I met Ray Jenkins nearly six years ago. He visited a Tuesday evening TUMI (The Urban Ministry Institute) class with his pastor. It’s funny to think back that at the time they thought it would be a one-night class. They soon discovered that TUMI was not an evening class or even an eight-week course, but a sixteen-module program. Both Ray, and his pastor applied, became students, and completed the entire TUMI program. Ray graduated in December 2016. His three-and-a-half-year journey was filled with great adventure.
As a student of TUMI Dallas, Ray did much more than attend classes. He, like the other students, offered devotional thoughts before class, led textbook and case study question discussions, and received coaching on how to facilitate his own TUMI classes. Both before and after Ray’s graduation, he served on the leadership team of several men’s conferences, attended special events and seminars, and volunteered at serval ministry events serving alongside me and others. Now Ray and his pastor offer weekly classes at TUMI of West Dallas, which they launched together.
When I met Ray, he was serving as a deacon at his church. While a student, he continued to serve as deacon and began filling the pulpit occasionally. He actually led the church for a season as his pastor went through the loss of his wife and later a significant health issue. It was my greatest joy to serve on Ray’s ordination council at New Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Today, Ray serves as Pastor of NMCBC. It seems his great adventure is only just beginning!
Please take a moment to pray for Ray and all of our TUMI students and graduates who are serving local churches in under-resourced neighborhoods. And pray for us, for the grace and strength we need to coach and resource urban leaders that will transform their communities.
