Jerry & Sheryl York Founders & Overseers

Jerry & Sheryl York founded Gate of Destiny in 2001, IMentorU.com in 2003,The Apostles' Feet Network in 2005 and Selah w/Sheryl & Friends in 2007. By the end of 2007 the Lord had yet again told them that He was going to do a new thing. He moved them from Texas to Arkansas and gave them a new name. The York's ministry is now known as Shout Restore Ministries. IN THE BEGINNING... Jerry York was born again in 1974 and Holy Spirit filled that same year. Almost immediately in a church meeting a Prophet came up to him and Prophesied over him that He was God's Prophet. For now over 30 years he has been training and walking in the Prophetic office. The Lord has used him to evangelize and even in his Junior High School Jerry was recognized as a Leader and called upon to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Campus. Through the years he has always had a heart for the saved and ministers to them prophetically to encourage and to lift them up, but also a heart for the unsaved and has led many to Christ, including his wife Sheryl. He has been given many visions and the Lord has led him in the Prophetic by revealing things to him far in advance and than later he would watch it unfold before his eyes. These times in his life were stepping stones to the ministry he walks in today. Sheryl York was born again in 1994 and Holy Spirit filled that same year. Jerry met Sheryl when she was unsaved, divorced and headed toward disaster. She was into Astrology, Tarot Reading, Levitation and what the bible calls witchcraft. She was also looking for love in all the wrong places, but because she had been raised around the Assemblies of God as a child she always knew God had something better for her. She tried and tried to find it outside of the church because she had always seen church goers as self righteous, critical and judgmental. Not only of her, but the entire world. She has often said she was like Saul before he became the Apostle Paul. She persecuted Christians terribly for many years, but one night out of a terrible accident that happened to a family she barely knew, her entire life began to change. She was an Advertising Manager for a small town Newspaper when a wonderful Christian man was accidentally killed fixing something at a school. The town was devastated, but the family was so strong in their faith that they celebrated his life instead of focusing on his death. Sheryl took home the newspaper that evening and read the story over and over. Trying to understand how something like this could happen. That night for the first time in many years she did what she now calls a Hannah cry. She prayed and cried for the family, but also for herself as she asked the Lord to give her a Godly man who would be loved by many, still adore her after many years of marriage and love his children as well. Within only months of that prayer Jerry and Sheryl met and only God could keep them together through the trials they would face. Jerry faced persecution from his church leaders and members because he was spending time with her and trying to lead her to the Lord. Sheryl was finally forced to see the reality of Astrology, Tarot reading and the road she had been going down in looking for love in all the wrong places. They were complete opposites and didn't agree about anything at all except training up children, but God & Jerry did not give up on her. Within 3 months of meeting Jerry she asked the Lord into her life and began faithfully attending church and being discipled and the Lord spoke to Jerry that Sheryl was to be his wife. They married in April of 1995. Before they married Jerry shared his calling with Sheryl. She had no idea though how difficult the life of a Minister could be. The training that was involved and the things they would suffer to walk it out as unto the Lord. James 5:10 says Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. WHERE DO WE FIT LORD... For many years they struggled to find where they fit in. Often either not feeling they did or even being asked to leave churches just for asking questions about a teaching or prophesying what the Lord shared and then being rebuked later on by a leader who would later fall into the very thing that the Lord was attempting to warn the congregation about. Together they have seen many leaders fall into either adultery or idolatry. However, through the years they have come to understand that new levels bring new devils. Believers are not to judge men and women of God as Galatians 6:1 says; Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. These men were truly called of the Lord, but as their Ministries grew; the new levels brought bigger attacks and without accountability they fell. Through it all they have grown and learned much. Sometimes the best lesson learned was how not to treat others. That