staff

Team

Jerry grew up in Miami, FL and after his discharge from the Marine Corps. in 1960, he went back to join the Metro-Miami Police Department. He quickly advanced to the rank of Homicide Detective. In 1969, he left the Police Dept and joined the Miami Beach Fire Department and served there until 1983. In 1973 he married Paula Budd and together they worked on various successful business ventures, including roof painting, aircraft parts, import and a restaurant.

Pastor Jerry in Africa

1983 was important in Jerry's life for another reason, also. A fellow fireman by the name of Julio Garcia changed dramatically. Jerry knew Julio's life and what kind of man he was. One day, after not seeing him for 3 months, Jerry encountered Julio and Julio was completely different. Jerry watched him and listened to what Julio had to say. Julio had given his heart and life to Jesus. Even with the discernment that Jerry learned as a detective, he could not discount the radical metamorphosis that he saw in Julio. So, Jerry gave his life to the Lord.

In 1985, Jerry and Paula moved to Summerville, SC, where his family now lived. They attended and served in local churches as teachers, elders, and home group leaders. For a while, the Lord taught them about spiritual warfare and allowed them an active ministry in deliverance out of their home. They bought a struggling bookstore in Summerville, which they ran until 1998.

They began hosting regular Saturday night meetings in their living room in 1995, starting with 7 people. One of these friends told them of extraordinary conferences in Charlotte, NC. They attended a MorningStar Ministries' Heart of David Conference at the Heritage USA barn in April 1995 and once again the course of their lives changed. That year, Jerry enrolled in the inaugural class of the MorningStar School of Ministry and graduated in 1998.

January 25, 1997 they saw the birth of DayStar Church. Since then, Jerry has continued in his through examination of the Scripture and his relentless pursuit of the Lord. His fresh and relevant perspective has earned the respect of his peers and the faithfulness of his flock. Paula is a wise counsel to the church and her hospitality always warms the room.

email Melvenia

Born in Ridgeville, S.C., I lived there until 7th grade, then moved to Summerville. Later, I married and moved to California, residing there for 6 1/2 yrs. Then, I returned to Summerville and became a teacher in Dorchester School District 2 where I now teach first grade at Spann Elementary School. I am the mother of two sons and have been blessed with 5 grandchildren.

I answered the call of God and preached for the first time on October 19, 1997. Chosen by God to be a forerunner in New Ashley Baptist Church, I was the first female to go forth and preach the gospel in the history of that church. The Lord spoke to Rev. Solomon Rice (Pastor) who confirmed my calling into the ministry. My inaugural message birthed out of what I lived and experienced. WARFARE!!! My message came from Ephesians 6:10-18 , "ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE?" I was licensed in January 1998 as an Evangelist.

I was instructed then to go under the leadership of Bishop Leroy Hamilton at Seed of Faith Ministry in Hanahan, SC where I was ordained by the Bishop in May of 1998. I sat some months under the instruction of Rev. Deborah Carter; the mighty fire of the Lord in and around her was very evident. Along my journey, I have attended many conferences, seminars and classes taught by Rev. Barbara Fishburne of New Covenant Women Ministries, including an 8 wk. course called "The Prophetic School" for which I was awarded a certificate for successful completion in June 1997.

I met Pastor Jerry & Paula Ashley when they owned the Christian bookstore and I quickly knew that Jerry was appointed as one of my spiritual Fathers. I am thankful for the anointings and mantles received along the way. I preach & teach the gospel whenever God permits and releases me, grateful for every trial and test that God has led me through to perfect HIS WILL.

- Melvenia Busby -

email Dan

Dan has served DayStar since August 2001. After graduating from Southeastern College in 1984, Dan and his wife Pam were part of a new church plant in Raleigh, NC. They relocated to Summerville in 1993 and from 1995 until 1997, Dan performed in the longest running stage show in the history of Charleston, SC. In his last year there, he accepted the invitation to lead music for a new congregation. This work quickly grew and today thrives in the Summerville area.

Then, a hand injury prompted a friend to ask Dan to help with the music for a weekend at a young congregation called DayStar, where he met Pastor Jerry Ashley. From 2000, Dan served local ministries as itinerant musician until Jerry asked him to join the DayStar team. In 2004, Dan was ordained to the work of the ministry under Pastor Jerry and DayStar Ministries.

Dan's passion is that the Church experiences the beauty of the presence of the Lord. Toward that end, he has participated in Worship & Prayer gatherings in the Charleston area using the 'Harp & Bowl' model of Kansas City's International House of Prayer, or IHOP.

In 2002, he recorded his first project, titled "Selah St." These tracks are now available for free download at FixedFocus.org . Dan also maintains a page on myspace.com with new songs and information.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." (I Cor. 14:1)

We believe that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb 13:8) and that His promise that "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (Jn 14:26) is still active and relevant even today within the high-tech, highly enlightened society we live in. Therefore, we are convinced that God, through the Holy Spirit, is still dynamically interacting with the Church today, corporately and in its several members.

Toward that position, we believe and teach that the gift of prophecy, which we hold as separate from the office of Prophet, is active and available to those who seek the Lord with all of their heart. (Jer. 29:13)

With the understanding that the gift is to be exercised "for edification, exhortation and consolation" (1 Cor 14:3), we strive to perceive the Holy Spirit's leading ourselves, as well as to help others within the Body of Christ to recognize His present voice and follow, also.

quotations from the New American Standard Version, 1995 ed.

The Worship ministry of DayStar is motivated by a passion for the presence of God and hunger for His glory without pretense or pretext.

We are committed to personally pursue Him in Spirit and in Truth. We honor Him in part by honoring the creative gifts he has given us, by cherishing them and cultivating them toward excellence.

We desire to neither contrive or coerce worship. Nor do we want to restrain honest worship before the Father in the power of the Spirit through the grace of the Son.

Our goal is that we might tabernacle , or dwell with Him, from our times of corporate worship to daily living in His presence, hearing His Spirit and obeying without hesitation out of love for Him and trust in His Wisdom and Judgment.

Last update 05.10.23