Evangelist Wanda Joyce Jenkins has always been a pillar of strength, a God-fearing woman, and scripturally, a virtuous woman clothed in dignity. She has presided over many auxiliaries, including as choir president, co-youth choir chair, and Purity Class leader—not to mention, she is one incredible mother and quite an assertive mama bear.
Missionary Jenkins first began singing at age 16. Admittedly, she shared that she had to work through extreme shyness to find her gift. Missionary Jenkins revealed she was nearly 30 before she stopped feeling overwhelmed and crying when forced to sing. Arguably the catalyst for this shift was a conversation with the then choir president, Sarah McCowan, her mentor, who questioned if she would allow herself to be delivered from this fear. Fellow church members encouraged her to use her voice.
One pivotal moment was when a special guest came to do a workshop with the choir. The guest had each choir member sing one by one down the line. When he heard Missionary Jenkins sing, he confirmed what her mentor Sarah had urged, and that was for Missionary Jenkins to begin leading songs in the choir.
She affectionately recalls during the very first anniversary for Pastor Elder Earnest and Cherlyn Fitzhugh, she asked the Lord to help her find her strength. Sister Della Johnson, without permission, had put her on the program to sing a solo. Missionary Jenkins attempted to back out and asked another sister to sing on her behalf. The song was "Riding through the Storm." After sage advice from her accompanist, she embraced that she was not expected to sound like Yolanda Adams but to focus solely on the message coming from God. She prayed and asked for guidance while singing the song. After that performance, she received affirmation from God that her answers to her prayers to sing and not be shaken were fulfilled. She has been a staple, singing within the community at various churches within COGIC, other denominations, funerals, weddings, and the like. She attributes the anointing for making the difference.
When preaching, she stands solely on being a true vessel for the Lord. When preparing for her sermons, Missionary Jenkins prays that the Spirit give her utterance. Unlike when she sings, she never critiques herself because it is always the Lord who is speaking. She recalls one of her sermons, “Is it really well with my soul?” Essentially, it is a modern-day Job story. Missionary Jenkins shares a present-day anecdote about a man and the tragedy of losing his home and all his children. While on his way to his grieving wife, he wrote the song “It is Well with my Soul.” She lets her children know how imperative it is to control our mindset when you feel everything is failing around you. Sometimes we fall under pressure and lose sight of who God is. But if you are steadfast in leaning on him as your source, you will not be lost. Missionary Jenkins emphatically states, “God is the source, and he uses resources to help support you!”
Missionary Jenkins has been a pillar within the community: a devoted willing worker who visits the shut-in, preaches within the prison system, ministers at the homeless shelter, provides transportation for multiple saints to and from service, teaches, and molds the youth, all while being a devoted sister, daughter, mother to three adult children, and grandmother to five grandchildren. The list of her impact is never-ending.
All of this from a terribly shy young girl who learned to truly lean on the Lord as her strength!
Evangelist Wanda Joyce Jenkins has always been a pillar of strength, a God-fearing woman, and scripturally, a virtuous woman clothed in dignity. She has presided over many auxiliaries, including as choir president, co-youth choir chair, and Purity Class leader—not to mention, she is one incredible mother and quite an assertive mama bear.
Missionary Jenkins first began singing at age 16. Admittedly, she shared that she had to work through extreme shyness to find her gift. Missionary Jenkins revealed she was nearly 30 before she stopped feeling overwhelmed and crying when forced to sing. Arguably the catalyst for this shift was a conversation with the then choir president, Sarah McCowan, her mentor, who questioned if she would allow herself to be delivered from this fear. Fellow church members encouraged her to use her voice.
One pivotal moment was when a special guest came to do a workshop with the choir. The guest had each choir member sing one by one down the line. When he heard Missionary Jenkins sing, he confirmed what her mentor Sarah had urged, and that was for Missionary Jenkins to begin leading songs in the choir.
She affectionately recalls during the very first anniversary for Pastor Elder Earnest and Cherlyn Fitzhugh, she asked the Lord to help her find her strength. Sister Della Johnson, without permission, had put her on the program to sing a solo. Missionary Jenkins attempted to back out and asked another sister to sing on her behalf. The song was "Riding through the Storm." After sage advice from her accompanist, she embraced that she was not expected to sound like Yolanda Adams but to focus solely on the message coming from God. She prayed and asked for guidance while singing the song. After that performance, she received affirmation from God that her answers to her prayers to sing and not be shaken were fulfilled. She has been a staple, singing within the community at various churches within COGIC, other denominations, funerals, weddings, and the like. She attributes the anointing for making the difference.
When preaching, she stands solely on being a true vessel for the Lord. When preparing for her sermons, Missionary Jenkins prays that the Spirit give her utterance. Unlike when she sings, she never critiques herself because it is always the Lord who is speaking. She recalls one of her sermons, “Is it really well with my soul?” Essentially, it is a modern-day Job story. Missionary Jenkins shares a present-day anecdote about a man and the tragedy of losing his home and all his children. While on his way to his grieving wife, he wrote the song “It is Well with my Soul.” She lets her children know how imperative it is to control our mindset when you feel everything is failing around you. Sometimes we fall under pressure and lose sight of who God is. But if you are steadfast in leaning on him as your source, you will not be lost. Missionary Jenkins emphatically states, “God is the source, and he uses resources to help support you!”
Missionary Jenkins has been a pillar within the community: a devoted willing worker who visits the shut-in, preaches within the prison system, ministers at the homeless shelter, provides transportation for multiple saints to and from service, teaches, and molds the youth, all while being a devoted sister, daughter, mother to three adult children, and grandmother to five grandchildren. The list of her impact is never-ending.
All of this from a terribly shy young girl who learned to truly lean on the Lord as her strength!