Jackie Paul Knight Jr.

(First Knight, Preacher, Ace)
(Circuit Rider) Evangelist

Servant of the Lord



Below is a brief testimony of my life.

Born to Elizabeth Ann and Jackie Paul Knight Sr. in Decatur, IL, Baptized in the Catholic church, but never received Catholic confirmation.

I attended Catholic grade school in Lincoln, IL as well as Decatur, IL.

While living in Lincoln at the age of 7 or 8 I was sexually molested and raped several times by a man my mother and father knew and trusted to baby-sit myself and my brother while they worked. I have never found the strength to share this with anyone until now. My mother and father were never told because I was ashamed as well as scared of this man and what he might do.

I attended junior high at Roosevelt Middle School and high school at Stephan Decatur High in Decatur, IL. At the age of 15 my mother and father divorced. This was a very hard and traumatic time for me. I began rebelling and running with the wrong crowds -- drinking, smoking, and experimenting with sex and drugs . While in my senior year of high school I was arrested by the police for grand theft. Since I was 17, I was to be treated as an adult. The Judge, having known me from prior visits to his court, gave me 2 options -- first was to go to trial and face 10 to 15 years in prison and second was to join the military for a minimum of 3 years and he would drop the charges to a misdemeanor of contributing to the delinquency of minors. This was during the Vietnam War so the judge could do this as long as my mother would sign a military waver. Needless to say I chose option 2 after being forcefully encourage by my grandfather who I dearly loved and respected. This is one conversation I will never forget, sitting in my grandfathers green Chevy pickup in the drive way of our house on Church Street in Decatur. While we were only there for about an hour it seemed like an eternity. This was the first time a man had ever talked to me and treated me like a man and not a boy.

Shortly thereafter I left for the Army. After completing basic training I was stationed in The Republic of Korea. It was there I met the love of my life and the person who would be the most influence in my life from here on, the same person who I would commit to spend the rest of my life with. We have been together now for 30 years and I cannot imagine us ever being apart.

We were married at the American Embassy in Seoul, Korea. Shortly after we were married I was reassigned to Ft. Campbell, KY. Here my life changed even more. I decided to join the Special Forces and reenlist after finding out my new bride was now pregnant with our first child. When she was in her 8th month of pregnancy I received orders to return to Korea. I took a 30 day leave and took my wife to my home in Decatur, IL where my son was born. Shortly after his birth we departed for Korea. I served 2 back-to-back tours of duty, this time with my family by my side.

After completion of my 3rd tour of duty in Korea I was assigned to Ft. Hood, TX. Shortly after arriving at Ft. Hood I was informed by my wife that she was pregnant again. In her 8th month of pregnancy she began having complications. My second son was born 3 to 4 weeks premature. After living a short time, his little lungs not strong enough, he passed away. This was very hard on us. I then received orders to go to Germany. This was during the time Germany was divided.

It was in Germany that my wife was saved and Born again. Being a Buddhist all her life, she was now a Christian. I, being raised a Catholic, was happy for her but never thought much of it. She grew so fast and learned so much over the next year. The following year on New Years eve we had a big fight, one of the very few we ever had. I wanted to go to the New Years party at the NCO club and she wanted me to go to the chapel with her to a watch night service. She won the fight and I, not being happy, went with her to that little military chapel in Bad Herztfeld, Germany. That night shortly after midnight at the beginning of the new year I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I served several more years in the Army. After severely damaging my legs, back, and head in a training accident, I was medically retired from the Army. While in the Army I received my high school diploma and attended college and received my bachelors degree.

I began attending a church in Jacksonville, AR. It was here I was Baptized by emersion. I recommitted my life to the service of God and submitted my college transcripts to Central Bible College in Springfield, MO and began my Christian studies, mostly through correspondence and attending seminars and testing at the college. During this time I worked in many types of jobs. I received a license to minister with a major denomination. So as to not hurt or offend I will not name the denomination. I ministered as an Evangelist on the radio, in nursing homes, homeless shelters, battered women's shelters, Hospitals, and many churches. I even ministered under a tent and in the open. After becoming discouraged with some of the policies of this denomination, I let my license lapse. I felt restricted in the ministry. I still love this denomination very much but strongly feel the Lord has called me to minister as a non-denominational minister. was happy for her but never thought much of it. She grew so fast and learned so much over the next year. The following year on New Years eve we had a big fight, one of the very few we ever had. I wanted to go to the New Years party at the NCO club and she wanted me to go to the chapel with her to a watch night service. She won the fight and I, not being happy, went with her to that little military chapel in Bad Herztfeld, Germany. That night shortly after midnight at the beginning of the new year I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I served several more years in the Army. After severely damaging my legs, back, and head in a training accident, I was medically retired from the Army. While in the Army I received my high school diploma and attended college and received my bachelors degree.

I began attending a church in Jacksonville, AR. It was here I was Baptized by emersion. I recommitted my life to the service of God and submitted my college transcripts to Central Bible College in Springfield, MO and began my Christian studies, mostly through correspondence and attending seminars and testing at the college. During this time I worked in many types of jobs. I received a license to minister with a major denomination. So as to not hurt or offend I will not name the denomination. I ministered as an Evangelist on the radio, in nursing homes, homeless shelters, battered women's shelters, Hospitals, and many churches. I even ministered under a tent and in the open. After becoming discouraged with some of the policies of this denomination, I let my license lapse. I felt restricted in the ministry. I still love this denomination very much but strongly feel the Lord has called me to minister as a non-denominational minister.