Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 of contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...

. He is native to Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, and headquarters a music-based Christian ministry

Christian ministry

In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...

 from there. Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....

 with his wife and their nine children. Jernigan is a self-identified ex-gay

Ex-gay

The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...

, and has been married to his wife for more than 25 years.

Jernigan is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University

Oklahoma Baptist University

Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...

.

Biography

A primary source of inspiration for Jernigan's message and music is an experience he describes as his deliverance from homosexuality

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...

. Jernigan states that this began during a 2nd Chapter of Acts

2nd Chapter of Acts

The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...

 concert in Norman, Oklahoma

Norman, Oklahoma

Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...

. Jernigan believes his prior identification as homosexual was related to an erroneous childhood perception that he had been rejected by his father.

Following the experience at the concert, Jernigan developed a ministry based on his personal experience, which he shares at churches and other locations around the world. He has also campaigned against the proposed Hate Crimes Bill (H.R. 1592), saying that the legislation's passage would strip him of his right to speak freely about his self-identification as ex-gay.

Creative collaborations

Jernigan has recorded with Natalie Grant

Natalie Grant

Natalie Grant is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. Her work has gained prominence, including four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist, and with her signature song, Held...

, Twila Paris

Twila Paris

Twila Paris Wright is a Contemporary Christian Music songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.-Musical career:Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row...

, Ron Kenoly

Ron Kenoly

Ron Kenoly is an American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter whose expressed mission is "to create an environment for the manifest presence of God". His musical style is one of jubilant praise and individual excellence on musical instruments...

 and Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...

.

Discography

• See the King
• Lift Up the Standard
• At The Name Of Jesus (1988)
• We Are The Army (1989)
• There's Coming a Day (1991)
• Break My Heart, O God (1991)
• Let It Rain (1992)
• I Belong to Jesus Vol I & II (1993)
• Free to Praise – the songs of Dennis Jernigan as recorded by the Metro Voices (1993)
• Rompe Mi Corazon (Spanish Language ‘Break My Heart, O God’) (1995)
• I Will Trust You (1995)
• Hallelujah! Christ Jesus is Born (Christmas Musical) (1995)
• Celebrate Living (1996)
• A Mystery of Majesty (1997)
• David (1999)
• This Is My Destiny (1999)
• Help Me To Remember (2000)
• Worshipper's Collection, Vol. 1 (I Belong To Jesus Vol. 1 & 2) (2000)
• Worshipper's Collection, Vol. 2 (I Will Trust You & Break My Heart) (2000)
• Worshipper's Collection, Vol. 3 (Let It Rain & There's Coming A Day) (2000)
• Worshipper's Collection, Vol. 4 (Daddy's Song & No Life Too Small) (2000)
• Like Christmas All Year Around (2000)
• Songs of Ministry (2000)
• We Will Worship (Worship Musical)(2000)
• I Surrender (2001)
• Giant Killer: Heart Like David (includes 2nd CD - The Collection Vol. 1) (2002)
• Enter In - 12 new songs of Praise & Worship from New Community Church (2002)
• Jernigan Family Christmas (2003)
• I Salute You (2004)
• Songs of Freedom for Women (2005)
• Songs of Freedom for Men (2005)
• Hands Lifted High (2005)
• Daddy's Song (re-release) (2005)
• I Will Be There (2006)
• Carols Made New (2007)
• I Cry Holy (2007)
• Kingdom Come (2008)
• Live at White Oak DVD (2010)
• Forty Days & Forty Nights (2010)
• Here In Your Presence (2010)
• Hymns I (2011)

External links

• Dennis Jernigan - Official site
• Dennis Jernigan Speaks at OBU‘Beyond the Hill’ Chapel: October 27, 2006