Opening Celebration
For our Wednesday night opening ceremony, the Asbury family is pleased to welcome Lurone "Coach" Jennings.
Lurone “Coach” Jennings 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.
In 1983 Lurone became a committed disciple for Jesus. 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 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. The credit union is now known as the Church Koinonia Federal Credit Union: Bethlehem Branch, due to a merger that strengthens the two credit unions. He is the founder and Head Coach of The V-Team Leadership Network of America, providing a "VOICE with VISION and VICTORY for the Game of Life."
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 adult children, Lurone Jr., Luronda and David, as well as three granddaughters, Ania, Tymber, and Nadia, and one grandson, David. Lurone also shares his faith and ministry through his revivals, conferences, workshops, and sermons in other churches, schools, and ministries throughout the country.