Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry B. Jenkins – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life, works, and wisdom of Jerry B. Jenkins — the prolific American Christian novelist behind Left Behind. Learn his biography, writing journey, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Jerry B. Jenkins (born September 23, 1949) is an American author known chiefly for his work in Christian fiction, especially for co-authoring the Left Behind series with Tim LaHaye. Over a career spanning many decades, Jenkins has written in multiple genres—biography, romance, mystery, young adult, biblical fiction, and more—and has become one of the best-selling authors in evangelical circles. His commitment to faith, storytelling, mentorship, and publishing has made him a significant figure in modern Christian literature.

In this article, we examine his early life, the trajectory of his writing career, his major works and influence, his writing philosophy, and some of his notable quotes. Through understanding Jenkins’s path, we gain insight into how prolific Christian authors balance faith, craft, and audience in a literary marketplace.

Early Life and Family

Jerry Bruce Jenkins was born on September 23, 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He was the son of Harry Philip Jenkins, who served as a police chief, and Bonita Grace Thompson Jenkins.

His mother, in particular, had a formative influence on his spiritual life. In interviews, Jenkins has cited that a painting by Warner Sallman and his mother’s faith were early inspirations for his Christian convictions.

Jenkins graduated from Forest View High School in Illinois.

In 1967–68, he attended Moody Bible Institute, followed by studies at Harper College from 1968 to 1970.

In 1971, he married Dianna Louise Whiteford. Dallas, Chad (Chadwick), and Michael Bruce.

One of his sons, Dallas Jenkins, is well known as the creator, co-writer, and director of the television series The Chosen.

The Jenkins family resides in Colorado, in the Black Forest region.

Youth, Early Influences & Beginnings

Jenkins’s writing instincts appeared early. While still in high school, he began covering sports for local newspapers, working as a sports reporter despite not yet being old enough to drive.

During his time at Moody Bible Institute, he served as night news editor for WMBI-FM, the institute’s radio station.

He held positions at Moody Monthly magazine—serving as managing editor (1974–1979) and later publisher (1979–1981).

Jenkins also became a writer-in-residence and later served on the Moody Bible Institute’s Board of Trustees.

These early roles sharpened his editorial discipline, deadlines, and skill in reaching Christian audiences.

Career and Achievements

Prolific Output & Range

Jenkins has written nearly 200 books (some sources say “more than 190” or over 200) across multiple genres. as-told-to biographies, memoirs, sports biographies, romances, mysteries, young adult fiction, biblical and end-times novels.

He has had 21 New York Times bestsellers and total book sales exceed 70 million copies per his publisher profiles.

Left Behind Series

Jenkins is best known for his collaboration with Tim LaHaye on the Left Behind series, published from 1995 to 2007.

In that partnership, LaHaye provided the theological framework (particularly on eschatology), while Jenkins wrote the narrative and prose.

The Left Behind series spans 16 novels (plus prequels and companion works) and has sold over 60 million copies globally.

Its popularity brought Jenkins into the broader public eye; Newsweek ran a cover story in May 2004 entitled “The New Prophets of Revelation” featuring Jenkins and LaHaye.

The Left Behind series also spawned adaptations in film and graphic novel formats, as well as Left Behind: The Kids for younger audiences.

Other Fiction & Projects

Beyond Left Behind, Jenkins authored and co-authored numerous standalone fiction novels and series:

• Jesus Chronicles (with Tim LaHaye), a narrative retelling of the Gospels.

• The Soon Trilogy (2003–2005), a Christian speculative fiction trilogy.

• Margo Mystery series, Jennifer Grey Mystery, Bradford Family Adventures, Dallas O’Neil Mysteries, Precinct 11, Dead Sea Chronicles, and more.

As-Told-To Biographies & Collaborations

Jenkins has also worked extensively in non-fiction, especially writing or ghostwriting as-told-to biographies. Some notable names include:

• Hank Aaron

• Walter Payton

• Billy Graham (e.g. In His Own Words)

• Mike Singletary

• Orel Hershiser, Luis Palau, Sammy Tippit, and more

He has also co-written or edited works with Chris Fabry, and asserted that if his name is on a book, he wrote all the words, even in collaborations.

Christian Writers Guild & Mentoring

In 2001, Jenkins purchased and restructured the Christian Writers Guild (CWG), turning it into a mentorship organization for aspiring Christian writers.

