About
Speaker · Author · Minister
Jelly Valimont
Jelly Valimont is the widow of Dr. Randy Valimont, former pastor of Griffin First Assembly, an Encounter Life Network church. She was born in McMinnville, Tennessee into the home of a pastor and spent her PK life growing up in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. While attending Southeastern University, she met and married the love of her life, Dr. Randy Valimont. Upon graduating together, they moved to Arkansas where Dr. Valimont began the role of youth pastor and Jelly began teaching school.
This is also where their first daughter, Jordan, was born. In 1984, they followed the call of God to Toccoa, Georgia to become pastors of Glad Tidings Assembly of God and to add two more daughters, Danielle and Alayna into their family. They ministered in Toccoa for almost 10 years, forming lifelong friendships with many of their congregants.
In Toccoa, Jelly was the administrator of Little Learners Preschool where she developed and managed all aspects of the school including staff, parents, children, and curriculum. She also operated as janitor, cook, nurse (unlicensed, of course) counsellor and spiritual advisor. In addition to this, she was the minister of music and the leader of women's and girl's ministries for their time as lead pastors.
God began to move on the hearts of Dr. Valimont and Jelly that their time in Toccoa was coming to an end and in 1993, they relocated to Griffin, Georgia where Jelly continues to live. During their time in Griffin, Jelly has been involved in the local church in women's ministry, Celebration Choir, worship teams and the ministry of costumes for which she is uniquely gifted.
Jelly has been used by God to speak in the local church and at conferences throughout the United States and internationally. She has written two books, ‘I Have Issues,’ and ‘Tapestry: a Story of Adoption, Acceptance, and Destiny.’
On October 31, 2019, Dr. Valimont entered into his eternal rest and left behind a broken and grieving family, church network, and community. Jelly and her family purposed in their hearts that they would go on, continue and finish the work that God has called them to do.
Jelly continues to live in Griffin with her mother and two nephews for whom Dr. Valimont and Jelly became guardians after the death of their parents. Jelly's heart's cry is to do the will of the Father, wherever and whatever that might be, to bring souls into the kingdom and to facilitate spiritual health and well-being to the body of Christ. If she can do it while laughing, so much the better!
In Loving Memory
Dr. Randy Valimont
June 8, 1960 – October 31, 2019
The Rev. Dr. Randall Lane Valimont was born on June 8, 1960 in Johnson City, New York and died on October 31, 2019 in Griffin, Georgia. He was married to Jelly Jordan Valimont for almost 40 years. He and Jelly had three beautiful daughters Jordan, Danielle, and Alayna, one amazing son-in-law, Praveen Bala, and two grandchildren, Jaeli and Shiloh.
Dr. Valimont was a graduate of Southeastern University where he received his bachelor's degree in theology, and Logos University where he received both his master's degree and doctorate in Pastoral Leadership. He served in many ministry capacities and preached in more than 60 nations of the world.
In 1993, he received a call to become the senior pastor at First Assembly of God in Griffin, Georgia, where he served for 26 years. The congregation grew to more than 7,000 at seven separate locations. During his 25 years of pastorate, Dr. Valimont raised more than $28 million for missions.
Dr. Valimont was known for his dauntless vision and passion for Christ. He inspired people to live bold and innovative lives. People were the most important aspect of Dr. Valimont's life. He was always reaching out to the hurting, the destitute, and the lonely, sharing his faith so that others could come to know Jesus. He was a man of great faith and knew that nothing could stop the power of God.
In the words of so many, Randy Valimont was larger than life. His final sermon was entitled, ‘Do We have Enough Lifeboats?’ One of the core values he developed at Griffin First Assembly was that one church could change the world. He believed and lived this message daily until the end of his life.
We, his family, will continue to do the same. God has never left us, never forsaken us. We will move forward to continue the legacy that Randy Valimont began and we will not be defeated.