Dr. Jay Herndon
My name is Jay Herndon and I serve as the District Secretary-Treasurer for this great District.
Since you are reading my bio, I presume that you are interested to know a little bit about my background.
I was born on a cold winter day in Northern Minnesota, my father was a farmer. As a child we migrated to California and I was mostly raised in Santa Cruz, California. As a boy I attended a small Foursquare Church and when I became older I assisted my pastor: running the sound, mowing the lawn, and working around the place. It was then that I began to sense that God was calling me into ministry. After High School I enrolled in Bethany Bible College (later known as Bethany University of the Assemblies of God.) After graduating (1981) I became credentialed with this District and began a decade of Youth Ministry — first in Redwood City, later in Covina, and then in Las Vegas. We also did a season of missions work in the South Pacific with YWAM.
In 1988 I enrolled at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley and became Co-Pastor in San Rafael. I also began teaching as an adjunct at Bethany College! During those days I also worked as a part time Supervisor at UPS (I was pretty busy!) After graduating with a Master of Divinity (1991) I became a Senior Pastor, first in Felton, and later in Burlingame. I also continued as an adjunct at Bethany and later as a Trustee. I also enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at GGBTS which I finished in 2001. I also served on their Doctor of Ministry Committee.
I served the District in many various capacities over the years: Bethany Trustee, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Presbyter, Executive Presbyter, and Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, as well as some other ad-hoc duties. In 2005 the District elected me to be Secretary-Treasurer.
It was early in my ministry, in Redwood City, that I met and married Teri — Teri was a beautiful young lady who also felt called to ministry — I first recruited her to assist me in the youth ministry and later realized that I needed her for something more! She has been my companion in life and ministry ever since. Teri is my best friend, my favorite person in the world. (I am sure that you will come to admire her too, if you don’t know her already.) Together we raised two children: Joshua and Janae, and are blessed with seven grandchildren. I served as staff pastor and senior pastor in several churches. I have a B.A. from Bethany College, a M.Div. and D.Min. from Golden Gate Baptist Seminary. I love my district. When I consider my life, I think that I am the most blessed man alive!
So how do I approach this job? I have adopted a personal mission statement to remind me of my purpose: To promote and preserve the ministries and the assets of the District Council and its churches. In addition to general executive officer responsibilities (assisting and advising churches and ministers) my specific function as secretary-treasurer involves things like credentials, corporations, legal records, and finances. My goal is to help GROW our churches and ministries (promotion of assets and reputation — resourcing and supporting them so that they may grow,) and to help GUARD them (preserving assets and reputation — to help ensure that legal, financial, and other complications do not diminish or destroy them. These twin purposes I learned from the example of Nehemiah — the lesson of the Sword and the Trowel.
As the District Secretary, it is my responsibility to provide official minutes of the governing boards and to maintain the official membership list of all credentialed ministers and Assemblies of God Churches in this District.
As the District Treasurer, it is my responsibility to coordinate the annual audit, to provide accurate financial reports to the governing boards and various District departments, and to give oversight to the day-to-day financial operations of the District.
If I can be of any service to you, please contact me at the office.
Specifically, I will interface with most of you regarding credentialing and other administrative matters. Below are a few links to some of them.
Credential Applications (Contact Credentials Administrator for Applications by selecting the button below):
Once again, welcome to our web site and have a great visit!
Dr. Jay A. Herndon
Secretary-Treasurer