BY KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor
ALEXANDRIA – When asked “How do you maintain your vision for the lost?” Wayne Jenkins responds, “by seeking them out in the normal traffic patterns of life.”
Also, “I plan involvement in activities that are intentionally evangelistic, like prison revivals, Crossovers, and mission trips.
[img_assist|nid=6806|title=Wayne Jenkins, Evangelism/Church Growth Team Leader|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=79|height=100]For the last 20 years, Jenkins has been the Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Director. During a re-organization five years ago, the Church Growth Division was added.
Jenkins has been sharing his faith since he was a teenager.
“I went to my pastor, shortly after I became a Christian, and asked him how I could share my faith,” Jenkins said. “I was 16, and that desire to share with people never left. It became a part of who I am. God opens the door to talk with someone and when we are obedient to walk through the open door He empowers us.”
A Louisiana native, Jenkins loves evangelism – sharing Christ with people – and he loves pastors across the state.
“Our job [LBC’s evangelism/church growth team] is to assist local churches in becoming strong, evangelistic churches,” Jenkins said. “We partner with associations as well as local churches, equipping them as best we can to accomplish their goals.”
A lot of his time is spent answering questions, such as “What’s a good way to …,” How do I …,” “Do you have any resources …,” and more.
Jenkins also has questions – 10 of them – for pastors to think about when they’re planning for the future. More about that in a future issue of the Baptist Message.
This article is to recognize the 20 years of service Jenkins has given unstintingly to Louisiana Southern Baptists.
“It’s a sense of calling,” Jenkins said in response to a question about the mission trips he’s led to Brazil for the last 26 years.
It is not an assignment by Louisiana Baptist Convention, but most of the 199 people who went last year were from Louisiana.
“My desire is for them to catch a vision of the work that Southern Baptists are doing around the world and for having a greater burden for giving to the Cooperative Program and missions, and also being directly involved.” Jenkins said.
“I think everybody ought to leave a legacy in their family of evangelism and missions, and that’s why I have involved my kids and grandkids in the missions and evangelism activity.”
Married to Martha for 42 years, the couple are the parents of four daughters and 12 grandchildren.