More Presence, Less Programming: Jerry Lewis of Center, Texas Blueprint for Real Ministry

“We Don’t Need More Programs – We Need More People Willing to Show Up and Care,” Says Center, TX Minister Jerry Lewis

Michigan, US, 5th June 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In an era when churches invest heavily in strategic planning and outreach programming, Center, TX minister and builder Jerry Lewis offers a candid message: “We don’t need more programs, we need more people who are willing to show up and care.”

With decades of experience in both construction and ministry, Jerry Lewis has quietly built a life of service rooted in action, not performance. As a licensed minister and devoted community member, Lewis believes that meaningful ministry isn’t measured by how many events a church hosts, but by the consistency and compassion of the people within it.

“We’ve programmed ourselves into a corner,” says Lewis. “We’ve got more tools than ever, apps, calendars, budgets, but far fewer people showing up at the door of someone hurting.”

Lewis’s perspective is grounded in a life of hands-on ministry. While working full time in the trades, he has also served in local church leadership and outreach efforts across Texas. Over the years, he’s mentored men in crisis, served families facing tragedy, and walked alongside individuals living with disabilities, often outside the spotlight.

One turning point for Lewis came through his relationship with a young girl named Brooklyn. Born with multiple disabilities, Brooklyn’s joy, resilience, and spirit had a profound impact on him.

“Meeting Brooklyn shifted something in me,” says Lewis. “She didn’t need a program. She needed people. Her life reminded me that the best kind of ministry doesn’t come with a microphone, it comes with presence.”

That emphasis on presence is something Lewis sees as lacking in many modern churches. While he acknowledges the good that can come from structure and planning, he believes many congregations are mistaken in thinking that activity is effectiveness.

“You can have a church calendar full of events and still miss the lonely widow next door,” Lewis says. “You can have a youth room with LED lights and still miss the kid struggling with addiction. The answer isn’t always something new. Sometimes it’s simply someone faithful.”

Lewis’s ministry has often involved showing up in the unplanned moments: helping repair a roof, holding the hand of a dying neighbor, sitting with someone whose marriage is falling apart. He believes those moments carry more weight than most formal programming ever could.

One example Lewis often shares is when he encountered a crash victim while driving his work truck. With no emergency training, he stopped, held the man’s hand, and stayed with him until help arrived. It wasn’t organized, but it was love in action.

“That moment reminded me of what ministry really is,” says Lewis. “It’s being there when people need you. No clipboard. No rehearsal. Just a heart that’s willing.”

As a builder and a minister, Lewis has a rare blend of blue-collar grit and pastoral care. He continues to work full time while supporting churches across the state, offering leadership, mentorship, and spiritual guidance wherever needed.

“You don’t have to be on staff to do ministry,” Lewis emphasizes. “You just have to care enough to stop what you’re doing and show up.”

For Lewis, showing up isn’t just about physical presence but emotional and spiritual availability. He urges churches to equip people not just with training, but with the courage to connect.

“People are desperate for someone to sit with them, pray with them, and walk with them through their mess,” he says. “That kind of care can’t be programmed. It has to be lived.”

Looking ahead, Lewis hopes to encourage a movement of relational ministry, where churches refocus on the simple but powerful call to love one another well.

“We’ve got enough systems. What we need are people, ordinary people, who say, ‘I’ll be there,’” Lewis concludes. “That’s where healing starts. That’s where the church shines.”

About Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is a licensed minister, builder, and community advocate based in Center, TX. With decades of experience in construction and local church leadership, he is known for his hands-on approach to ministry. Jerry believes that authentic care and presence are more impactful than any program, and he dedicates his life to helping others through relationship-driven service and faith in action.