John I. Penn Sr.

Dr. John I. Penn is a retired ordained United Methodist minister. From 2002 to 2008, Dr. Penn served as the pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Before coming to Simpson, Dr. Penn served seven-and-a-half years as the Director of Spiritual Formation and Healing at Upper Room Ministries. As an ordained minister, he has served several pastorates in the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference. He has served the church for thirty-five years. Dr. Penn has served in two cross-racial appointments as associate pastor.

Dr. Penn is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. He is the author of several books: Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts (Upper Room Books), a companion workbook for Dr. Charles Bryant’s book of the same title; Getting Well, A Study for Children about Spiritual and Physical Healing (originally published by Abingdon Press); Equipped to Serve, A Study for Children about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and About Caring and Healing, An Activities and Coloring Book for Children.

He has also written booklets for youth and children: What Everyone Should Know about Healing (Companion to About Caring and Healing); Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit; and About the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. In 2017, Dr. Penn wrote Turning Mourning Into Dancing, an Adult Coloring Book, which he used to grieve and mourn the death of his mother, Josephine A. Penn. She transitioned to be with the Lord on April 14, 2017.

Dr. Penn holds degrees from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Bachelor of Science in Music Education), Oral Roberts University (Master of Theology), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary [now Palmer Theological Seminary] (Master of Divinity), and Wesley Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry).

Dr. Penn enjoys playing tennis, writing, composing music, reading, listening to jazz, and gardening. He is married to Gloria J. Parker Penn, the author of Miracles Still Happen. They have been blessed with six children (one deceased), ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.