Mike McDonald - Jerry's - First Impressions and Memories

I first visited Jerry’s in the fall of 1971, sometime in late October. In the spring of that year, I had given my life to Christ at the local Assembly of God church in Anderson. I had recently moved back to Anderson after living in Greensboro, in Henry County during my high school years. As a young hippie I had felt welcomed by the AoG church, but was very out of place. The church was all factory workers and church kids. I couldn’t relate to them, and they couldn’t relate to me. As a result, I had drifted in and out of church all spring and summer. By the Fall I was hungry to find a place I felt a part of, and knew I needed fellowship of some sort. I just didn’t fit into the local church scene, nor did I really fit into the Solomon’s Porch / Fishermen group scene.

Several days before visiting Jerry’s I had been at a small church in Pendleton, where the Fishermen sang and preached (I can remember Ray Renner singing “The Lighthouse”). The Lord did a powerful thing in my life that night. After the meeting, as I went outside a young woman was handing out “Smile, God Loves You” cards, Jerry’s calling card with his address and phone number. The next day I called the number, talked with someone (I found out later that it was Myrtle Street, Jerry’s mom) and asked what did they do, and could I visit. I was warmly invited to come and see.

That night I drove out to 53^rd street, found the house, and made my way in. Inside the door I was greeted by Jerry’s Mom, Myrtle, who put her arm around my waist, hugged me, smiled and said “You must be Mike”. We walked through the house and into the living room. One of my first impressions was “Wow, you could choke to death on the cigarette smoke”. Almost everyone was smoking! I had recently quit smoking and was a bit surprised at a “Christian” gathering were so many people smoked cigarettes.

Jerry was seating in his customary place, in the corner of the living room, Rickenbaker guitar in hand, singing. The first thing you would notice about Jerry was his really big smile, and his laugh. He also looked older than his early thirties. He also didn’t look like a hippie, or any preacher I had ever seen. The second thing I noticed was that the room was full of people like me, hippies, freaks, however you wanted to call them. They were my kind of people. I felt at home, if somewhat taken aback by the smoking.

I sat down on the sofa with several others and just watched and began to take in what was happening. Jerry would sing for a while. Quote a few scriptures and preach a bit. People would pray. There were lots of “Praise God’s” and Hallelujahs. At times everyone would gather in a circle and all arm in arm pray out loud shouting and exclaiming. Jerry would always be praising God and laughing for the shear joy of what was happening. Sometimes a person would fall on the floor in an ecstatic expression of worship.

I know that many of us had different experiences at Jerry’s. My experience was influenced by my having come to faith before I met Jerry. I clearly remember sitting on the sofa that night and the Holy Spirit speaking to me “be careful, there are some strange things here”. Being really Biblically ignorant, it took me a long time to figure out and discern some of the issues.

What were some of those “strange things”? Jerry preached that the Scriptures taught that if you had faith, you would never have to physically die! Jerry was anti-church, not just anti-religion, but anti-church, or at least his limited understanding of church. Anderson Indiana was a center for the “Holiness Movement”, and many churches were very conservative and lacked love, but in retrospect, Jerry threw the baby (the church), out with the bathwater (religion). There were other controversial teachings during those years, but they can be discussed at a later date.

In my opinion, and I know that others disagree; Jerry never preached a clear salvation message in those early years. Many young people came through Jerry’s. Many were touched by what happened at Jerry’s, however I believe that many were never born again and never made a real, solid decision to follow Christ as a disciple, because Jerry being theologically ignorant and an anti-intellectual couldn’t really teach us the basic foundations of the Christian life.

If Jerry would of had a good theological understanding of the Church, and how to disciple young people, he could have been a leader on par with some of the best in the Jesus Movement. He was a genuine man with very little ego. He never manipulated us and he never took advantage of anyone or sought financial gain from his work.

Jerry’s was an interesting time and place. It met the needs of many who would never have darkened the door of a traditional church. Jerry and Myrtle Street had a love for young people and accepted us just as we were, sometime to our detriment. Jerry Street had a profound impact upon my Christian life. To this day I still deal with some of the things that happened in those nearly two years. I have often wondered how my life would have been different if I had never met Jerry Street. God alone knows the answer.

If you were one of those who took part in what was “Jerry’s” I would love to hear from you. Tell me what you remember and what you think about what I have written.

Michael McDonald
Editor

Steve Heifner Testimony

Steve Heifner was living in Alexandria when he and friends heard about "Gerry's". Driven by curiosity that was fueled by the wooing of the Holy Spirit, Steve, along with his friends visited Gerry's. Steve's testimony is typically of thousands of young people from the drug/hippie culture who were impacted by the Jesus Movement - Editor

On New Years day 1972 six of my buddies were gathered together after a late celebration the night before. We were hanging out at the bowling alley in Alexandria, Indiana looking for something to do. We were dropping pills, mescaline, if I remember correctly. Someone mentioned this “Jesus House” in Anderson. They said that a large group of young people were meeting at a house called “Gerry’s Place” every night, singing songs and talking about Jesus. We had heard of it and we were curious. With nothing else to do, we were on our way to check this place out.

