Jerry D. Ingalls has served as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of New Castle, Indiana since January 2010. He is an ordained minister and has been serving ABC-USA churches in pastoral ministry since 2003. Prior to serving in pastoral ministry, Jerry honorably served in the US Army as an Infantry Officer with assignments in the 82nd Airborne Division (2-505th PIR) and the US Army’s World Class Athlete Program, earning awards such as the US Army Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings, Air Assault Wings, and the Expert Infantryman Badge. Additionally, Jerry served as a Chaplain Candidate and graduated from the US Army Chaplain School (2007).
Jerry married Kimberly in 1999, and, by God’s grace, they have been blessed with three wonderful children. Jerry enjoys reading with his children, camping with his family, backcountry hiking with his friends, trail running, and competing in masters track & field (throws). He is active in his community by volunteering as a chaplain with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, by preaching and teaching in his local state prison, the New Castle Correctional Facility, and by serving as an assistant coach for the girls and boys Track & Field team (throws) at New Castle High School.
Jerry earned a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Pastoral Studies with honors from Grace Theological Seminary (2020), a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Fuller Theological Seminary (2008), an MS in Counseling and Student Development from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (2000), and a BS in Psychological Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point (1996).
As a cadet at West Point, Jerry was a 1996 All-American and Academic All-American athlete, the 1996 IC4A Champion, and he still holds the Academy and Patriot League records in the hammer throw. As a soldier-athlete, Jerry competed in the 1996 & 2000 USA Track & Field Olympic Team Trials, narrowly missing Team USA for the 2000 Sydney Games. Learn more about the author at www.jerryingalls.com.
