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Jerry and Patty Kirk — 2023 Young Life Distinguished Alumni Award
By Jonathan Schultz
Jerry Kirk was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. A student at Queen Anne High School, Jerry was introduced to Young Life through leader Ad Sewell. Soon after, an all-city basketball player invited Jerry to Star Ranch, a Young Life camp in Colorado. This trip was full of stand-out athletes. During this time in the mission, college-aged kids were cabin leaders and Jerry had the privilege of having future Young Life President Bob Mitchell as his camp counselor. It was during that week that “Mitch” prayed with Jerry to accept Christ. The year was 1949.
Upon returning home, Jerry became the “president” of the Young Life club at his high school. The following summer, he returned to Colorado to serve on work crew at Silver Cliff, in Buena Vista. It was at that time that Jerry met Cy Burris. Jerry and Cy both served on work crew and would often hike to the edge of a neighboring camp, the Round Up Lodge for Boys, and pray that God might give Young Life that property. The next summer, Young Life took possession of this incredible camp and renamed it Frontier Ranch!
Following high school, Jerry attended college at the University of Washington, where he also played tennis and basketball. Jerry started two Young Life clubs during college. Upon graduation, Jerry was headed to Fuller Seminary in California until Young Life founder Jim Rayburn suggested that he go to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with the possibility of starting Young Life in the Pittsburg area. Jerry met Patty while at the seminary and they married after he was ordained at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church in 1956. Today, having been married 67 years, the Kirks are parents to five adult children, 28 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren (with four more on the way)!
Regardless of his church leadership or who wrote his paycheck, Jerry never stopped having a heart to see the mission of Young Life grow locally and beyond. When in Pittsburgh, Jerry and Patty helped to start Young Life in their local area. Then in 1967, having been called to College Hill Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Kirks again helped to launch Young Life there. Today, over three decades later, Young Life continues to thrive in both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
Through the years, Jerry has prayed for and with many Young Life staff. The Kirks have been steady financial contributors, strong advocates, faithful volunteers, and consistent caregivers to staff and volunteers. In 2021, Jerry and Patty established a camp scholarship fund for kids from Greater Cincinnati. Beyond his Young Life pursuits, Jerry spearheaded the Billy Graham Crusade in Cincinnati in 1978 and founded The Center for Christian Virtue in 1983, along with The Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, which eventually became PureHope. Then in 1986, Jerry co-founded The Religious Alliance Against Pornography with Cardinal Joseph Bernadin. In 2014 Jerry founded the Prayer Covenant, that has quickly expanded to five continents and millions of children and adults committing to following Jesus together and praying for our world.
Jerry and Patty, thank you for serving so long and so well! It is a privilege to honor you as our 2023 Young Life Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
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