Jerry first began writing poetry in the late sixties, while serving with the United States Navy. A mentor once told him:  when writing, find your area of interest and circle near by. Jerry took that to heart and focused his poetry on the worship and praise of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

On May 4, 1994 Jerry felt a pressing desire to form a centralized internet site where Christian poets could post the poetic works the Lord had led them to write. After much prayer, he leased server space from Pennet.net the first local Internet provider in his area. With the help of a book on html, the first page was developed and Cross Way Publications' Internet ministry was born. In an effort to finance this venture Jerry published three collections of his poetry and dedicated the proceeds from the sale of these books to furthering the Internet outreach of this fledgling company. From its inception until his passing, Jerry Hoffman handled all of the business of Cross Way Publications from an office located in his home.

As his daughter, I can not think of my father without remembering him writing. I would often catch him jotting thoughts down in the small notebook he kept in his shirt pocket, or tapping away on the laptop while resting in his recliner. When I was a child, he wrote poems for me to recite in school talent shows. When my own child was born, he wrote a poem to celebrate his life. I am sure that everyone close to him has at least one poem that was written as a special gift to them. But the One he loved to write to above all else was his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I have found 262 poems that Jerry wrote during his lifetime, and have compiled them all here. I hope you will read them, enjoy them, and be blessed.

(one of Jerry's final poems)
Is there joy in the journey I'm taking?
Do I live in the power of love?
Am I always on God's grace depending,
On this journey to Heaven above?

Just over pain's mountain love becons,
Just across that tumultuous sea,
Tears are vanquished forever and ever,
Where my Lord waits in splendor for me.

Every peril, each day I encounter,
As I traverse this sorrowful place;
Will increase the great joy that awaits me,
When I look on His wonderful face.

His words "Welcome home!" will refresh me,
I'll be filled with the love from His smile;
When my journey, at last, finds its purpose.
Then we'll sit and we'll talk for a while.