tbc Life of the Community, Worship, Worship & Fellowship

Memorial Service: Woody Jenkins

Lynwood “Woody” Bruce Jenkins died peacefully after a day surrounded by family and friends in his home in Powhatan, Virginia on October 11th following a 10-month battle with cancer. He leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Virginia “Penny”.

Woody embarked on a life of service working as a house parent to underprivileged youth in Baltimore, MD. He went on to work as integration coordinator for Morgan State University, afterwards serving as a Human Resources director in life care facilities in the Baltimore and Philadelphia areas. When he returned to Virginia, he became a real estate broker at Lake Anna. After a near-fatal automobile accident, Woody responded to his original calling to become a pastor, entering seminary at age 56 and earning Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He served at Southampton Baptist Church in South Richmond and Elk Creek Baptist Church in Mineral, VA until he retired. In between pastorates, he worked in the development office at Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond.

When not at work, he was involved in helping family, friends, and community with whatever needed fixing. He helped coach his sons’ baseball teams and cheered loudly at his grandsons’ various games. He was the first President of Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore and Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity and finally served Habitat with his wife as volunteer Mid-Atlantic Regional Directors approving new projects in five states, including Richmond HFH as well. He went on mission trips to Slovakia, Panama, and Brazil. He helped to establish the Rural Institute for Theological Education in the Goshen Baptist Association to provide undergraduate studies for adults in rural counties with many students going on to pursue seminary degrees. He joined the Goochland County Fire and Rescue Department in 2002, primarily driving an ambulance for many years. Woody soon saw the need for chaplaincy services for patients, families, and even the FEMS staff themselves, and that came to fruition for FEMS and the Sheriff’s department.

Woody was predeceased by his parents, Hugh E. and Hattie C. Jenkins, his half-brother, Harold Stoneburger, and his brother, Robert. In addition to Penny, he also leaves his sister, Mary Kathryn Richardson, and brother, James Jenkins (Joyce), his first wife, Nancy Jenkins, and also his son, David, and step-children, Laurel Nelson (Brooks), Ronald Mattson (Pamela), and Michael Mattson (Rebecca), and his grandchildren, Syd (Katie), Matthew, James, Simon, and Reid. He also leaves Hung Pham, Brian Roskow, and Brian Giesler who each lived in his and Penny’s home as young men.

Among his many joys were hunting, fishing, traveling the open road in his RV, and loving on his many dogs over the years, so we add Bodie and Kylie, the last of the pack.

A celebration of life is planned for Monday, November 24 at 11 a.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1925 Grove Ave., Richmond, VA 23220 followed by a time of fellowship with the family. The service will be available on Live-stream. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Tabernacle Baptist Church Endowment Fund or Richmond SPCA.

tbc Building for Hope

Wise Words for Churches in Transition

We are in a moment of big transition at Tabernacle, one that invites deep discernment about who we are, where God is calling us, and how we navigate the challenges and opportunities in this chapter of ministry together.

We’re grateful for the wisdom of our friend Mark Tidsworth, founder of Pinnacle Leadership Associates, who has spent decades walking with congregations through similar seasons of redevelopment and renewal.

In his recent reflection, Five Initiators of Congregational Redevelopment, Mark names five dynamics that often surface when a church is on the threshold of transformation. His words are honest, hopeful, and deeply resonant for communities like ours. You can find the original post and more resources from Mark and his team at Pinnacle Leadership Associates.

Five Initiators of Congregational Redevelopment

Nov 11, 2025

by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader of Pinnacle Leadership Associates

“If you want to build a ship, don’t summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work, rather teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery, quoted by Alan Hirsch in The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church, 2006.

I was talking with a minister whose daughter is a teacher in one of the schools taken over by the state due to its poor performance. A problem-solver, specialist principal was sent in to reform this school. This principal stayed a few years and then moved on. As we coach clergy and consult with congregations, we are finding many who are in similar circumstances to this school and its specialist principal. Unexpectedly, most pastors find themselves in redevelopment ministry contexts. 

When redevelopment of a congregation is needed, how do we lead? Given the parable of the Sower and the Seed, we are not responsible for the growth of God’s kingdom. Instead, we are responsible for cultivating the soil and sowing the seed — still a substantial task. What nutrients are needed in the soil? What weather patterns and conditions are needed for the seed to grow? When renewal and redevelopment of a congregation happens, what are the ingredients in the mix? 

