Dr. Millard A. Jenkens


 

From November 13, 1901 to July 1906

Dr. Millard A. Jenkens served as pastor of the First Baptist church from November 13, 1901 to July 1906 when he resigned.  He came from the East Macon Baptist Church and joined by letter at the weekly prayer meeting November 13, 1901 and preached the first sermon on Sunday November 17, 1901 on the subject, “Christian Responsibility” Acts 1:8.

From January 14, 1902 through January 19, 1902 the third Annual Bible Conference was conducted with the following ministers assisting:  Rev. R. W. Bisby of Fort Gaines, FL, Rev. R. V. Miller, Dr. R. E. Neighbors, Americus, Dr. Joe Broughton and Dr. L. G. Broughton who preached on “The Church and What Killed It”.  Three services were held daily.

During Dr. Jenkens’ pastorate in Dublin he lost his wife and baby by death, and the church felt that he needed a vacation, and gave him a trip to Europe.  While in Scotland he visited the Melrose Abby and was so impressed with it’s beauty that he procured the plans of it to bring back to Dublin to be used for the new church which was being built.  A complete description of the present building, which is the third building on the same lot, is given in the history of the church by Judge J. B. Wolfe.  Membership in First Baptist in 1906 was 538.

Before going to Abilene, TX, where he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church for 32 years, Dr. Jenkens held pastorates in his native North Carolina as well as Kentucky and Georgia.  His church at Dublin, Georgia was the first in the Southern Baptist Convention to build an educational building and have a departmentalized Sunday School.  Dr. Jenkens founded the Hendrix Memorial Baptist Hospital and served as president of the executive board of the Texas Baptists.  He has written several books, one of which is “Brands Form the Burning”, owned by the author’s family, which deals with his personal experiences during his ministry.