Jerry Bruce Jenkins (born September 23, 1949) is an American writer. He is best known for the Left Behind series, written with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins also writes the novels following the TV series about Jesus, The Chosen. Jenkins has written more than 200 books, in multiple genres, such as biography, self-help, romance, mystery, and young adult fiction. Nineteen of his 130+ novels have explored eschatological themes and settings.
In 2016, Jenkins was described as a dispensationalist Christian by The Washington Post.
Early life Jenkins was born September 1949 to Harry Philip Jenkins and Bonita Grace Thompson of Kalamazoo, Michigan. In a 2008 interview with The Modesto Bee, Jenkins said his Christian faith was inspired by a Warner Sallman painting, guided by his mother. After graduating from Forest View High School, Jenkins attended Moody Bible Institute from 1967 to 1968, and Harper College from 1968 to 1970.
Career After suffering an injury playing sports, Jenkins began work as a sports reporter while he was still in high school. Before he could drive, Jenkins covered high school sports for local newspapers. He was paid per inch. While attending Moody Bible Institute, Jenkins served as night news editor for the institute's flagship radio station, WMBI-FM.
He served as Vice President of the Moody's publishing division from 1985 to 1988, and a writer-in-residence from 1988 onward. He was the managing editor of Moody Monthly from 1974 to 1979 and publisher from 1979 to 1981. Jenkins served as a member of Moody Bible Institute's Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2018.
Jenkins serves on Colorado Christian University's board of trustees. CCU's Armstrong Center, built in 2024, contains a reading room dedicated to Jenkins and his family.
As co-writer Jenkins has written twenty as-told-to biographies and memoirs of prominent athletes and religious leaders, such as Hank Aaron, Bill Gaither, Walter Payton, Joe Gibbs, Mike Singletary, and Sammy Tippit. Jenkins called those titles his "sports personality" books. His credit as writer is given via an "as told to", "as told by", or "with Jerry B. Jenkins" attribution.
In an interview with Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn podcast, Jenkins explained he does not co-write, saying "if my name is on [the book] … I wrote every word." For works credited with Chris Fabry, such as The Wormlings (2007–08) series, Jenkins functioned as the editor, and Fabry was the sole writer. Jenkins said co-writing a book "is a nightmare," but can be successful if the roles among the credited writers are settled beforehand. His collaboration with Billy Graham resulted in In His Own Words (2018), published by Tyndale House, for which Jenkins received sole writing credit.
Gil Thorp The Dallas O'Neil and The Baker Street Sports Club (1986) series, and its follow up, the Dallas O'Neil Mysteries (1988–89), prompted Gil Thorp creator Jack Berrill to open discussions with Jenkins on creating a line of young adult books about Gil Thorp and the athletes at the fictional Milford High School. The Gil Thorp series was never realized, but following Berrill's death in 1996, Jenkins was recruited by Tribune to continue to comic strip as its writer, with Rod Whigham as artist. During his tenure as writer, Jenkins introduced a number of controversial storylines, including a young shomer Shabbat joining the Milford football team.
Jenkins's sons, Chad and Dallas, contributed to Gil Thorp by developing scenarios for their father to write. According to the Chicago Reader, Chad Jenkins wrote the strip from 2001 to 2004 without credit, which both Jenkins and his son say is not true. Chad served as a story consultant.
Christian Writers Guild In 1965, Norman Rohrer established the Christian Writers Guild (CWG). Rohrer offered a 48-part correspondence course intended to teach the craft of writing, as well as history and theology Rohrer believed were necessary to improve the quality of fiction and non-fiction writing intended for the Christian market. In 2001, Jenkins purchased the CWG, and Rohrer remained on staff as "Dean of Instruction". CWG transitioned from mail-based delivery, to an online platform. Jenkins recruited many of his friends and fellow writers to function as mentors to CWG members, and to expand the guild's offerings. In 2013, Jenkins developed the Christian Writers Guild Press intended to publish original works by CWG members. Jenkins was criticized for creating a "vanity press", despite lambasting such publishing schemes in the past and closed the operation before contracting with any writers.