Crisis. I wish this were not so. It appears that some level of crisis is a necessary ingredient in the soil for renewal to happen. Typical forms of crisis include conflict, after which mass exodus occurs, threatening the critical mass of the congregation. Finances can drop enough to threaten the employment of staff persons. Sometimes, even theological differences can drive congregational demise (though this is more rare than one might expect). These, and others, lead to congregational crises with fear and pain involved. As we work with congregations in many places, we observe that some level of crisis is needed to wake them to their need for renewal and redevelopment. Threats to survival, along with substantial fear, have a way of waking us to reality.

Acceptance. The first response organizations make when a crisis occurs and they are ready to get back on track is to try harder with what has worked before… improve the quality, work harder at what we do, strengthen our programs and people. These are well-intentioned efforts, and are effective, when your model is viable. When adaptive change is needed (when the model itself is no longer viable), then these efforts inevitably produce increased frustration. Perhaps this is a valley congregations must travel. Eventually they must realize that it’s the model itself, and become willing to accept that church-like-the-1950s will not happen again.

“Until three-quarters of your formal and informal leadership cadre is ‘honestly convinced that business-as-usual is totally unacceptable,’ your organization’s concerted effort to change is not ready to be launched.” — John Kotter, “Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail,” Harvard Business Review (March-April, 1995)

Compelling and Captivating Story. Fortunately we have one — the gospel of Jesus Christ. Congregations who engage in redevelopment must first rediscover their story. Do they have something to share? Do they have something the world needs? Is this story out of which they live captivating and compelling? If not, then the redevelopment work will be too difficult. If so, they have discovered the source of life. If so, they want to share this good news and engage in activities that bring wholeness to the world. They want to join God on mission in the world out of their gratitude for God’s presence in their lives. They want to build ships because they yearn for the wide, boundless ocean.

Commitment to Renewal and Redevelopment. Some congregations decide to close. When they can do this with dignity, they can bless their journey. Others though, redevelop. This is the “boot camp” season of congregational life. This is the time when people roll up their sleeves and make a go of it. To do this, commitment has to be high. Like John Kotter says in the previous quote, the pastor, church staff, and congregational leaders have to actively commit to renewing and redeveloping the congregation. There will be spiritual and emotional highs… and lows. So the commitment has to be there to sustain them through boot camp.

Urgency. It’s interesting to observe what drives urgency for the churches who redevelop. Often the driving factors don’t appear very “spiritual.” The congregation may be driven by the awareness they are dropping below a critical mass to sustain their facilities, staff, and programs (institutional fears). If this is where they are, and it motivates them to do ministry, then at least it’s a way to begin moving. When they do make progress, often they discover more sustaining and life giving motivation. In order to do the necessary renewal and redevelopment work, they have to be compelled by their sense of urgency to accomplish the mission.

Finding yourself in a renewal or redevelopment ministry? You are in good company these days. Fortunately, we are in luck. God specializes in renewal, through Christ.

tbc Community Ministry, Worship & Fellowship

CBF Ministries Council Grant empowers Tabernacle Baptist Church to overcome language barriers

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently featured our church and the simple question we have been working to answer. How do we make sure neighbors who speak different languages feel fully seen and included at the Saturday breakfast and pantry, and in our wider life together

Thanks to a CBF Ministries Council grant, we are building better bridges. From everyday communication to moments of worship and care, we are discovering new ways to belong to one another.

Read the full story from CBF to see how this work is taking shape and how you can be part of it.

Beyond Words: CBF Ministries Council Grant empowers Tabernacle Baptist Church to overcome language barriers

October 28, 2025

By Kristen Thomason 

Saturdays are special at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. There, over 40 volunteers prepare breakfast for those in the community who’ve come to shop at the church’s food pantry and clothing closet. As more residents who did not speak English began visiting Tabernacle on Saturdays, volunteers struggled to create the intentional relationships central to the Community Ministry program.  

“Language should never be a barrier to belonging,” said April Kennedy, Tabernacle’s Minister of Abundant Community. Convinced nothing should impede the church’s ability to build relationship with their neighbors, Kennedy reached out to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for help.  

When Tabernacle Baptist revamped its food pantry six years ago, they shifted to a choice-based system to better honor the dignity of their guests. The communal breakfast beforehand is an opportunity for members of the community to gather, connect and build relationships. “Around breakfast tables, they check in on each other’s families, share items carefully chosen for a friend, offer rides and even pick up food for those who cannot make it,” said Kennedy. “There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ on Saturday mornings—only neighbors, each contributing to the shared life of our pantry.”  

