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Pastor Jennings new book
"Crises in Urban America"
Crises in Urban America addresses some of the most disturbing problems in our urban neighborhoods in America. Lurone Jennings, Sr. uses his own experiences and hometown urban setting of Chattanooga, Tennessee to talk about the many challenges facing urban families--family abandonment, illiteracy, poor education, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, crime, poverty, high unemployment and high prison population.
The observations are startling and Rev. Jennings challenges families, churches, businesses, educators, and government leaders to look for real and practical ways to partner together in a strategic city-wide effort to empower struggling and enslaved families that make up our urban community. Lurone Jennings, known as "Coach" by many of his friends, has a passion for urban transformation and believes in empowerment through a Biblical prospective that includes financial stewardship, literacy, and spiritual development to make these changes occur.
LURONE "Coach" JENNINGS - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PASTOR
Casting the vision...
ljennings@thebeth.org
Lurone was born in Lafayette, Alabama, but grew up in the South side inner city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is a 1972 graduate of Howard High School, where he became an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and track. His athletic and academic skills earned him a football scholarship to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the most prestigious Black Colleges in the country. Lurone earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education in 1977. After graduating from Fisk University, he returned to Chattanooga and began his teaching and coaching career with the Chattanooga City School System. During his coaching career Lurone had the pleasure of coaching NFL Star, Reggie White, former Green Bay Packer, All-Pro Defensive End. He also coached Olympic Gold Medallist, Venus Lacy, who starred on the US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team.
In 1983 Lurone became a committed disciple for Jesus and in 1986 he was licensed and ordained as a Baptist Minister. He attended Beraccah Bible Institute and earned a Certificate of Study in 1988. In 1992 he received a Master’s Degree in Education, with a concentration in Administration and Supervision, from Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, TN.
In 1992, Lurone became Principal of his alma mater, Howard School of Academics and Technology, the largest inner city high school in Chattanooga. He later moved to the school system’s Central Office as Director of Drug Education and Athletics, with responsibility for programs in forty-one schools.
After much prayer and 18 years of working with youth in the public schools of Chattanooga, in 1995 Lurone heard the Voice and felt the hand of Jesus calling him into full-time ministry. He was appointed founding pastor of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, now known as Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church. He jointly serves as the Executive Director of the United Methodist Neighborhood Centers, Inc. otherwise known as the Bethlehem Center. He is one of the founders of the Bethlehem Community Development Credit Union, the first of its kind to be chartered in the State of Tennessee. He is the founder and Head Coach of The V-Team Leadership Network providing a "VOICE with VISION and VICTORY for the Game of Life." He is the Associate Publisher for the Chattanooga Courier, an African American owned newspaper. Lurone is also a member of the National Association of United Methodists Evangelists (NAUME) and is an affiliate Leadership Coach with the International Leadership Institute (ILI).
In 2005 Lurone released his book, "Crisis in Urban America", which reveals his vision for dealing with the many problems plaguing our inner city communities.
Lurone is married to Glinda H. Jennings and they have 3 children, Lurone Jr., Luronda and David, as well as three granddaughters, Ania, Tymber, and Nadia. Lurone also shares his faith and ministry through his revivals, conferences, workshops, and sermons in other churches, schools, and ministries throughout the country.
ELIZABETH TALLMAN - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
etallman@thebeth.org
Elizabeth is the Administrative Assistant to “Coach” Lurone Jennings Sr. She is at the Beth to serve the Lord and follow His Spirit doing His work. Elizabeth’s daughter, Angeleah, attends the Chattanooga School of the Arts and Sciences. Angeleah and Elizabeth love to dance, read and cook together.
Elizabeth is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she is studying Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. She received her undergraduate degree at UTC in Communications and International Comparative Government. Elizabeth works for the University of Tennessee as a graduate research assistant and for the National Head Start Family Literacy Center. Her passions are for community economic development and for teaching children to love learning.
BILL HOLLAND - BUSINESS MANAGER
bholland@thebeth.org
Bill Holland joined the Bethlehem Center staff in March 2004 as the Director of Economic Development. He has extensive experience in sales, operations management, and has owned his own business. He worked for Walt Disney World in the entertainment department as a Disney character from 1975 to 1981. Bill presently serves as a Major and Regimental Chaplain with the Tennessee State and National Guard.
Bill attended the University of Central Florida and received a Bachelors degree in Marketing in 1982. He then attended the International Seminary in Plymouth Florida and was ordained in 1985 and completed his Masters Degree in Ministry in 2006. Bill and his wife Marlene have two children and two grand children; Camren & Elana. The Holland family attends "Abbas House" Church in Hixson and enjoy being an extension of its dynamic ministry to the inner city community.
dmeredith@thebeth.org
 David Meredith is the Literacy Academy Coordinator. He graduated from Chattanooga’s Riverside High School and attended Alabama A&M University where he received Bachelor of Science in Art Education. Afterwards, he continued his studies at the Nazarene College. Mr. Meredith taught 17 years in the Chattanooga public school system, three years at the Bethlehem Academy for Boys, and worked with the Boys Club of Chattanooga teaching art and recreation.
WILLIE KITCHENS - PERFORMING ARTS DIRECTOR
wkitchens@thebeth.org
 His musical presentations are defined as electrifying orchestrations that are sensitive, yet soul stirring, with heart felt creative arrangements that encourage hope and joy through personal life experiences. His hand clapping, foot patting and meditative style reaches all audiences of all ages and races.
Willie gave his life to Christ at the age of nine. But he didn’t understand the seriousness of his commitment until after the tragic death of a close childhood friend. Eventually, at the age of twenty-four, is when he believed he had a true eye-opening experience after being challenged by a friend to examine just where he actually stood with God. He rededicated his life to Christ and has been growing in God’s wisdom ever since.
Through the years after mastering the lead guitar and the bass guitar his desire to know more about where God was leading him in his music motivated him to teach himself how to play the piano, electric keyboards and also the harmonica.
These are some of the groups and places that he has ministered with and to throughout his musical career. They include The Five Sons of Calvary, The Ambassadors of Christ, Reverence, The Bethlehem Community Center Mass Choir, and The Harmonizing Superiors. Colleges, schools, The Bobby Jones Show, Jamaica, youth rallies, retreats, prisons, theaters, government institutions, retirement centers, hospitals, children’s homes, and Christian conventions to name a few.
Some of his personal achievements are co-owning a private business, being a director and minister of music, recording his own and others musical projects, radio broadcast engineering, song writing, composing, arranging, vocal instructing, musician, and producing.
He also volunteers his time and energy to the Widows Harvest Ministry, The Chattanooga Prison Ministries, The McCallie Homes Development Center, and to community and church groups when called upon.
His current activities include co-ownership of the Bethlehem Recording Studios, the executive director of the Bethlehem Center Mass Choir, the Christ United Methodist Church minister of music, the Bethlehem Community Center’s performance arts director.
Head Academic Coaches
Vinita A. Kight
Tynesha Marie Smith
Christiana B. Petersen
Erin Glenn
Ron Pongetti
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