According to literary agent Chip MacGregor, of MacGregor & Luedeke, Jenkins "was ready to return to his primary occupation and calling, that of full-time writing" by early-2014. Jenkins dissolved CWG in late-2014, which resulted in heavy criticism of both Jenkins and the CWG. Dennis E. Hensley told Christianity Today that Jenkins and the CWG had offered a "great service to developing writers." CWG's staff and mission were absorbed into a new organization called BelieversTrust, which operated until 2016.
Since 2016, Jenkins has taught an online writing course via his own platform, Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild.
Left Behind
Jenkins and co-author LaHaye of the Left Behind series were profiled in a May 24, 2004 cover story in Newsweek magazine entitled "The New Prophets of Revelation". LaHaye, who conceived the series, handled the theological underpinnings of his end-of-the-world series, while Jenkins handled the writing. The Left Behind series includes 16 books which have sold over 63 million copies worldwide.
Jenkins has said, "I write the best I can. I know I'm never going to be revered as some classic writer. I don't claim to be C. S. Lewis. The literary-type writers, I admire them. I wish I was smart enough to write a book that's hard to read, you know?"
In 2018, Left Behind series was ranked 77 in The Great American Read poll sponsored by PBS.
Personal life Jenkins and his wife Dianna (née Whiteford), whom he married in 1971, reside in Black Forest, Colorado. He is the father of Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen web television series; Chad Jenkins, the Sports Information Director at MidAmerica Nazarene University; and Michael Bruce Jenkins.
When asked about his Christian denomination, Jenkins has often answered "Jesus Christ". Alissa Wilkinson, of Christian Today, described Jenkins as a dispensationalist Christian in an editorial for The Washington Post.
Works
Non-fiction TitleDatePublisherISBNNotesSammy Tippit1973Moody—biography of Sammy TippitYou CAN Get thru to TeensVictor BooksVBS Unlimited1974Bad HenryChilton Companybiography of Hank Aaron; with Stanley C. BaldwinThe Story of the Christian Booksellers AssociationThomas NelsonThe Gingerbread ManLippincottwith Pat WilliamsLight on the HeavyJuly 1978VictorThe Night the Giant Rolled OverJanuary 1981Little Wordaccount of the 1976 Papua earthquakeThe Power within YouMay 1983WJKwith Pat WilliamsThe Men Behind MoodyNovember 1984Moodywith Robert G. FloodTeaching the Word, Reaching the WorldFebruary 1985RekindledMarch 1985Revellwith Pat Williams and Jill WilliamsKeep the Fire GlowingOctober 1986A Generous ImpulseOctober 1987Moodybiography of George SweetingKindlingThomas Nelsonwith Pat Williams and Jill WilliamsHymns for Personal DevotionsJuly 1989MoodyHedgesNovember 1989Wolgemuth & HyattLessons Learned EarlyApril 1990MoodyautobiographyTwelve Things I Want My Kids to Remember ForeverMarch 1991Just Between UsOctober 1991Revellwith Pat Williams and Jill WilliamsLife Flies When You're Having FunApril 1993David C. CookautobiographyVerbal JudoJune 1993Morrowwith George J. ThompsonFamiliesJuly 1993Moodyas editorAddicted to RecoveryJune 1994Harvest Housewith Gary Almy and Carol T. AlmyWinning at LosingJuly 1995MoodyHomecomingSeptember 1997Zondervanwith Bill GaitherStill the OneApril 1998Focus on the FamilyAnd Then Came YouAs you Leave HomeAugust 1998Perhaps TodayOctober 2001Tyndale Housewith Tim LaHayeThe Promise of HeavenFebruary 2003Harvest HouseGod Always Keeps His PromisesSeptember 2003Jesus and the Hope of His ComingJanuary 2004Embracing EternityNovember 2004Tyndale Housewith Tim LaHaye and Frank M. MartinWriting for the SoulF&W MediaIn His Own WordsTyndale Housewith Billy Graham
