Jerry Arnold

Jerry was born and raised in Michigan graduating from Manistique High School in 1972. After high school he spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard. In the summer of 1977, he began studying for the ministry at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. That fall he met and became engaged to Karen Horner from Indianapolis, IN.

After graduating in June 1981, they moved to Indianapolis to begin pastoring at the Glendale SDA Church. They spent 12 years in the Indiana Conference. Jerry pastored the Scottsburg District, Elkhart District, and the Bloomington District before becoming the conference evangelist.

In August of 1993 the family moved to Montgomery, Alabama where Jerry was the pastor of the Montgomery First and Opelika SDA churches. On January 1, 1998, they moved to Collegedale, TN, for Jerry to pastor of the Ladd Springs District.

On September 1, 2001, Jerry and Karen conducted the first worship service for a church plant called Collegedale Community Church. They have served at CCC since that time.

Jerry has a BA in Theology from Andrews University, an MA in Religion (homiletics and soulwinning) from Southern Adventist University, a Doctor of Ministry (expository preaching) from Andrews University, and an AA in Occupational Therapy from Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

Jerry and Karen have three grown children and six grandchildren. Their favorite times are long walks together and time with family.

Karen was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Upon graduation from Speedway H.S., she attended Purdue University, then transferred to Andrews University where she met her then soon-to-be husband, Jerry Arnold, who was studying for the ministry. This would eventually set her course as a pastor’s wife, and for a time, wife of a traveling evangelist.

One daughter and two sons later, Karen completed her undergraduate degree, graduating from Indiana University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and taught various combinations of grades 1-8 in one room SDA schools in Indiana and Alabama. After moving to Tennessee, she returned to school and graduated from Cleveland State Community College with an associate degree in occupational therapy and has worked for 20 years as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) with special needs children.

Karen enjoys writing (stories, plays, skits, songs, games) and drawing. She has self-published one of the stories she has written and illustrated, complete with an accompanying song. She has
developed numerous interactive programs for preschool children, utilizing her own songs, poems, fingerplay activities, and creative movement exercises. She also enjoys “dabbling” with the guitar and piano and working alongside wonderfully dedicated people involved in Children’s Ministries and all areas of church life.

Especially cherished are long walks with her husband, time spent with her treasured family (children–Hannah, Jeremy, Joshua/ spouses-Laurel, Amanda/ 6 grandchildren-Conner, Jacob Brianna, Madelyn, Halle, Hensley), and recounting the innumerable mercies of God in her life.