Special to Iredell Free News
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. “Jerry” Boykin will speak in Mooresville at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday, August 28, at 10 a.m.
One of the original members of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, Boykin was privileged to ultimately command these elite soldiers in combat operations, and he later became commander of all the Army’s Green Berets, as well as the Special Warfare Center and School. During the last four of his 36 years in the Army, he served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.
Boykin’s career placed him in the middle of significant operations and battles, including the 1979 hostage crisis in Iran; the 1989 hunt for Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega; and the 1993 mission in Somalia that was later depicted in the book and movie “Black Hawk Down.”
Boykin’s experiences read like riveting fiction, but his real story is that faith brought him through unimaginable circumstances. He tells how his faith was challenged, broken, and then restored in his 2011 book, “Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom.”
“Jerry Boykin is a man who has impacted many lives across a broad spectrum in our country,” said Dr. Mark Harris, Trinity’s senior pastor. “What he will share from his faith and life story will be an inspiration for the mission of being influencers for Jesus Christ by embracing and living out biblical principles.”
“The privilege of having him here to speak is a blessing to our church which we want to share with our community,” Harris continued. “We are expanding our capacity for visitors on August 28 by creating additional livestream viewing areas for members inside the church, which is located at 221 Ervin Road, Mooresville.”
Harris also noted that the 10 a.m. service can be seen live, or viewed later, with the YouTube or Facebook links on the church website, www.trinitybaptist.com .
Boykin, a native North Carolinian, is an ordained minister with a passion for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife Ashley enjoy spending time with their five children and a growing number of grandchildren. He serves as executive vice president at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., which strives to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and in the culture from a biblical worldview, so all human life is valued, families flourish, and religious liberty thrives.
Additional books written by Boykin include “Man to Man: Rediscovering Masculinity in a Challenging World;” “The Warrior Soul: Five Powerful Principles to Make You a Stronger Man of God;” “Danger Close: A Novel;” and “Kiloton Threat: A Novel.”