The Reverend Dr. Jesse O. Owens

Jesse Owens - pastor, missionary, evangelist, husband, father, ‘pop-pop’, great grandfather, friend - entered his heavenly home, joyously welcomed by Jesus and countless others he loved and led to Jesus!

“Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends.  Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Luke 16:9, NLT

Rev. Dr. Jesse O. Owens passed, peacefully in his sleep and surrounded by family, from this earthly existence to be with his Savior and Lord forever, and to be reunited with his wife (Kay), two daughters (Cheryl and Laurie) and a daughter-in-law (Carol Lynn), grandson (Nathan), parents, siblings and other family members, and dear friends, many of whom Jesse and Kay led to Jesus personally.  Even in his last year of life on this earth, with advanced dementia in a nursing-care facility, numerous people were influenced for Jesus because of the love that God had placed in Jesse‘s heart when he first received salvation as an 18-year-old (at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Washington DC). Jesse has now finished his race, maintaining his love for Jesus and the Bible, and his testimony, until the very end.  And now, it is up to his beloved family and friends to carry on his legacy of helping to populate heaven by leading people to Jesus, and entering heaven themselves, when it is their time, by remaining faithful to Jesus - His Cross and His Command!  (John 1:29-30; 3:16-21; 13:34-35)

Jesse Owens is from a most-loving sharecropper family of 13 in Lucama, North Carolina. His 68-year marriage to Katherine ((Kay), whom he met at Zion Bible Institute, led to three daughters and a son, six granddaughters, and five grandsons, and 16 great grandchildren, along with countless people who were so lovingly pastored and evangelized by Jesse (and Kay).  It must also be noted that Jesse was hilariously funny, and extremely fun to be around.  This trait was also something Jesse offered in service of God, to begin conversations and friendships that led people to Jesus - and into the ‘world of Jesse’.  Jesse served this long list of ministries in the United States and 106 countries of the world - in Orange Assembly of God in Orange MA, Calvary Christian Center in Brooklyn, NY, Trinity Assembly of God in Elizabeth, NJ, Englewood Assembly of God in Englewood NJ, New Jersey District Council of the Assembly of God, Nassau Christian Center in Princeton, NJ, ‘Global Renewal’ Radio Broadcast on AM WHWH from Princeton, NJ, Zion Bible Institute, Assemblies of God World Missions, Global Renewal Inc., International Teen Challenge, Christ Church in Washington DC - as a Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Missionary, Evangelist, State Youth Ministries Director, Board Member, Alumni President, Camp Director, Speaker at Conferences/Camps/Churches, Religious Broadcaster, Addictions Counselor, Race-Relations Uniter, Church Planter, and Ministry Mentor.  In recognition of his many ministry accomplishments, Jesse was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, by Northwest University in 2015. Jesse’s greatest accomplishment was, assuredly, to love countless people into the loving Kingdom of God (I John 4:7). 

Following an earlier ‘Family Graveside Service’, Jesse’s Memorial Service will be at Nassau Christian Center, located at 26 Nassau St. in Princeton NJ, at 11 AM on Saturday, April 26, 2025.  For those unable to attend, the Memorial Service will be livestreamed on the YouTube channel of Nassau Christian Center - https://www.youtube.com/user/nassauchristian 

Flowers are welcome or, in lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged for two ministries founded and loved by Jesse and Kay:  Global Renewal https://www.global-renewal.org and Nassau Christian Center https://nassauchristian.org/