Co-written works Jenkins wrote the following memoirs and autobiographical works in which he received an "as told by" or "with Jerry B. Jenkins" attribution. TitleAuthor(s)DatePublisherISBNThe World's Strongest ManPaul Anderson1975Moody—Stuff ItDick MottaChilton CompanyThree Behind the CurtainSammy TippitWhitaker HouseRunning for JesusMadeline Manning Jackson1977WordYou, Me, HeSammy Tippit1978Victor BooksHome Where I BelongB. J. ThomasW Publishing Group—SweetnessWalter PaytonContemporary BooksReproduced by Permission of the AuthorSammy Tippit1979Victor BooksThe Luis Palau StoryLuis PalauNovember 1980Fleming H. RevellMeadowlarkMeadowlark LemonApril 1987Thomas NelsonCarry MeChristine WyrtzenAugust 1988MoodyCommitment to LoveDeanna McClaryApril 1989Thomas NelsonOut of the BlueOrel HershiserAugust 1989Wolgemuth & HyattBaby MayfieldLarry Mayfield and Diane MayfieldNovember 1989MoodyJoe Gibbs: Fourth and OneJoe GibbsJanuary 1991Thomas NelsonSingletary on SingletaryMike SingletarySeptember 1991I Almost Missed the SunsetBill GaitherAugust 1992No Matter What the CostSammy TippitSeptember 1992Miracle ManNolan RyanApril 1993Field of HopeBrett ButlerJuly 1997God's Secret AgentSammy TippitJune 2001Tyndale HouseGame Plan for LifeJoe GibbsJuly 2009As Good as She ImaginedRoxanna GreenWorthyThe Matheny ManifestoMike MathenyCrown
Fiction TitleDatePublisherISBNNotesThe OperativeSeptember 1987Harper & RowRookieMarch 1991Wolgemuth & HyattThe Deacon's Woman and Other PortraitsFebruary 1992MoodyThough None Go with MeSeptember 1999Zondervan'Twas the Night BeforeOctober 1998Viking PressHometown LegendSeptember 2001Warner FaithHolding HeavenIntegritynovellaMidnight ClearOctober 2007Tyndale Housewith Dallas JenkinsRivenThe Last OperativeSudden ImpactZondervanI, SaulWorthywith James MacDonaldEmpire's EndThe Valley of the Dry Bones
Margo Mystery (1979–1984) A Margo Mystery series was published by Moody. The first novel, Margo (1979), was published by Jeremy Books, but later reprinted by Moody. TitleDatePublisherISBN1MargoJanuary 1979Jeremy Books2KarlynSeptember 1980Moody3Hilary4PaigeMay 19815AllysonAugust 19816ErinApril 19827ShannonSeptember 19828LindseyFebruary 19839Meghan10JanellJune 198311CourtneyOctober 198312LyssaJanuary 198413Margo's ReunionSeptember 1984
Jennifer Grey Mystery (1983–1985) A Jennifer Grey Mystery series was published by Victor Books. TitleDateISBN1HeartbeatJanuary 19832Three Days in Winter3Too Late to TellJanuary 19844Gateway5The Calling6Veiled ThreatJanuary 1985
The Soon Trilogy (2003–2005) The Soon Trilogy was published by Tyndale House. TitleDateISBN1SoonSeptember 20032SilencedJuly 20043ShadowedSeptember 2005
Jesus Chronicles (2007–2010) The Jesus Chronicles series, written with Tim LaHaye, is a narrative retelling of the four canonical gospels. Published by Penguin's Putnam Adult imprint. Reprints from Center Point assigned numbers to the novels. TitleDateISBN1John's Story2Mark's Story3Luke's Story4Matthew's Story
Precinct 11 (2011–2012) The Precinct 11 novels were published by Tyndale House. TitleDateISBN1The Brotherhood2The Betrayal3The Breakthrough
Dead Sea Chronicles (2018–2020) The Dead Sea Chronicles series is based on and inspired by the work of Craig A. Evans. Published by Worthy. TitleDateISBN1Dead Sea Rising2Dead Sea Conspiracy
Young adult fiction Below is an incomplete list: TitleDatePublisherISBNThe Youngest HeroWarner Faith
Tara Chadwick (1984) The Tara Chadwick Series was published by Moody in 1984. Reprinted in 1992, including new cover art and formatting. TitleDateISBN1Springtime DiscoveryJune 19842Time to Tell3Operation Cemetery4Scattered Flowers
Bradford Family (1984–1986)