Welcome to Front Line Missions Central
FLM Central is the center point for all things Front Line Missions. On the Front Line Missions page you can find the most recent newsletter and a link to newsletters from the past. The Lakeshore Tabernacle page contains daily verses, weekly wisdom, a devotional, and sermons. Finally, there is a Contact Us page where you can call, write, or email and questions, thoughts, concerns, prayers, or praise reports. Beneath this introduction is a history of how Front Line Missions came to be. Thank you all for your support.
The Origin of Front Line Missions
This is a brief history of how Front Line Missions started as a missionary endeavor to Mexico, and wound up branching out to also include works in India and in the small border town of Zapata, Texas, along with other efforts in China and the Philippines. Works include Missions, Christian Schools, Orphanages, and Feeding Programs.
Founder, Rev. Jerome (Jerry) D. McSorley, Sr., passed on to be with the Lord, April 2nd, 2005, at his home in Zapata, Texas, surrounded by his wife Betty, and children and grandchildren. Before his death he published a book of his life story, titled “Walking Amongst the Trees”. Betty then directed FLM until she also went on to be with the Lord on February 13th, 2010. The McSorley family now directs FLM, with help from children and grandchildren, and support from faithful friends from churches around the globe. Monthly news letters are sent out in order to keep supporters updated.
- The Beginning -
In 1953, Jerry McSorley, then future founder of FLM, found salvation at 24 years of age. It was a born again experience, the likes of which he felt was not taught in the church he was brought up in, and as such, he felt led, if not obsessed, to share the Good News with others. He felt particularly led to Latin America. In 1957 the McSorley family, Jerry, wife, Betty, and five children, Karen, Anita, Donna, Ruth, and Jerry, Jr., moved to Texas, where Jerry attended Bible School for three years, during which time their sixth child, Shirley was born. In 1961 the family moved to Monterrey, Mexico, at the prompting of church leaders of Lakeshore Tabernacle, in Kenosha Wisconsin, who felt led of the Lord to send Missionaries to Mexico.
"Joe Vlahovic, a member of Lakeshore Tabernacle of Kenosha, Wisconsin, knew a young man (Jerry McSorley) living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who had a burden for Mexico. He invited him to attend a service there. Reverend Jerry McSorley and his wife, Betty, accepted the invitation and came to church while Reverend Florence Wine, of Tieton, Washington, was holding services. She did not know the McSorleys and did not know that God had called them to Mexico, but God knew. She called them forth, laid her hands upon them, and spoke in prophecy that God had sent them to Kenosha, and that He wanted them to work with the Lakeshore Tabernacle missionary program in Mexico. After a short time in Kenosha (in order to get acquainted with the church, the pastor, and the congregation, while also studying the Spanish language), the McSorleys, with their six children, moved to Mexico." (Taken from the archives of Lakeshore Tabernacle of Kenosha, WI)
Lakeshore Tabernacle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was founded upon the vision of the late Dr. Orville Broker and it was well known as a missions church. Dr. Broker had a vision of many little fires burning all over Mexico, and through the work of Front Line Missions many little fires have become consuming Gospel fires changing the lives of many souls throughout various regions of Mexico and beyond.
- Front Line Missions -
Rev. McSorley went on to found Front Line Missions, Inc. and worked passionately to spread the Gospel throughout Mexico Jerry felt led to poor people who lived in isolated pueblos, those who had no churches and were least likely to have heard the Gospel. Some of the first areas were located by small aircraft, as some of these pueblos had only trails, and no improved roads. The work grew fast and furious, branching out to other areas. In two years time there were native Pastors in four different regions of Mexico. Jerry had to travel a lot to raise money to support the growing work, as no longer could only one church support the work. Jerry was always encouraged by Brother Broker, the original pastor of Lakeshore Tabernacle in Kenosha, not to forget his own family and he felt that Front Line Missions should be headquartered on the US side of the border, in order to have better communication and better schools for the McSorley children. After looking the border towns over, it was decided in 1963 that the family would move to Zapata, Texas. In 1966 a seventh child, Connie was born.
