Influence: Please share your background in ministry, and tell us what you’re up to now.
Jerry Falley: It was my privilege to pastor four years in the U.S., serve with Assemblies of God World Missions 33 years in Africa, teach missions for nine years at North Central University and Central Bible College, 12 years doing field research on 32 unreached people groups along the coast of Africa, three years as research specialist for Global Initiative, and four years at Africa’s Hope editing a bimonthly publication and youth curriculum for Africa.

Currently in retirement I am resourcing a collaborative initiative by AG U.S. Missions, the Illinois District, AG Kansas Ministry Network, and the Southern Missouri District in creating an awareness of new Americans settling among us. This joint effort has generated a website, YourNeighbor.us, and has brought “reaching the lost” to the forefront in a nontraditional manner.

How have your years of experience prepared you for reaching unreached people groups in America?
Reaching unreached people groups has been the focus of my ministry since 1975. This passion intensified while personally visiting resistant Islamic people groups during my retirement years. I recognized the barriers to be penetrated in presenting the gospel to them. I began to ask, “How many of those groups are represented here in the U.S., and is anyone intentionally introducing them to Jesus?”

Exercising my cross-cultural skills developed in Africa, I stepped into the lives of an ethnic family living across the street from us. To my surprise, they had lived in the U.S. for 20 years, but no one had ever talked to them about religion. This experience prompted me to utilize my research skills in resourcing the YourNeighbor.us initiative.

What challenge have you faced since retiring, and how have you overcome it?
When I stepped aside from full appointment with AGWM and started drawing Social Security, I became aware of the fact that transition to glory was in the not-to-distant future. I became concerned about the time factor in any anticipation of ministry. Whatever task I would put my hand to do, I did it with all my heart as I always had in ministry. But now I wanted it to be accomplished immediately, rather than giving time for the ministry effort to flesh itself out.

To my surprise, [my neighbors] had lived in the U.S. for 20 years, but no one had ever talked to them about religion.

Jeremiah 33:2,3 came alive to me. “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it — the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you ... .” God’s promise, backed by His greatness, gave me confidence to trust in His sufficiency and timing.

What would you say to younger leaders who have their whole ministry ahead of them?
Your success hinges on maintaining a healthy relationship with the Lord and with your family. Give them priority. These two components will either make you or break you.

Build into your psyche this goal, “I want to finish well.” What you do now determines where you will be in your final days on this earth. Remember that people are your priority in ministry, not status or position. Regardless of what you do or where you go, measure success by the lives you touch along the way.

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2017 edition of Influence Magazine and has been used with permission. For more print content, subscribe.