God did not want leaders controlling or lording over His people, but understanding their place in the body of Christ and lifting people up, encouraging and equipping the Saints for the end times. Both Jerry and Sheryl have always been able to see the good in all circumstances and still to this day have great respect for those leaders who were a part of their lives for many years. Many today seem to take one negative thing and become bitter, critical and judge those who they believe have hurt them somehow, but the Yorks' honestly thank the Lord for all the good sown into their lives and understand that as humans we all fail. The failures of man help us all to keep our eyes on the Lord where they should be. In 1996 they gave birth to their first child Erika Michell which was a miracle and a sign of restoration for Jerry. He had been divorced many years previously and lost his daughter Kristina Lynn to adoption after his ex-wife remarried. In 1998 they had another daughter and named her Destinee Joy because this is what they saw ahead of them. In 2001 they were blessed with a vision Sheryl was given before they even married coming to pass as they gave birth to a son Jeremiah David and in 2005 another word of the Lord came to pass when they had Kathryn Elise. The first 3 children were born in California, but once God called Jerry and Sheryl to Texas He spoke to her in the kitchen while she was packing and said that they would have one more child in Texas. Kathryn was born in Texas 3 1/2 years after they moved there. SERVING THE LORD... The Yorks' were in leadership at their church in central California and once they were called to Texas they were sent with blessings. They had attended a Church Planters Boot Camp in early 2000 and with the blessing of the Leaders moved to the Corpus Christi area to start a new work. They moved with another couple who came to help, but it was a difficult transition for all. When you are in a very large charismatic church and are always very busy even a Church Planters Boot camp can't prepare you to move 1880 miles away from all of your loved ones. They soon faced financial troubles because neither couple could find jobs. Sadly only about 1 1/2 months into the move while trying to put things together and get Gods direction the 2nd couple who came to help admitted that they did not want to do it anymore. They very soon moved on and became members of a local church. For the Yorks' this was devastating. Although it may not have been intended it felt like a betrayal, their former church was no longer supportive and they were basically all alone now in a new City and State wondering why God sent them in the first place. In only 7 months God blessed them with a $10,000 dollar gift and they purchased their first home in Ingleside Texas. Very soon after they began having home group meetings and then they were given a building for a season, but it seemed the timing was off because there just wasn't much interest. After months and months of preaching to from 1 to 5 people the Yorks' decided they needed to regroup and seek the Lord for renewed direction. They took a break and got much needed ministry for themselves. In 2002 they started their mentoring and were ministering with Prophetic Ministries International and Apostle Bill Gilligan on His website www.Prophet.org. The Lord spoke to Jerry and Sheryl about an on line mentoring ministry and once they finished their mentoring program with PMI they began to call upon people they respected highly to minister and mentor on line. They offered Leadership roles to other Ministers who had their own Ministries. Believing that God wanted Ministers and Ministries to work together (it is not our Ministry or their Ministry, but Gods Ministry that counts). No one lording over the other, but respecting each others diversities and gifitings and using them to equip the Saints who would come by the www.IMentorU.com website. IMentorU.com took off with its forums, the use of MSN Messenger to minister to those who came to the site, adding a chat room which allowed them to have what was called Live Nights 3 times a week and the Lord added Ministers not only to Gate of Destiny, but He added people who had a true calling and could teach also to the affiliated Ministries as well. The women were having bible study 5 days a week in the chat room, and in 2001 Sheryl had already begun writing articles for the local newspaper which also ran in their local Christian paper and once the site was on line she decided to add them to a page called 'Moments with God'. That page is now offline, but Sheryl has many Web logs and her articles are archived on 'this site still today. On a weekly basis a Ministry Newsletter went out sharing anything that was new and subscriptions grew weekly to find out what was going on at IMentorU.com. Jerry heard from the