However, CWG faced criticism as a “vanity press” and in late 2014 Jenkins dissolved it. Its mission and staff were later absorbed into BelieversTrust.

Since 2016, Jenkins has operated the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, offering online writing courses and mentorship directly under his brand.

Honors & Recognition

Though Jenkins is more known for influence than literary awards, his success is evident in sales, bestseller status, and the wide reach of his works. His ability to sustain a writing career across decades, genres, and publishing models speaks to his professionalism and business sense.

Historical & Cultural Context

Rise of Evangelical Fiction

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Christian publishing market expanded. There emerged a demand for fiction that combined compelling storytelling with evangelical worldview content. Jenkins entered and helped shape this market, offering narratives that addressed faith, prophecy, crisis, and redemption.

His Left Behind series rode a wave of popular interest in end-times theology and apocalyptic narratives in American culture. The 1990s saw many in evangelical circles interested in prophecy, the Rapture, and eschatology. Jenkins and LaHaye channelled that interest into a narrativized form, reaching an audience hungry for “fiction with faith.”

The partnership between theological vision (LaHaye) and narrative craft (Jenkins) exemplified how mission-driven fiction could find mass commercial success in Christian publishing.

Jenkins’s work also coincided with the growth of Christian media—radio, conferences, bookstores, and outreach networks—that could amplify bestselling authors within evangelically aligned readership communities.

Personality, Craft & Philosophy

Discipline and Deadline Focus

Jenkins is known for his disciplined approach to writing. The sheer volume of his output suggests that deadlines, productivity, and consistency were central to his method. He treats writing as vocation and work, not just inspiration art.

His willingness to write across genres and to collaborate indicates flexibility, pragmatism, and a strong sense of service to readers and causes he cares about.

Faith-Centered Motivation

Faith is central in Jenkins’s life and work. His Christian convictions inform his choice of themes, characters, and narratives. His novels often explore spiritual dilemmas, morality, redemption, eschatology, and Christian identity.

While his works are explicitly Christian, Jenkins aims to write stories compellingly, not merely preaching. He has said he does not imagine himself as a “classic literary” writer, but strives to reach readers through narrative that carries spiritual weight.

Mentoring & Legacy

Jenkins sees value in training new writers, not just writing himself. His investment in guilds, mentorship, and courses reflects a desire to multiply impact. His personal brand is tied not just to what he produces but to what he helps others produce.

He also models adaptation: from magazine and editorial roles to novels, to digital platforms and online guilds, Jenkins has shifted with the publishing landscape.

Famous Quotes & Insights

Here are several memorable statements from Jerry B. Jenkins (and attributed to him in interviews, writings, or communities of quote collections):

“I am convinced that God gave us stories to shape the heart.”

“Writing is an art, but it’s also a discipline.”

“If my name is on the book … I wrote every word.”

“I write for the reader I want to reach, not necessarily for praise or literary acclaim.”

“Your voice as a writer is worth refining and preserving—not imitating others.”

“To be prolific is not enough. What matters is consistent quality under volume.”

While not as extensively quoted as some other authors, Jenkins’s statements often emphasize craft, voice, discipline, and service to readership.

Lessons from Jerry B. Jenkins

1. Consistency over inspiration
   Jenkins’s output reminds us that daily discipline often outperforms waiting for high inspiration.

2. Write with purpose
   His faith and vocational clarity show how writing combined with mission yields sustained motivation.

3. Be versatile
   He moved across genres and formats—fiction, biography, youth, adult—to broaden both craft and reach.

4. Build others, not just your works
   Through mentorship, guilds, and teaching, Jenkins scaled impact beyond his own books.

5. Marry narrative with message carefully
   Jenkins’s success shows that stories with spiritual content can reach mass audiences when they are well told, not just doctrinal.

6. Adapt to industry shifts
   From print to digital, guilds to online platforms, Jenkins stayed current with how writing and publishing evolve.

Conclusion

Jerry B. Jenkins has built a remarkable, sustained career in Christian literature, combining prolific output, narrative skill, and mission orientation. His role in the Left Behind phenomenon brought him widespread recognition, but his broader legacy lies in how he models craft, discipline, and mentorship in a faith-driven writing life.

While he may not be celebrated in mainstream literary canons, in his sphere he is deeply influential. His life invites aspiring Christian writers to ask: What stories might I tell? With what consistency and purpose? And how might I help others tell theirs?