There were no Full Gospel churches in Zapata at that time, so the McSorleys had home meetings, and in time it became necessary to consider building a church, to accommodate others who had started attending the home meetings. Land was purchased, and a friend with a demolition company in Oklahoma offered to donate a building, providing someone would help tear it down. Daughter Karen’s husband, David Yeager, who was a FLM missionary to Mexico at that time, went to help with the demolition, and during the process, he fell through a vent hole in the roof, and died shortly afterwards. This was a difficult time, as he left behind Karen and four children. Karen continued in the work and a few years later married Lou Giordano, and they were blessed with two more children. Yeager Memorial money went toward the building of Lakeshore Tabernacle church in Zapata. Lou, who has now also gone on to be with the Lord, spent some time working with Pastors in Mexico and witnessed to many in the local community using his gift of music, and also taught and preached in the church for many years. Karen through it all, still continued in the work. This little church now takes a missionary offering of its own, and has even bought a house for a Mexican Pastor. Jerry had never taken a salary, and depended on these offerings. The Church supports itself, and has pulled FLM out of a pinch many times.
In 1983 Jerry had to undergo valve replacement surgery on his heart, but that didn’t slow him down, as the very next year he and Betty went to India.
In 1984, believing it to be God’s will to start a work in India, Bro. Jerry and Sis. Betty cashed in their Life Insurance policies in order travel to India, purchase supplies and set up a banking account for FLM there. Donations were not being raised for the area at that time, because there were no projects to promote yet. In 1985 FLM brought a girl, Shanta, from India, to the US, and sponsored her Christian education at Jerry’s Alma Mater, International Bible College in San Antonio. She was considered the best student by the school president. After graduation she returned to India and worked about 5 years with her father, Bro. T.K, who heads Front Line Missions of India. In 1993 she married James Hardy, from Eaton Ohio. Since their marriage they have taken a summer trip back to India, at their own expense, to help in the work there.
Through the years, FLM has run several Christian educational facilities, in Mexico, India, and now Faith Academy Christian School, in FLM’s home town of Zapata. FACS in the beginning was built by, and administrated by Jerry & Betty's nephew, Darrel Causey, and is now administered by Jerry Rodriguez. Connie and Jerry, along with their daughters Vikki and Olivia, work as teachers there.
FLM has built many churches in Mexico and India, and one in the Philippines, and sends monthly offerings to several Pastors in Mexico, and India.
In 1987 Jerry had to undergo brain surgery, and after two months in the hospital, was brought home on his and Betty’s 41st wedding anniversary. Doctors didn’t think he would ever recover, and thought he would have to be placed in a rest home, but thanks to the prayers of many and God’s healing power, he started recovering as soon as he got home. Upon going back to the hospital in San Antonio, three weeks later, the doctors and other hospital workers were amazed at his miraculous recovery. In a little less than a year’s time, he went on a Missionary Journey to Alaska, Japan, the Philippines, and China. Jerry’s burden for China prompted him to travel around the US to raise support for Brother Peter Chun, in order for him to go there and spread the Gospel. Bro. Chun now has a large ministry of his own. FLM has helped and encouraged many other such outreaches and the Lord keeps blessing and blessing, changing lives with countless miracles.
On April 2nd , 2005, Bro. Jerry went on to be with the Lord, having spent his life doing what he felt called to. He always said he was in this for life, and often quoted another pastor who said, “I’d rather burn out than rust out”, and that’s just what he did, gave all of his physical strength and dedication to the Lords work, and encouraged the same of his physical and spiritual family members. He left behind a legacy, which will never be forgotten, and encouraged a new generation to carry on the work of the Lord and as he said in his last few days, just keep blessing, and blessing and blessing………...