Lord to put out a daily word for the subscribers and it too was archived on the site and called 'The Prophets Pen'. NEW LEVELS BRING NEW DEVILS... Finally in April of 2004 Gate of Destiny put on their first Prophetic Conference in Corpus Christi, TX. People came from all over the U.S. and some had been involved with IMentorU.com for quite some time, but this would be the first time they would be meeting each other. It was at this conference that Jerry was ordained an Apostle and Sheryl a Prophetess. Not only had their oversight at the time anointed them and ordained them, but the very last night of the conference at midnight a known Prophetess named Faith Goudeaux from the area came out in a terrible storm and brought her two sons saying that she knew that the Lord wanted her boys to have hands laid on them and to be prophesied over by Jerry, and on the way to the conference the Lord had also given her a word for Jerry and Sheryl as well. She waited patiently as everyone left and a tape recorder was found so that she could minister. At the midnight hour she began to speak and Jerry literally fell out in the Spirit as she told him of his Apostolic calling. It was a wonderful time for all and everyone went away changed. They flew to Arkansas and did another conference within only a few weeks time. That one was awesome as well and really pulled the prophetic out of Sheryl who was not as used to prophetic ministry as Jerry. If there is one wonderful thing Jerry & Sheryl hope to do as Leaders it is to teach others who go through the highs and the lows of Ministry that once God says; "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (symbolically speaking of public acknowledgment) the very next thing that will often happen is that the Holy Spirit Himself will lead you into testings and trials (symbolically speaking of the wilderness). TESTING AND TRIALS... Within only a month of both conferences the Yorks' and the Ministry itself were hit hard. Jerry and Sheryl felt they needed to take a break. The enemy was trying to take Jerry out and Sheryl felt the best way to help him and not to let go of the Vision was to take a sabbatical and turn the Ministry over to others for a season. Sadly through misunderstandings, hurts and offenses they lost many good friends and they finally shut almost everything down for a season of healing and seeking the Lord. Again they went through a dark season of feeling all alone and betrayed, wondering where God was in all that took place, but just as before God worked all things together for good and the Yorks' came out of it with an even greater understanding of Gods grace and a renewed revelation of direction. Sheryl began to write a book sharing what they had learned with the encouragement of many friends and Leaders that they were close to. They both went through a time of healing with a series on video tapes by John and Paula Sandford as well as Jack Frost which was a huge eye opener and a great deliverance from blaming, criticism and learning not to judge others. Matthew 7:1-2 says; Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again. They had come to realize that much of what they suffered was brought upon themselves and was sadly a reaping from previous things they had done or said (sown). They also learned through the awesome teachings of Jack Frost the unconditional love of God. Many today say they believe God loves them, but to quote Jack Frost, "If I ask people do you know that God loves you often times the answer is not the same." They found that they were ones that believed in their minds, but didn't have the revelation of Gods love in their own hearts. If they did not know the Love of God how than could they truly share it with others? THANKFULNESS AND LOVE... They both have been so blessed in the Ministry and they want to thank the many Leaders who have truly touched their lives. All of the names below are people that have somehow touched their lives and it is important that we each find it in our hearts to honor God's leaders so the Yorks' hope that you will read through this list and say a prayer for these wonderful men and women of God who in many cases are still ministering and giving of themselves today. David & Connie Hardy, Eldon & Marie Frost, Tony & Dorothy Swartz, Phil Goudeaux, Carol Stuart, Patrick & Terri Sparrow, Cal & Barbara O'Hair, Greg Diamante, Bobby DeLancellotti, Kin Lanchaster, Fred & Tanna Watkins, Jeff & Betty Nichols, Gabe & Dorothy Abdelaziz, Roger & Janet Wheeler, Richard & Katherine Gardner, Pat Carpenter, Bill Gilligan, Pat Gregory, Larry & Corinne Silverman, Jeff Green, Bret Wade, Mary Lindow, Kay Tolman, Ras Robinson, William Word, Julie Williamson, Gary & Tracy Carson and Kenn & Lee Bacon. LOOKING AHEAD... The testings, trials and mistakes of previous years were now under the blood and it was time to move