When we arrived, Myrtle, Gerry’s mother greeted us. She informed us that everyone had been up late the night before for the New Year so everyone was already gone for the night. But she invited us to visit a house where a group of these “Jesus Freaks” were hanging out that night.

Little did we know that Myrtle had called ahead so they would be prepared to minister to us. By the time we arrived, it was a past 9:00 pm. They were together in the living room singing songs, praying, and reading from the Bible. We were welcomed and invited to sit in and listen.

I felt comfortable because every one looked just like me: long hair, same age as me, the holes and patches on our jeans. But something was different; they all had smiles on their faces as they sang and prayed. They read the scripture with an understanding I did not have. They shared a love I did not know. Later on that evening, they asked if they could pray for me.

I don’t know exactly what happened but it did not take long before the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. My heart began to ache. I felt guilt for not following my early beliefs in my Christian faith. I asked for forgiveness and strength.

I had been raised in a small Disciples of Christ church across the street from my grandparent’s house. My parents were married in the church. On a Sunday before Easter, probably 1964, I went forward and made my public confession that I accepted Jesus as my savior in front of the congregation. I was 12 years old then. I was baptized there in the church as an act of my faith in Jesus. However, within a few years I wandered away not pursuing my faith and I just became a churchgoer to appease my parents.

Now that I was eighteen and half I was facing my convictions as the Holy Spirit was clearly speaking to me through these Jesus People. Like a miracle, the effects of the pills were lifted and I felt the presence of God in that room. I begin to ask questions. I don’t remember what they were but I do know I was impressed with the answers and the love these “Jesus Freaks” were giving me. I stayed up late again that night not wanting to lose this presence of God I was feeling.

The next morning woke up knowing that something had happened. I still felt the presence of God. I could not wait to go back that night to spend more time with my new friends. I don’t remember if my old buddies felt the same as I did but a couple came along with me to spend that next evening at “Gerry’s Place.” I was there, not just physically, but in spirit with an open mind. I met the other brothers and sisters who made the same decision that I had. God was speaking to them through his Holy Spirit.

Gerry Street and his mother were kind enough to open their house every night for almost two years giving people a place to meet God and grow in His love. Gerry made an impression upon me as he sat for hours singing his own songs of love and Jesus. He would read from the Bible and share his message of love as others would read along, take notes and sing with Gerry as he sang. But it was not his voice or his artistic guitar playing that affected us so. It was not that Gerry was a great speaker because he was just average. It was simply Gerry's desire to share God's love with us and anyone who came into his home.

One night after meeting with this group every evening for several days, it was late and I was ready to go home. A small group of about ten of us we were praying in a circle with our arms around one another. The presence of God was strong and something was happening. It felt as though someone taken the top of my head off and was pouring warm water down inside of my body. At this moment, I fell to the floor feeling this warmth surging through my body. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but I knew it was God ministering to my spirit, soul, and body. When I awoke from my stupor, I noticed that others had experienced the same thing. We laughed and rejoiced together knowing that God had touched with his healing hand. We felt such peace and joy.

The next day was different. How? At first, I could not have told you. All I knew the grass was greener, the sky was so much bluer, and I knew something had happened. Later that day I noticed my reading of the Bible had a power to it I had never felt before. It was as though the words were just jumping off the page. I felt as though I had been empowered with a deeper understanding of the scripture. Later I came to understand I had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I continued my commitment as I attended every meeting. We were like young birds waiting to be fed by the Holy Spirit. Every night something new would happen, a new revelation, a new song, a new visitor, or a new believer would join us. We were not aware that we were a part of a movement of the Holy Spirit until years later.

Gerry taught us to be lead by the Spirit. Every meeting would flow in spontaneity. If Gerry had planned every meeting I am sure he would have failed to hold our attention, instead he trusted that God would meet with us and He did. Our times of song and worship were like a symphony with the Holy Spirit as the conductor.

One night during our worship and singing, I remember praising God with words of English repeatedly until suddenly this language came from my gut spurting out of my mouth. I did not know what I was saying but I knew it was from God. Later on, it was explained to me through scripture that I was speaking in tongues. That gift has never left me. Today, anytime I release my spirit in private prayer, I find myself worshiping God in tongues.

From that point on, my relationship with God has grown so much. Doctrines have come and gone, brothers and sisters have come and gone but the Holy Spirits work in my life continues to this very day. I am blessed. I praise Jesus for all that he has given me.