Parkway UPC - Madison

Jerry Wayne Dillon was born on October 18, 1949, and raised in Tylertown, Mississippi. After attending Southwest College of Summit, Mississippi, he received his call to preach and furthered his education at the Pentecostal Bible Institute in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was Assistant Pastor to Rev. G.R. Travis in Corinth, Mississippi, for one year while attending Pentecostal Bible Institute (“PBI”). Entering the evangelistic field at the age of 18, Jerry Dillon began a season of travel that would extend over the next 10 years.

On December 16th, 1972, Jerry married a beautiful lady, Sandra Kaye Ford, from Sandy Lake, Louisiana. Together, they set out on a journey that has produced fruit in the areas of evangelism, church planting, and foreign missions service. The key to their success in ministry is their love for people.

In 1969, Bishop Dillon was preaching a tent revival in Tylertown, Mississippi. A lady named Gladys Bozeman, sister of Mr. P.W. Bozeman, received the Holy Ghost in that tent revival, and the future introduction of Bishop Dillon and Mr. Bozeman would become foundational for the plans God had for Madison County.

On March 6, 1977, Bishop Jerry Dillon was elected pastor of the First Pentecostal Church of Canton, Mississippi, and Bro. and Sis. Dillon settled into pastoring the congregation there. Through their efforts in revival, home Bible studies, soulwinning, and anointed weekly services, the church grew in number.

In 1979, 10 years after the tent revival, Mr. P.W. Bozeman’s son, Dudley Bozeman, generously donated five acres of land to the FPC of Canton.

In 1981, the First Pentecostal Church of Canton built a new 10,000 square foot church building on Highway 51. Five years later, a new family life center was erected, and the church was paid off.

In 1991, Bishop Dillon received a phone call from Mr. P.W. Bozeman, who shared with him the knowledge of a building and 10 acres for sale on Old Mannsdale Road in Madison. Bro. Dillon applied for a personal loan of $100,000, with the Canton church financing $150,000, and the first campus of Parkway Church was purchased. Bishop Dillon felt that God was leading him to open a daughter work in Madison, only a few miles down the interstate from Canton. Being led by the Lord, God continued to pour out blessings! Because Bro. and Sis. Dillon were obedient to the direction God had given them for this season, Parkway Pentecostal Church was born and is a thriving church in Madison.

In March 1991, construction began on the conversion of a metal building into a church sanctuary. Construction was completed in July 1991, and the first services were held in Madison with seven people in attendance. On August 17, 1991, the Dedication service of Parkway Pentecostal Church was held with a great celebration.

Between 1991 and 1995, the Dillon Family sacrificially conducted five services a week, pastoring both the Canton Church and Parkway Church.

In August 1995, Bro. Dillon resigned from the Canton church and moved to Madison to become full–time Pastor at Parkway Pentecostal Church.

A few years later, the D.C. Ford Family Life Center was completed.
In August 1998, Parkway was asked to host the first of three consecutive years of Global Impact Conference, which was funded by the UPCI Home Missions department under the direction of General Superintendent, N.A. Urshan.

In 2000, during the Global Impact Conference, Mississippi District Superintendent, G.R. Travis, seeing the wonderful impact of the conference, requested of Bro. Dillon, “Please do not let this conference die.” Thus, The Apostolic Conference was officially established annually in Madison and continues to have a global impact today! This conference hosts and ministers to North American Missionary Pastors and their families from all over the US and Canada as we sponsor them to attend this annual conference and equip them to build churches all over North America!

On January 11, 2004 - New Birth Church, Clinton, Mississippi – Daughter work of Parkway Church was launched with Scott and Becky Phillips! The first service had 57 in attendance! New Life Church merged with Springridge Pentecostal Church outside Clinton and is thriving.

In 2005, Jason and Christine Dillon came to Parkway Church full-time and began serving in many different areas.

On July 7, 2009, God orchestrated a miraculous purchase of 18 acres from Dr. Sethi at the corner of Bozeman Road and Reunion Parkway. It is clear to see that there has been much change and much expansion over the years, but the message was never altered. The vision to reach the lost always stayed the same.

In January 2010, a Moving Forward Building Campaign was launched, and Parkway Church embarked upon the challenge of becoming debt-free! In April 2012, a Note Burning Service was held as Parkway celebrated being debt-free on 48 acres in Madison, Mississippi!

Plans began to formulate, and after two years of meeting with architects and builders, Parkway Church received a dirt permit and held a memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony on August 7, 2013, at the corner of Bozeman Road & Reunion Parkway.

Bishop and Sis. Dillon have become influential leaders in Madison County and beyond, serving in many roles to meet the needs of their community.

Parkway Church moved into a beautiful new facility on Easter Sunday 2015, and on March 22, 2016, they hosted the official ribbon cutting ceremony with the Madison Chamber of Commerce.

The year 2020, even with all of its pandemic obstacles, was truly memorable. Parkway church became officially debt-free again and ceremoniously burned the seven-million-dollar note in October 2020. This completed the 2020 vision.

Bro. Dillon has long said, “Success without a successor is a failure,” and has prepared for the time when he would pass the reins to someone younger to see the work of God’s kingdom continue. He was blessed to have his son, Jason Dillon, in place as the Pastor of Parkway Church. The official passing-of-the-mantle to Pastor Jason Dillon also took place in October 2020.

Since the early days of Parkway, the purpose has been very clear. Preach Truth. Pray fervently. Study the Word. Reach the Lost. Worship in Spirit and in Truth. Thirty years later, the purpose has not wavered. The mission is still to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.