April 18, 2022

This paid event listing is sponsored by Cru City and the South Dakota Prayer Coalition.

Retired Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, an original member of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, will speak in Sioux Falls later this month.

Boykin, who most recently served at the Pentagon as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, will speak from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28 at The Country Club of Sioux Falls.

In his 36 years in the Army, he served more than 24 years in Joint Special Operations, with a command at every level. Clandestine operations included Desert One, the failed 1979 mission to rescue American hostages held in Iran after the Islamic revolution that toppled the shah.

He participated in the invasions of Grenada and Panama in 1983 and 1989 respectively, participated in the capture of Manuel Noriega and headed the chase to capture Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar in 1992. In 1993, he clashed with Muslim warlord Osman Atto in Somalia, chronicled in the film “Black Hawk Down.”

Lt. Gen Boykin ultimately served as the commander of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command and as the commandant of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He also served six years in intelligence, two with the CIA, and was a member of the National Security Policy Coordinating Committee for Terrorism and Coordinating Sub-Group for Homeland Security. His memoir, “Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom,” was released in 2008, followed by three additional novels.

He currently serves as executive vice president of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.; as chaplain for the Denver Chapter of Healing Waters, a wounded warriors’ program; and as an ordained minister and founder/president of Kingdom Warriors, a Christian nonprofit ministry.

Boykin last spoke in Sioux Falls in 2013, “and people really enjoyed listening to him and what he shared,” event co-organizer Stephanie Cone said.

“We had been discussing the crazy things going on in our world and felt he would be a good one to have back to speak about these things. He has such a wealth of experience from all his years serving our country around the world.”

Boykin will offer a perspective on the “amazing and good stories happening all around the globe,” Cone added.

“Gen. Boykin has known firsthand what goes on around the world with our military and the good that he saw done during his years there,” she said. “Those are stories of hope that are wonderful and encouraging to listen to. We are hoping people understand that there are so many factors that come into play when decisions are made around our globe. Gen. Boykin is also a believer and so his resolute faith in God being in control of our world are reminders we all need each day.”

The event is co-organized by Cru City and the South Dakota Prayer Coalition, which have worked together on events for years.

“For SDPC, we pray earnestly for our local, state and national leaders that God would use them each day they are in office and direct their hearts. Gen. Boykin is one of those leaders who we are so grateful for,” Cone said. “And for Cru City, to have a national leader trusting the Lord and doing a very difficult job is an example for each of us as we head to work every day and influence the people around us.”

To reserve your seat for $15 or a table of eight for $120, contact [email protected] or 605-310-1410 by April 25.