Ken and Beverly Jenkins aren’t just husband and wife but pastors of Refuge & Restoration Church. This loving duo focuses on what it takes to strengthen couples who are considering marriage and those whose marriage is in crisis.
Married 20 years with four children, they were ordained together in 2002 by Louis T. Shelton, pastor of Union Tabernacle M.B church. Ken became a Youth Pastor and Beverly Youth Director.
“I know God has called you to preach,” Beverly said to Ken regarding his transition from Youth Pastor to Senior Pastor.
In 2004 they started Cell Groups in their home. Cell Groups allow people to get together to minister, focus on studying the bible and to fellowship. They also participated in outreach ministries, reaching out to Transitional Homes for men.
“We were told that the Cell Groups wouldn’t work in the African-American church community,” said Beverly. But they knew God placed it on their hearts to move forward.
They were already holding Bible studies in their home, so it wasn’t difficult to transition into the first Cell Group, which consisted of four people meeting in their family room. They met once a week for about a year. The group grew larger in size, which caused them to relocate.
In the summer of 2005 they started their first church service. The Sunday service started in the basement of their home. They placed a sign at the entrance of their basement that read “Church downstairs.”
When they outgrew the basement, they were offered space by Pastor Coleman at Word of Faith. But after a few months, the later time slot didn’t work well with the Jenkins congregation and they decided to return to the comfort of their home.
In the winter of 2007, they moved their church family to a store front in Hazelwood. Members of the congregation that were skilled in construction pitched in and were able to modify the building. They stayed less than a year, again outgrowing the size of the building.
They moved to the movie theater at Jamestown Mall for three years. As the congregation continued to grow, the theater was shut down.
In November of 2013, Bishop and Sister Dwight Casson of Praise Tabernacle, located in Jennings, opened their doors to allow them to use their building. “Bishop and Sister Casson are really good people,” said Ken.
Their church, Refuge& Restoration, provides a place for people to be restored who felt like they had given up on church. The Cell Groups tie into Refuge & Restoration. People can be vulnerable and transparent, which allows them to be open to share and be loved in the process.
People start by coming to the Cell Groups, but may or may not attend Sunday service. “It’s a real community,” Ken said. “We can really walk in love in a real way.”
In 2003 Beverly came up with the idea to plan a Marriage Retreat. The Building Intimacy Marriage Retreat included a diverse group of couples of varied ages, length of marriage and race. “God wants me to do this,” said Beverly.
The retreat, held on a resort in the Lake of the Ozarks, consisted of classes, seminars, games and one-on-one time with your spouse. The couples didn’t have to wait until they made it home to use what they learned, they used the tips right then and there. On Sunday the couples were given affirmations and discussed how the retreat effected them.
Then, “God said, ‘Go on the radio,” said Beverly.
So now Ken and Beverly host “Real Marriage, Real Talk” on KXEN 1010 AM. This September will mark four years that they’ve hosted the radio show. They answer questions provided by listeners sent via Face Book, email and text. The show airs on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10:45 until 11 a. m.
“We work off of each other,” Ken said of the show.
For more information, visit http://www.refugeandrestoration.org/index.html or http://www.bimrworks.com/.
