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Sheep and Goats: 61st and Division Streets Church of Christ
"I want to make sure the community knows we’re here."
Contact: 6070 Division St., San Diego 619-263-6931 www.61anddcoc.org
Membership: 225 (Attendance: 130)
Pastor: Jermiyah Kelly
Age: 28
Born: San Diego
Formation: Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Years Ordained: 3
San Diego Reader: What’s your main concern as a member of the clergy?
Pastor Jermiyah Kelly: Does our community know we are here? That’s been my big concern. I grew up at this congregation. Before I left for college, the membership was at 350, and when I came back it was at about 75. We’ve grown since that time, but I want to make sure the community knows we’re here. We’re striving to meet the needs of the community and that the congregation is transitioning to reflecting the community we’re in.
SDR: What’s the mission of your church?
PK: Our mission is to grow our relationship with Christ and teach others about Christ. There are two groups of people: those who know Christ and those who don’t know Christ at all. For those of us who know Christ, our goal and mission is to strengthen our relationship with Christ so we can reach others who have no knowledge of who Christ is. Everyone is looking to worship something; everyone has a desire to worship something. I want to get others to understand their need for Jesus. Jesus is the only being who answers the questions we have in life. Who am I? How did I get here? Where am I going? And how am I going to get there?
SDR: Where’s the strangest place you found God?
PK: The first time I really experienced God is December 26, 2011, when I got hit by the San Diego trolley. I was 15. I was chasing a basketball and I thought I could outrun the trolley and got hit and next I knew I was waking up in the hospital. At that time, I was in a space where my faith was challenged. I was going to church, but it was a rigid and conservative system. I was definitely questioning a lot of the things I believed. When I woke up in the hospital room, my entire church was there. I was overcome by the people being there for me, and it was really encouraging. The only thing that brought us together was Christ. That was the totality of our relationship. I didn’t see people at church as family before that, but that changed that day — thanks to that trolley.
SDR: Where do you go when you die?
PK: There is a heaven and there is a hell. Who goes where is a question that's up to God. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have lived a faithful life go to heaven. But I’m also reminded what God told Moses, that he will be merciful to people. So I know that, now matter how sharp our intellect or how much we know the Bible or God, the ultimate decision is in God’s hands. When we get to heaven, we’re going to be shocked at some of the people we’re going to see there. I believe in the grace of God and that God is gracious and merciful. We can’t fully comprehend that grace on a human level. Hell is there is for anyone in active rebellion against God. It’s one thing to be in a place ignorance—in the sense of not knowing—but it’s something else to know God and to see God whether through creation or experience and be in active rebellion to him. Those who are, are going to end up in hell. But I never told anyone they’re going to hell, but I have told them about the danger of not being in a relationship with Christ.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Sheep and Goats: 61st and Division Streets Church of Christ
"I want to make sure the community knows we’re here."
Sheep and Goats: 61st and Division Streets Church of Christ
"I want to make sure the community knows we’re here."
Contact: 6070 Division St., San Diego 619-263-6931 www.61anddcoc.org
Membership: 225 (Attendance: 130)
Pastor: Jermiyah Kelly
Age: 28
Born: San Diego
Formation: Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Years Ordained: 3
San Diego Reader: What’s your main concern as a member of the clergy?
Pastor Jermiyah Kelly: Does our community know we are here? That’s been my big concern. I grew up at this congregation. Before I left for college, the membership was at 350, and when I came back it was at about 75. We’ve grown since that time, but I want to make sure the community knows we’re here. We’re striving to meet the needs of the community and that the congregation is transitioning to reflecting the community we’re in.
SDR: What’s the mission of your church?
PK: Our mission is to grow our relationship with Christ and teach others about Christ. There are two groups of people: those who know Christ and those who don’t know Christ at all. For those of us who know Christ, our goal and mission is to strengthen our relationship with Christ so we can reach others who have no knowledge of who Christ is. Everyone is looking to worship something; everyone has a desire to worship something. I want to get others to understand their need for Jesus. Jesus is the only being who answers the questions we have in life. Who am I? How did I get here? Where am I going? And how am I going to get there?
SDR: Where’s the strangest place you found God?
PK: The first time I really experienced God is December 26, 2011, when I got hit by the San Diego trolley. I was 15. I was chasing a basketball and I thought I could outrun the trolley and got hit and next I knew I was waking up in the hospital. At that time, I was in a space where my faith was challenged. I was going to church, but it was a rigid and conservative system. I was definitely questioning a lot of the things I believed. When I woke up in the hospital room, my entire church was there. I was overcome by the people being there for me, and it was really encouraging. The only thing that brought us together was Christ. That was the totality of our relationship. I didn’t see people at church as family before that, but that changed that day — thanks to that trolley.
SDR: Where do you go when you die?
PK: There is a heaven and there is a hell. Who goes where is a question that's up to God. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have lived a faithful life go to heaven. But I’m also reminded what God told Moses, that he will be merciful to people. So I know that, now matter how sharp our intellect or how much we know the Bible or God, the ultimate decision is in God’s hands. When we get to heaven, we’re going to be shocked at some of the people we’re going to see there. I believe in the grace of God and that God is gracious and merciful. We can’t fully comprehend that grace on a human level. Hell is there is for anyone in active rebellion against God. It’s one thing to be in a place ignorance—in the sense of not knowing—but it’s something else to know God and to see God whether through creation or experience and be in active rebellion to him. Those who are, are going to end up in hell. But I never told anyone they’re going to hell, but I have told them about the danger of not being in a relationship with Christ.
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