Jerry & Linda Staten
Linda & Jerry Staten
Rev. Jerald E. Staten was born in February 1950, the third of five children. He grew up attending Calvary Tabernacle until he went into the United States Navy at the age of 18. He served in the Navy for four years. Immediately upon discharging from the Navy, he married his beautiful wife, Linda. Their honeymoon was the drive to Western Apostolic Bible College (now known as CLC).
He attended Bible college for two years. While starting their family, they served in churches gaining ministerial experience, until they started a church plant in Sedona, Arizona. They pastored there from 1977-1981. In 1981, God called Jerry, Linda, and their four children (Joleen, Jason, Jodee, and Jared) to move across the country to the “most beautiful place on Earth.”
Jerry had been stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station while he was in the Navy, but didn’t realize God would call him to start a church in this beautiful county until years later. They began planting The First United Pentecostal Church of St. Mary’s County in 1981; the church,now known as Living Hope UPC, still thrives today and is Pastored by Rev. Jason and Valerie Staten.
In 2006, at an age when most people enter into retirement, Jesus called Jerry and Linda Staten to Washington DC. They planted a church in our Nation’s capital, with a vision of bringing a home fellowship group to each neighborhood and a special burden to include any and every nationality that can be found inside the beltway. During the church planting phase of Living Hope DC, a Spanish UPC church was born and continues to grow under the care of Pastor Rick and Rita Garza. In 2022, transition of the pastorate of Living Hope DC was made to Pastor Erik and Jodee Haldeman. The church continues to grow and impact the Washington DC Metro area for Jesus. Jerry and Linda continue to oversee these three churches and others that were born under the ministry as Senior Pastor/Bishop.
Much of Jerry’s time is now spent traveling to teach and inspire others to evangelize their city! WE CAN DO THIS has been his motto for many years. In addition to traveling, Jerry spends much time in Home Bible Studies, discipling people for Jesus! He also spends time with each of the churches to whom he provides oversight. Each of his children are involved in pastoring (Brent and Joleen pastor Faith Alive UPC; Jared and Kim Staten pastor Refuge City in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and he provides much support as they carry on his legacy of reaching the world, one person at a time!