Rev. Gerald A Schenck, Sr

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Rev. Gerald A. Schenck was born to Stewart H. and Myrtis A. Schenck on May 16, 1937 in New Brunswick, NJ.  He attended Somerville High School from which he graduated in June 1955.

Circa 1960 Rev. Schenck moved with his wife, Phyllis, to Ramtown, NJ which is now known as Howell, NJ where he spent the majority his life. Early in Rev. Schenck’s marriage he was drafted into the US Army where he was trained and served his country as a Medic for 2 years. After being honorably discharged, Rev. Schenck was a valued employee of General Motors Acceptance Corporation for over 40 years as an account manager.

In his spare time, which was rare, Rev. Schenck had a love for cars, Cadillacs in particular, and he collected Hess model gasoline trucks. Rev. Schenck was also an avid reader and teacher who loved to watch boats, be in nature and hang out at the airport watching the planes come and go. He loved museums as well and often drove his family crazy because he couldn’t just look at the exhibits he had to read EVERY placard to obtain ALL the information he could. 

Rev. Schenck was a member of the Shiloh Pentecostal Church, Somerville, NJ, where he developed a love for Christ early on. In 1942, Pastor Schenck was baptized, received the Holy Ghost and his early Christian education.  During his journey there, he served as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee, Usher, member of the Senior Choir, and a Deacon.

Rev. Schenck was musically inclined as well, and was a guitarist, for the gospel group, The Sounds of Zion, which included his brothers, John, on the bass, Keith on percussions, Bob on keyboard and family friend, Joe Stives on the saxophone. 

 While still at Shiloh Pentecostal, he was ordained into the deaconship where, after proving himself faithful, he was elevated to the chairmanship. In 1974, Rev. Schenck was called of the Lord to the Gospel Ministry and was ordained at the Shiloh Pentecostal Church in 1975 along with his wife, Phyllis. Feeling the need to prepare himself more, he attended the Monmouth Bible Institute of Farmingdale, NJ, where he served as teacher and librarian. He was also Financial Secretary for the Minority Strategy Action Coalition which served Monmouth County Prisons.

With that foundation spanning 35 years, Rev. Schenck was called to preach the gospel. He continued to prepare himself by attending and graduating (Suma Cum Laude) from the Monmouth Bible Institute (MBI) in Farmingdale, NJ which is an affiliate school of Wheaton College Illinois in 1976. Rev. Schenck taught at MBI and completed courses in Christian Leadership, preaching and church administration through the Eastern School of Christian Ministry. While at MBI, Pastor Schenck held the assistant Deanship and Librarian positions from 1970-1980 and continued to study to show himself approved unto God through the Seacoast Missionary Baptist Association (SMBA) Leadership Institute where he taught Christian Ethics, through the General Baptist State Convention Christian Education Ministries and the National Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

Pastor Schenck was sent by the Holy Ghost to pastor the Shiloh Baptist Church in Manasquan, NJ in 1978, where he served as Pastor until August 2014. During his pastorate there the Lord bountifully blessed the church and its congregation in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. While serving there he was elected to the Vice Moderatorship of the SMBA and served in that office for 8 years after which he was elevated to the Moderatorship and became the first ordained Pentecostal preacher to lead an association of 32 Baptist churches. To God be the glory!

Pastor Schenck was married for 38 satisfying years to the late Rev. Phyllis R. Schenck and was blessed with two special children, Pastor Sherri L. Henderson (Pastor Gaylord) of Easton, PA, and Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Gerald A. Schenck, Jr. (Barbara) of Howell, NJ.  Pastor Schenck is the proud grandfather of Tiffaney Renee Stives of Maryland, Gerald A. Schenck, III and Philip J. Schenck. His wife, Phyllis, was called home from labor to her heavenly reward on December 26, 1998.

The Lord continued to show him favor in the marriage covenant when he married Sis. Lucy M. Schenck on January 6, 2001. This blended family included Lucy’s two children, Theodore Mitchell, Jr. and Lisa Swift (Tyrone Swift), and her grandchildren, Theodore, Cierra, Timisha, Naziyr and Monyeh.  Lucy supported him joyfully in both ministry and home. Thus, he continued to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Phil 3:14

After the resignation of Rev. James Wynn, as the vice moderator of the SMBA, the Association elected Rev. Schenck to complete Rev. Wynn’s term and serve another 4 years. As moderator, Rev Schenck sought to move the association to areas of service and ministry beyond what the local church could do on its own. Attempts to begin a flower shop owned by the SMBA were pursued as well as a collective banking system which would have allowed our churches and memberships to obtain low-cost mortgages, loans and other banking services.  Rev. Schenck also began the Associations Benevolent Ministry that has benefited many of its members.  During the late 90’s Pastor Schenck served as the General Baptist State Convention chairman of the social action ministries. 

Following his term as moderator, Rev. Schenck was asked to chair the SMBA’s Permanent Counsel, where he served as chairman for four years.  Rev. Schenck catechized many ministerial candidates and served as the worship leader at many SMBA services.

One of Rev. Schenck’s greatest accomplishments was leading the association to accept and ordain women in ministry. Rev. Schenck served as moderator while his then wife, Rev. Phyllis Schenck, served as president of the Women’s Ministry. Additionally, Rev. Schenck secured the services of Rev. William Green, Certified Public Accountant, to serve as the association’s treasurer which improved bookkeeping, reporting and budget processes.

Rev. Schenck went home to glory on Monday, May 29, 2023. He leaves behind his wife of 22-years, Lucy, daughter, Sherri (Gaylord), son, Gerald, Jr (Barbara), grandchildren, Tiffaney, Gerald III and Phillip., stepchildren, Theodore and Lisa, step-grandchildren, Cierra, Theodore, Timisha, Naziyr and Monyeh,  beloved siblings, Robert, Ray (Diane), John (Linda), Mitzi, Keith and Sidney (Marilyn), brother in law, Rev. Reginald Jackson, and a host of family and friends.

Finally, I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:7-8)

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