Robert Whitley isn’t a pastor by profession. In fact, when he started his own ministry, one that led him to spreading the gospel in nursing homes and jails, he had never preached or led others in song. Now, 40 years later, Whitley continues ministering to those who may not get a chance to hear or know about God and Jesus Christ.

It all started in a funny way, according to Whitley. He would visit every room at River Trace Nursing Home and talk to its residents. Upon hearing about his visits, a young woman at his church asked to accompany him and bring her toddler son.

“I couldn’t say no,” Whitley recounted. “She didn’t want to go into each room; she wanted to have a meeting in the lobby. I had never done that, but I agreed. Then she wanted to sing, and every time she started to sing, I would try with her. I had never sung or preached to people like that.”

Whitley said she soon stopped going with him, but he continued and, as a result of her way of doing things, his style of outreach changed. Whitley began hosting prayer meetings and would preach in the lobby.

But about three years ago, Whitley thought he could do better, he said. He started visiting all the nursing homes in the county — two homes in Pantego, two in Washington, one in Chocowinity and others.

In some cases, Whitley says people were skeptical about listening to what he had to say. So, he began giving $2 to those who sit and listen to him preach and talk about God.

“I give out like $300-400 a week,” Whitley said. “I go each week, come rain or shine or snow. I really purely enjoy it more than anything.”

Whitley also used to visit the Beaufort County jail, he said. For 25 years, he would visit the occupants of the cells and talk about Christianity and letting Jesus and God into one’s life.

“One old boy was from Belhaven and was facing 90 years, and I saw him every week,” Whitley said. “I asked him what he wanted, and he said he ‘wanted to be home with his wife and children.’ You couldn’t blame him. I asked if that was his desire, and he said, ‘Yes.’ God put it in the Bible — ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).’ We prayed, and I put my hand on him. That was on a Tuesday night and before Friday, he was out of jail. And it didn’t cost him a penny. I saw that happen a dozen times or more. If you get on your knees and pray, God will help you.”

Whitley doesn’t consider himself an educated man, but he knows about Jesus, he said. And that alone is all he talks about when conversing with people during his times of ministry.

“I enjoy helping people,” Whitley said. “I feel like, if I’m helping them, God will help me more. I don’t talk about anything but Jesus. There’s nothing else to talk about. And sometimes I’m talking to myself. I’m not perfect, and I’m talking to myself and getting myself straight. We are human beings and we sin. But as a Christian, you have power over anything if you have faith. You can pray for God to stop sickness or weather or anything. With God, anything is possible. All you have to do is pray.”

Whitley said he hopes to continue his ministry, one that will depend on his ability to continue driving.

“My intention is to continue until I can’t drive anymore,” Whitley said. “I want to help people. I want to get people interested in God, even if it means spending every penny I have. That’s the only thing there is that’s important to me, personally. How great it is to help someone else come to God.”