"Not many people can say that they are circuit riders, like the old guy [John Wesley]. I guess I haven't ridden a horse but my motorcycle. I rode the circuit," said Pastor Jerry Densmore, who will retire after serving eight years at Camp Crook United Methodist Church in northwest South Dakota.

Pastor Jerry lives in Rapid City, South Dakota. Each week he travels more than 124 miles one-way to get to Buffalo to serve a United Church of Christ congregation before he heads 25 miles west to Camp Crook United Methodist Church

Jerry Densmore entered pastoral ministry in 2015 after a 28-year career in the Air Force. He served at Ellsworth Air Force base in Box Elder, South Dakota, for 12 years. While at Ellsworth, Densmore and his wife were involved with chapel programs.

"I wanted to start helping out, but I didn't like getting in front of people, believe it or not. So, I started reading scripture because you don't have to look at the people. That helped me to get comfortable," said Pastor Jerry.

He found himself working with the praise team, choir, and men's group and enjoyed that. The military chapel programs gave Densmore experiences with different denominations.

"One nice thing about chapel programs is you get a lot of different inputs, everything from Baptist, Southern Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Science, the different levels of Lutheran, and Mormon chaplains," said Densmore.

In 2000 the Densmores desired to find a church home, so they started exploring congregations in the Rapid City area.  Retired Ellsworth chief of chaplains, Rev. James Patrick was serving a two-point charge at Knollwood Heights and Rapid Valley United Methodist congregations in Rapid City. They visited the congregations and settled in at Rapid Valley United Methodist Church.

"The people were so nice, and it was easy to get involved," said Densmore.

At Rapid Valley UMC, Densmore served in several leadership roles. During this time, he began discerning God's call.

"I hadn't really thought about it," he said. "But you have this nudge or thought in the back of your mind that you should do something. I kept pushing it away."

Pastor Jerry Densmore, left, visits with Captain Bob Wasil underneath a B-1 Bomber at the South Dakota Air and Space Musuem at Ellsworth Air Force Base Heritage Days. Photo by Kristina Barker, Rapid City Journal.

Densmore recalls the exact moment he surrendered to God's call for his life. It happened in 2006 while he was serving on temporary duty at a military base in Guam.

"I was over in Guam sitting on a bench on a bluff about 600 feet above sea level near a place they call Pati Point. I was sitting up there looking toward the Islands of Rota and Saipan which you can see on a clear day, and I knew it was time to surrender to God," said Densmore.

He did some exploring when he got back. Densmore talked with Pastor Jim Patrick and met with the district superintendent. He had completed the Certified Lay Speaker courses and led worship and also did some pulpit supply which included filling in at Camp Crook UMC in 2011. The final step was attending licensing school in 2014 to become a licensed local pastor.

"I guess I was taught that things happen in God's time, not our time," he said.  In 2015, he accepted the appointment at Camp Crook UMC, Buffalo UCC, and the Harding Community church.  "The opportunity came up to serve at Camp Crook. I knew the people. It was a good fit."

Growing up in Michigan, Pastor Jerry was familiar with rural life, dairy cows, and sheep. "I could identify with the people," he said. "We connected, and one year we had three baptisms. There hadn't been any baptisms in a while. One was a gal, who was over 40 years old, that was baptized."

In 2016, Camp Crook UMC received the One Matters Award. The One Matters Award is offered through Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church. The award recognizes churches that are turning zeros into positive numbers with a renewed focus on discipleship.

After serving eight years at Camp Crook and Buffalo, Densmore will retire. Baptisms and confirmations have been highlights of his ministry. Easter Sunday, three more youth were confirmed.

“You have to plan things around lambing, calving, branding, farming, etc.,” said Pastor Jerry. "They make a living by nature; nature dictates a lot. We planned to have confirmation on Easter and it worked out. It fits with everyone's schedule.”

A winter scene at Camp Crook UMC. Dakotas Conference file photo.

Another highlight for Densmore is playing guitar on music Sundays with area Lutheran congregations. People gather and bring their instruments and voices to sing the old hymns. In addition, Camp Crook UMC is involved in parades and other community events.

"We are the only church in town, so people look to us and know us," said Pastor Jerry. "We have a bazaar in October which is supported by the entire community, and we support other functions.  I mean, everybody knows everybody and the way they support each other regardless of denominational belief is what I think Jesus wants us to do."

In retirement, he will continue living in Rapid City and will work with the district to serve others as needed.  The Densmores look forward to spending more time with their girls and their families in the St. Louis, Missouri area.  

He thanks Reverends Jim Patrick, Bruce Adams, Bob Ruedebusch, Muriel Oates, Ed Coates, and Gary Walters for their support. He often gathers with clergy serving in the Northern Hills for fellowship and support.

Pastor Jerry shares a song he learned to play that speaks to him and the people he serves. The song is "I Ride for the Brand of the Man with the Nail Scarred Hands" by Red Steagall, a Texan poet and song writer who started out in rodeos.  “I wanted to play this song because ranching is so important in western South Dakota and many people can identify with the words," said Pastor Jerry. He advises, "Don't be afraid to step out, look at what's out there and follow your heart."