Pastor Jeremy is a native of Jacksonville and credits the Charismatic movement for teaching him the Christian faith as a child and teenager.  Jeremy came to know Christ during a trip to the Smokey Mountains in 1989 when he realized that although he was raised in church, he was a sinner who had rebelliously broken God's law and desperately needed forgiveness.  During the same experience Jeremy was called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has kept this call in focus ever since.

Jeremy graduated from Douglas Anderson school of the Arts here in town.  Although he still enjoys art, Jeremy knew his ultimate aim was to paint for people a beautiful portrait of God, not with a brush and canvas, but with the message of the Bible. 

Jeremy attended seminary and received his Master’s of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  While there, he was privileged to study under some great men, including Christian statesman, Dr. R. Albert Mohler.  Jeremy has also studied Archaeology,  traveling with the Middle East Travel Seminar (METS).  While with this group, he had one of the most eye-opening experiences of his life, touring Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece.   

Jeremy is blessed with a diverse pastoral experience.  In 2000, he was on the ministry team that launched Grace United Community Church; one of the few Southern Baptist churches at the time that successfully crossed ethnic boundaries.  In fact, four nationalities were represented on the ministry team alone.  Jeremy served there for two years and was responsible for starting their adult bible study ministry.  This church is still thriving in downtown Louisville, KY.       

From there, he went on to become Minister of Education, Youth, and Missions at Hibernia Baptist Church, which is located in Fleming Island, FL, where he served for five years full-time, and continues to serve on a part-time basis. 

Jeremy is thankful for his time at Hibernia for several reasons.  First, it was there that he learned much of what he knows about pastoral ministry from their exemplary Pastor, Rev. Scott Yirka.  But most importantly, it was there that Jeremy met his beautiful wife, April.  They are proud to announce the arrival of their new baby girl, Kiersten Eliana, and rejoice in the challenges of raising a child to glorify God in Twenty-first century America. 

Jeremy is grateful for the privilege of shepherding the flock at True North Baptist Church.  While some may think of him as "founding pastor", Jeremy is quick to acknowledge that only Christ can build His church, and has said, "I am simply here to stand in awe of what our Sovereign God is going to do in making this church a city on a hill that cannot be hidden."

Jeremy enjoys studying Apologetics and Biblical Theology, seeking to incorporate these important interests in his preaching week-to-week.  Currently, Jeremy is preaching through the book of Romans in a series entitled, Not Ashamed of the Gospel.  You are welcome to come hear Jeremy unleash God's Word one verse at a time this Sunday at 11:00 am. during our worship hour.   
 

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Jimmy Black, Associate Pastor

Jimmy Black has been on the team at True North since the beginning.  Jimmy trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was raised in a Christian home.  He was very active with outreach and evangelism in his church youth group where he met his wife, Debbie Shelton.  Jimmy and Debbie have been married for 26 wonderful years and have two grown children.

Their daughter Jennifer is a graduate of the Baptist College of Florida and is married to Stephen Wolgamott, who serves as Worship pastor at First Baptist Church of Leesburg, Florida.  Jennifer works with the State of Florida recruiting families to adopt children. Their son Thomas also serves our country in the U. S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  Jimmy also served in the Marine Corps for four years and was a commissioned officer in the Florida National Guard.

Jimmy has been active in kingdom work for a long time.  He was called to serve as a Deacon while at First Baptist Church of Hilliard and later became Chairman of Deacons.  Before long, he was serving faithfully as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and outreach leader.  Realizing how in love he became with using his gifts to glorify God, Jimmy knew that God was calling him to pastoral ministry and began to pray about what he should do.    

Almost immediately, God began opening doors.  Jimmy was soon preaching at a small fellowship in Hilliard as an interim pastor; then was called to Live Oak Baptist Church in Callahan to serve as Associate pastor, where he served for five years.  While there, Jimmy aided the pastor in launching an outreach program that focused on reaching every part of the world, from those in the shadow of the steeple, unto the world's remotest people. 

Desiring to become more equipped as a pastor, Jimmy was given the opportunity to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  While there, Jimmy actively served his Adult Bible Fellowship Class at 9^th and O Baptist Church.  Jimmy served by helping to launch an evangelistic bible study, which is still thriving today, and has resulted in the birth of another class as well.  

Last year, God opened the door for Jimmy to relocate to Florida.  It was then that the Florida Baptist Convention placed him in touch with Pastor Jeremy.  Within a few conversations, Jimmy and Jeremy knew they would make a great team as they both aspired to see a new, Bible teaching church launched on Jacksonville’s Northside.

Jimmy is also our adult bible study teacher and has a heart to see Christians cultivate a genuine hunger for God's Word.  You can join him this Sunday at 10:00 a.m., during our bible study hour and join the conversation as he teaches from the Gospel of Mark.