forward. Just like with Abraham and Sara they have found that often times God says something and once man gets involved it can go a different direction. In Genesis 15 Abraham is given the promise, in Genesis 16 they make mistake after mistake doing things their own way, but in Genesis 17 the promise is renewed and Sarai's name is changed to Sara which means Princess. No amount of mistakes could take away God's plan and promise for them. He truly can take our messes and turn them into miracles if we allow Him to and believe that He will. Jerry and Sheryl have both held several ordinations for many years now, but they have come to find that there is no title that is important, no ordination that is bigger than Gods ordination of His Leaders and although they are blessed they can finally count everything as dung in comparison to what God has for their future and the future of others. Sheryl is a dreamer (like Joseph) and they have many prophetic words and dreams that have yet to come to pass. The word says that if the vision should tarry a person is to wait, because it will surely come, and His word does not come back void. SEASONS OF TRAINING... Because he immediately knew he had a calling on his life Jerry was attending a Bible College called Genesis by the time he was 18. Throughout his walk with the Lord he has also completed many Christian International (CI) courses by attending classes or conferences. 2000 to 2001 Jerry attended the Central Coast Bible College and took many courses including Preparation for Ministry. In March of 2001 Jerry and Sheryl were sent by their church to the Southern California Foursquare Church Planters Boot camp. They both completed this course and soon after their home Church sent them with blessings from California to Texas to begin a new work for the Lord. In November of 2002 Jerry and Sheryl attended Prophetic Ministry Internationals 'Local School of the Prophets' in Dallas, Texas. In June of 2003 they both also completed Grace Covenant Evangelistic Ministries (also known as Global Impact Ministries) 'Progressive Revelation School of Ministry' under Apostle Pat Carpenter. The Yorks' believe that Gods people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge. We each must remain submitted and teachable and therefore as the Lord leads they fully intend to step into more training to help them grow in the Lord and so that they can be a blessing to those the Lord sends in their direction. WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY? Jerry  & Sheryl have both ministered in Conferences and on Radio. Jerry is still actively ministering prophetically to many Leaders in the body of Christ today, and many know him to be a very accurate prophet that they contact when they need a word or direction. They are both considered the Overseers of IMentorU.com which they founded together back in 2003. In January of 2008 they handed the baton over to a truly faithful daughter in the Lord named Karla Hawthorne who is carrying on the vision. Sheryl still works with Karla in the forums and oversees those who moderate the many forums and discussion groups they offer. Her articles have been published in Christian Magazines as well as Newspapers (secular and Christian) and although she knows that the Lord is calling her to finish a book that she started a while back her heart (until His redirection) is first and foremost ministering to the Lord and her own family. In 2007 a new ministry was started called Selah w/Sheryl & Friends. This ministry is two fold. Part 1 is to read together, to renew our minds and grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Reading the same book helps to not only renew our minds, but also to keep us unified and moving in one accord. Part 2 is to send out occasional inspirations and encouragements to those who subscribe . It is never the same because it is sent out with a different person's word, teaching, insight etc.... each time. Both Jerry and Sheryl are members of Apostles Today and Sheryl was named Administrative Assistant to Lee Bacon (Director) in late 2007. They are allowing the Lord to build a firm foundation for the vision He has given them for 'Shout Restore Ministries, The Apostles' Feet', and the many ministries that God has birthed through these two visionaries. In April 2007 Apostle Bret and Teresa Wade became Jerry and Sheryl's parents/partner's. The York's had known Bret for many many years and through many bumps in the road and or feeling off course felt the Lord saying it was time to be joined properly. In May 2007 The York's moved from South Texas to Northern Arkansas. Many prophetic words confirmed this move in this new season. Founders & Overseers Jerry & Sheryl York E-mail: TheYorks@IMentorU.com Send Correspondence to: Shout Restore Ministries C/O Jerry & Sheryl York 100 N. 5th Street Flippin, Ar. 72634