Nashville to visit his sister, who was a member of the Church of God there. From the first service he was drawn by the singing, testimonies, and preaching. Yet, as his hunger for spiritual things grew, a battle raged within in soul.
The John C. Jernigan family about 1939
On the second night he attended the revival, according to his autobiography, “When the altar call was made, I could hardly resist the Spirit. I had never prayed in my life, and had never seen anyone truly converted, so the devil took the advantage and won again.” It was following the third service that Jernigan destroyed his dice and committed to forsake the occupation he had practiced for five years.
On each of the next two nights of the revival Jernigan responded to the invitation to pray at the altar but could not find salvation, so the following evening he arrived early to attend the prayer meeting that was held before each service. He later wrote, “I slipped into the room and knelt near the door. A mighty spirit of prayer moved upon the people, and that inspiration took hold of me. I poured out my very soul before God. The pastor, who had knelt across the room, saw my earnestness and moved over near me. It seemed as if he reached up and took hold of the cords which reached to heaven and that heaven was brought near to the earth. My faith increased, and well do I remember my prayer: ‘Oh, God, I believe You will save me now.’”
During the revival service that evening, John Jernigan gave his first testimony, was sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God he went on to pastor several churches, serve as state overseer, lead Lee College (Lee University), and become the fifth general overseer of the Church of God (1944-1948)—far from the gambling dens of his youth.
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This article was written by Church of God Historian David G. Roebuck, Ph.D., who is director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center and assistant professor of the history of Christianity at Lee University. This “Church of God Chronicles” was first published in the October 2005 Church of God Evangel.
