“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17 NIV1984).
As I reflect on the life and ministry of Jerry Dwayne Kidd, I am reminded how fitting those words are. Jerry Kidd was a man whose life consistently reflected faithfulness — to the Lord, to His church, and to the missionaries he loved and served for so many years.
Jerry’s story began in south Arkansas, where he accepted Christ at a young age at Unity Baptist Church in Hope. From those early years, God was already shaping a servant’s heart. As a young man, Jerry sensed God’s call to ministry and, after wrestling with that call, surrendered to preach on Oct. 31, 1959. That decision would set the direction for a lifetime of gospel service.
Through the years, Jerry served faithfully as a pastor in Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas. Wherever he went, his love for preaching and teaching God’s Word was evident. His gentle spirit and steady demeanor made him a trusted shepherd to the people he served.
But God was not finished expanding Jerry’s ministry. The Holy Spirit began to stir his heart toward missions, eventually leading Jerry and Sue to serve as missionaries in Bolivia. There, Jerry combined his love for the gospel with his passion for aviation, flying missionary support missions into remote regions. Through that ministry, the gospel reached places that otherwise would have been difficult to access, and missionaries were strengthened and encouraged.
After years on the mission field, Jerry’s service took on a new dimension when he was called to leadership within the Department of Missions of the Baptist Missionary Association of America. Over the next several decades, he served as director of Foreign Missions, director of International Missions, and later as the first director of Missionary Care.
In those roles, Jerry became what many of us came to know him as — a pastor to missionaries. He understood the sacrifices that missionaries make when they leave home to serve in unfamiliar, often isolating places. Jerry listened. He prayed. He encouraged. He helped missionaries navigate challenges with wisdom and compassion. His heart for missionary care was not theoretical; it was deeply personal.
One thing I admired most about Jerry was his ability to adapt to change while remaining anchored in his calling. Even after decades of denominational service, he continued to serve faithfully as a pastor and church leader at Temple Baptist Church (now South City Church) in Little Rock. Ministry, for Jerry, was never about position — it was about people.
Jerry’s life reminds us that faithful service does not always make headlines, but it leaves a lasting impact. Many souls have come to know Jesus Christ because of his vision for missions and the care he showed to those who carried the gospel to the world.
Those of us who knew Jerry Kidd are better for it. His encouragement was steady, his faith was genuine, and his love for the Lord was unquestionable. He served well — and he is indeed worthy of double honor.