- Carrying On -
It is the ambition and desire of the FLM family to carry on in the work and the vision of its founder, Rev. Jerome (Jerry) Dean McSorley, Sr. The Lord is still calling and His work continues on at FLM, with the help and support of people like you. FLM is always in need of financial help, and has a Tax Number as a non profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. If interested, or if you would like to be added to our mailing list, correspondence and donations can be mailed to Front Line Missions or you can donate online via our Give page. Our address is included in our Contact Us page. On that page, there is also a form that can be used to contact us via email with any comments, questions, concerns, praise reports or prayer requests. Any and all communication is appreciated.
Founder, Rev. Jerome (Jerry) D. McSorley, Sr., passed on to be with the Lord, April 2nd, 2005, at his home in Zapata, Texas, surrounded by his wife Betty, and children and grandchildren. Before his death he published a book of his life story, titled “Walking Amongst the Trees”. Betty then directed FLM until she also went on to be with the Lord on February 13th, 2010. The McSorley family now directs FLM, with help from children and grandchildren, and support from faithful friends from churches around the globe. Monthly news letters are sent out in order to keep supporters updated.
- The Beginning -
In 1953, Jerry McSorley, then future founder of FLM, found salvation at 24 years of age. It was a born again experience, the likes of which he felt was not taught in the church he was brought up in, and as such, he felt led, if not obsessed, to share the Good News with others. He felt particularly led to Latin America. In 1957 the McSorley family, Jerry, wife, Betty, and five children, Karen, Anita, Donna, Ruth, and Jerry, Jr., moved to Texas, where Jerry attended Bible School for three years, during which time their sixth child, Shirley was born. In 1961 the family moved to Monterrey, Mexico, at the prompting of church leaders of Lakeshore Tabernacle, in Kenosha Wisconsin, who felt led of the Lord to send Missionaries to Mexico.
"Joe Vlahovic, a member of Lakeshore Tabernacle of Kenosha, Wisconsin, knew a young man (Jerry McSorley) living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, who had a burden for Mexico. He invited him to attend a service there. Reverend Jerry McSorley and his wife, Betty, accepted the invitation and came to church while Reverend Florence Wine, of Tieton, Washington, was holding services. She did not know the McSorleys and did not know that God had called them to Mexico, but God knew. She called them forth, laid her hands upon them, and spoke in prophecy that God had sent them to Kenosha, and that He wanted them to work with the Lakeshore Tabernacle missionary program in Mexico. After a short time in Kenosha (in order to get acquainted with the church, the pastor, and the congregation, while also studying the Spanish language), the McSorleys, with their six children, moved to Mexico." (Taken from the archives of Lakeshore Tabernacle of Kenosha, WI)
Lakeshore Tabernacle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was founded upon the vision of the late Dr. Orville Broker and it was well known as a missions church. Dr. Broker had a vision of many little fires burning all over Mexico, and through the work of Front Line Missions many little fires have become consuming Gospel fires changing the lives of many souls throughout various regions of Mexico and beyond.
- Front Line Missions -
Rev. McSorley went on to found Front Line Missions, Inc. and worked passionately to spread the Gospel throughout Mexico Jerry felt led to poor people who lived in isolated pueblos, those who had no churches and were least likely to have heard the Gospel. Some of the first areas were located by small aircraft, as some of these pueblos had only trails, and no improved roads. The work grew fast and furious, branching out to other areas. In two years time there were native Pastors in four different regions of Mexico. Jerry had to travel a lot to raise money to support the growing work, as no longer could only one church support the work. Jerry was always encouraged by Brother Broker, the original pastor of Lakeshore Tabernacle in Kenosha, not to forget his own family and he felt that Front Line Missions should be headquartered on the US side of the border, in order to have better communication and better schools for the McSorley children. After looking the border towns over, it was decided in 1963 that the family would move to Zapata, Texas. In 1966 a seventh child, Connie was born.
