Jerry & Dorphia David

Jerry and Dorphia David serve in senior care facilities and county jails throughout southern Minnesota. The area hosts diverse economic and religious backgrounds.

Many residents in these facilities have some knowledge of “religion,” but are lacking a personal relationship with Christ. There is a need to present the good news of the gospel to those who have not yet heard it and encourage and build up those who are already believers.

Residents of care facilities and jails have two things in common: they are often forgotten in life and they are often forgotten in ministry.

After seeing the need in their community, Jerry founded Gentle Shepherd Ministries, an InFaith ministry that reaches out to seniors in care facilities and inmates in county jails throughout southern Minnesota. GSM provides one-on-one visits, church services, and Bible studies to residents of local senior care facilities, ministering to their spiritual, emotional, and societal needs.

The jail ministry that Jerry directs through GSM, called Broken Chains Fellowship, provides Bible studies for inmates in county jails. “We are seeing God make an impact on the lives of inmates, and true transformation is taking place,” Jerry writes. They have also started a reentry ministry, which provides inmates with a greater chance for success outside of the prison system by teaching them to live as strong Christians and law-abiding citizens.

The Davids have served as InFaith field staff since 2005.

Jerry is a graduate of Denver Baptist Bible College. He served seven years as a youth pastor and twenty years as a senior pastor before starting Gentle Shepherd Ministries through InFaith.

Dorphia has been a preschool teacher, stay-at-home mother, and caregiver at a nursing home before joining Jerry full-time at InFaith. They have four children and nine grandchildren.