The church has taken steps to make its Community Ministry program more accessible by creating forms in Spanish for the 28 percent of guests who come from Spanish speaking households. Volunteers have also made the effort to learn greetings in several additional languages. However, this is not enough to cultivate an environment where guests feel welcomed and included. “Language is more than words. It is connection, dignity and the ability to fully participate in a shared community.” With only a few bilingual volunteers and mobile phone translation apps proving inadequate, the burden of communication was unfairly falling on those most seeking resources and connection.  

To better facilitate communication and foster relationships on Saturday mornings, Tabernacle Baptist applied for a grant from the CBF Ministries Council to buy translation devices. With the $1,605.79 grant they received, the church will be able to purchase several devices and position them at key places on Saturday mornings. One device will be placed at the check in area to ensure guests have accurate information. Another will be available to volunteers in the food pantry to help them answer questions about dietary requirements and food preferences. Kennedy also plans to have a translation device in the communal breakfast area to encourage conversation. “I would also love to eventually invite neighbors into using the translation devices with each other.” 

The devices will eventually help shift conversations from mere transactional exchanges to something more meaningful. “Language inclusion fosters deeper relationships. When people are understood in their own language, they are more likely to share their stories, express their needs and offer their own gifts to the community.” Kennedy is hopeful that through these relationships, the food pantry will grow from a service provided by the church into a community of mutual care.  

Kennedy also wants to encourage other churches facing similar challenges not to give up, and to do whatever is necessary to remove barriers like language differences, even if those early attempts are awkward. “Don’t be afraid to fumble a bit— there’s a sweetness to the grace that is offered by neighbors as they both come, without all the skills needed, and work together to understand each other.”  

tbc Building for Hope

BUILDING FOR HOPE UPDATE

We are so grateful to those of you who have completed the ISpy Activity!  We learned of so many things that most of us walk by everyday without noticing.  We hope you enjoyed doing it.  We’re going to continue to make that opportunity available, and new input would be greatly appreciated.  We have also met with many folks in our community and experts in their fields as we explore what could be next in the life of the church. 

Members of the team also participated in an off-site exploration with other churches where we learned what other tools have been used and helpful in their own exploration.  We’ve been encouraged to think bigger.  The Building Hope Team is going to be meeting biweekly through the end of the year. Stay tuned for a congregation-wide meeting after worship where we’ll report what we’re learning, share some thoughts, and gather feedback.

tbc Staff, Worship & Fellowship

Celebrating a Call: April Kennedy’s Ordination Service on Sept. 13

The Deacon Board is delighted to share that the Ordination Council has unanimously affirmed April Kennedy’s calling to vocational ministry. This decision came after a life-giving conversation on August 13 with a gathering of Tabernacle members, local clergy, and trusted voices from the wider Tabernacle community.  The depth and honesty of April’s sharing:  her story of faith, her call to ministry, and her openness to life-long learning, created sacred space for discernment and affirmation. 

Now we invite the entire Church to gather in worship and gratitude. April’s Ordination Service will be held on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary and in the Virtual Acre. A reception will follow. All are welcome!

We give thanks for the Spirit’s movement in our midst, for April’s ministry, and for the hope and possibility that lie ahead for Tabernacle and the Church Universal. This is a day for celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment to the work God is doing among us.

tbc Worship & Fellowship

Will You Help Lead Us?

As we step into a new season of worship, we’re inviting you to help shape what comes next.

We’re navigating a meaningful time of transition in our worship life, and now more than ever, we’re leaning on the gifts of our whole church family. Whether you’ve helped lead worship before or you’re open to trying something new, we’d love for you to consider stepping in.

Scripture readers, prayer leaders, singers, instrumentalists, testimony-givers—there’s room for all kinds of voices. If you’re willing to give it a try, we promise to support, guide, and walk alongside you every step of the way.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence, growth, and faithfulness.

Let’s do this together.

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tbc Church Business, Reports and Documents

Emergency Operations Plan

The Buildings and Grounds Committee is pleased to introduce our new Church Emergency Operations Plan, which was developed to help our church respond effectively and calmly in the event of an emergency. This plan outlines procedures for various situations, including medical incidents, severe weather, fire, and other potential risks.

We encourage all members, volunteers, and staff to review the plan and become familiar with the key steps. The Committee will be hosting training sessions in the fall for staff, leader, and members of the congregation to better prepare ourselves for emergencies. 

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the Emergency Operations Plan, please talk with Kyle Kennedy or email him at Kyle@kyleandapril.com.

Click Here for a copy of the Plan.