There were no Full Gospel churches in Zapata at that time, so the McSorleys had home meetings, and in time it became necessary to consider building a church, to accommodate others who had started attending the home meetings. Land was purchased, and a friend with a demolition company in Oklahoma offered to donate a building, providing someone would help tear it down. Daughter Karen’s husband, David Yeager, who was a FLM missionary to Mexico at that time, went to help with the demolition, and during the process, he fell through a vent hole in the roof, and died shortly afterwards. This was a difficult time, as he left behind Karen and four children. Karen continued in the work and a few years later married Lou Giordano, and they were blessed with two more children. Yeager Memorial money went toward the building of Lakeshore Tabernacle church in Zapata. Lou, who has now also gone on to be with the Lord, spent some time working with Pastors in Mexico and witnessed to many in the local community using his gift of music, and also taught and preached in the church for many years. Karen through it all, still continued in the work. This little church now takes a missionary offering of its own, and has even bought a house for a Mexican Pastor. Jerry had never taken a salary, and depended on these offerings. The Church supports itself, and has pulled FLM out of a pinch many times.
In 1983 Jerry had to undergo valve replacement surgery on his heart, but that didn’t slow him down, as the very next year he and Betty went to India.
In 1984, believing it to be God’s will to start a work in India, Bro. Jerry and Sis. Betty cashed in their Life Insurance policies in order travel to India, purchase supplies and set up a banking account for FLM there. Donations were not being raised for the area at that time, because there were no projects to promote yet. In 1985 FLM brought a girl, Shanta, from India, to the US, and sponsored her Christian education at Jerry’s Alma Mater, International Bible College in San Antonio. She was considered the best student by the school president. After graduation she returned to India and worked about 5 years with her father, Bro. T.K, who heads Front Line Missions of India. In 1993 she married James Hardy, from Eaton Ohio. Since their marriage they have taken a summer trip back to India, at their own expense, to help in the work there.
Through the years, FLM has run several Christian educational facilities, in Mexico, India, and now Faith Academy Christian School, in FLM’s home town of Zapata. FACS in the beginning was built by, and administrated by Jerry & Betty's nephew, Darrel Causey, and is now administered by Jerry Rodriguez. Connie and Jerry, along with their daughters Vikki and Olivia, work as teachers there.
FLM has built many churches in Mexico and India, and one in the Philippines, and sends monthly offerings to several Pastors in Mexico, and India.
In 1987 Jerry had to undergo brain surgery, and after two months in the hospital, was brought home on his and Betty’s 41st wedding anniversary. Doctors didn’t think he would ever recover, and thought he would have to be placed in a rest home, but thanks to the prayers of many and God’s healing power, he started recovering as soon as he got home. Upon going back to the hospital in San Antonio, three weeks later, the doctors and other hospital workers were amazed at his miraculous recovery. In a little less than a year’s time, he went on a Missionary Journey to Alaska, Japan, the Philippines, and China. Jerry’s burden for China prompted him to travel around the US to raise support for Brother Peter Chun, in order for him to go there and spread the Gospel. Bro. Chun now has a large ministry of his own. FLM has helped and encouraged many other such outreaches and the Lord keeps blessing and blessing, changing lives with countless miracles.
On April 2nd , 2005, Bro. Jerry went on to be with the Lord, having spent his life doing what he felt called to. He always said he was in this for life, and often quoted another pastor who said, “I’d rather burn out than rust out”, and that’s just what he did, gave all of his physical strength and dedication to the Lords work, and encouraged the same of his physical and spiritual family members. He left behind a legacy, which will never be forgotten, and encouraged a new generation to carry on the work of the Lord and as he said in his last few days, just keep blessing, and blessing and blessing………...
- Carrying On -
It is the ambition and desire of the FLM family to carry on in the work and the vision of its founder, Rev. Jerome (Jerry) Dean McSorley, Sr. The Lord is still calling and His work continues on at FLM, with the help and support of people like you. FLM is always in need of financial help, and has a Tax Number as a non profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible. If interested, or if you would like to be added to our mailing list, correspondence and donations can be mailed to Front Line Missions or you can donate online via our Give page. Our address is included in our Contact Us page. On that page, there is also a form that can be used to contact us via email with any comments, questions, concerns, praise reports or prayer requests. Any and all communication is appreciated.