Rev. Jack E. Yonts, Sr.

Jack was born March 28, 1928, and spent his early life in Herrin, a small mining town in southern Illinois. He was the youngest of five children (three boys and two girls). When he was ten years old, he moved with his parents, Raymond and Della Yonts, to Glendale, Illinois. His father, Raymond, was the pastor of a small church in this town. Four years later the family relocated to Indiana. At that time Jack went to live with his uncle and aunt, T. J. and Loraine Miller, who pastored a thriving church in Muncie, Indiana.

In 1945 Jack accompanied his aunt and uncle who were moving to Toledo, Ohio, in order to pastor a small church. In the fall of 1947, he enrolled as a student at Apostolic Bible Institute (ABI) in St. Paul, Minnesota. While attending ABI, God called Jack into the ministry. He was nineteen years old.

Jack Yonts and Jo Ann Whitaker married in July 1948. She became the love of his life and his life partner in ministry. They raised a beautiful family of four children (three girls and one boy).

The young couple began to travel, conducting revivals for two years. By 1953 they were ready to settle in one place, and began a Home Missions church in Connersville, Indiana. They labored there for two years, and then moved to Muncie, to serve as assistant pastor.

In 1955 Jack became the pastor of the Pentecostal church in Hartford City. He served the congregation for seven years until the fall of 1962. He served as district youth secretary (1955–60) and as district Home Missions director (1960–62).

The family moved again in the fall of 1962. This move took them from Indiana to Madison, Wisconsin, where they pastored for nine and a half years. Brother Yonts served as district Home Missions director for one year and as district secretary for eight years. Significantly, it was here where his passion for reaching the lost and clear understanding of the needs of home missionaries birthed Christmas for Christ, in December 1963.

The spring of 1971 took the family to Appleton, Wisconsin. Impassioned with the ministry of Jesus Christ, they began a Home Missions church in their home. Beginning with just their family members, the work grew to become a revival church with a congregation of up to 200 during the six and a half years they labored there. While in Appleton Brother Yonts served as regional Home Missions director for two years and as district superintendent for four years.

At the 1977 General Conference, Jack Yonts was elected as general Home Missions director. During his sixteen years in that role, New York Metro District was birthed and he served as its superintendent for six years during its development. Also the Central Canadian District was formed and he served as its district superintendent for three years.

Jack Yonts oversaw the first Black Conference in Houston and the first Spanish Conference in New York, both held in 1978. Additionally, the first National Growth Conference was held in St. Louis. Metro evangelism was clearly the heartbeat of his burden and administration. Numerous metro missionaries were selected and supported, and the home Bible study, a simple and effective soul-winning tool, was promoted across the US and Canada. He was also a significant participant in the development of the home Bible study, Exploring God’s Word.

As Jack approached the age of sixty-five, God called the Yonts to the great mission field that is Chicago-metro. Armed with prayer, dedication, and the simple Word of God, Jack and Jo Ann once again started a church in their home using the home Bible study, Exploring God’s Word.

Jack Edwards Yonts Sr. was a part of the Executive Board for sixteen years and the General Board for thirty-three years (thirteen of those years as an honorary member). He has authored a two-volume multimedia teaching series, Passing the Mantle.

He passed from this life on December 26, 2014.