COVENANT'S PASTOR

Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins was born in Henderson NC. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies from North Carolina Central University. He later matriculated at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education receiving a Master of Arts in Christian Education. In 1990 he received his Master of Divinity degree from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary- Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta Ga.

His experience includes being a campus minister at The North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It was during this time period that he served as Youth Minister at Saint James Presbyterian Church. He has served as a summer Program director for four different Presbyterian summer camp programs

In October of 1990, he became the student supply pastor at Saint Paul Presbyterian Church in Louisburg, North Carolina.

On May 1, 1991, he went to Martinsville, Virginia to serve three congregations: Grace Presbyterian, Holmes Memorial Presbyterian and Trinity Presbyterian. He served there until February of 1996. During his ministry the church grew and increased its ministries. A summer day camp was implemented for the four summers he was there. Other ministries include the formation of a Young Adult Group which held a weekly tutorial for community children. The addition of a stairway, another bathroom and an extra classroom were apart of a one-year building program. He was active in the community and received the 1992 Jaycees "Young Religious Person Of The Year Award". He provided counseling services for the Martinsville- Henryco-Yes Mentor Program and served as a big brother to a set of twins. He taught a religion class at Patrick Henry Community College. In Peaks Presbytery, he served on the Leadership Development Committee, New Church Development Council and as the moderator of the Black Caucus.

On March 1, 1996, Reverend Hawkins was issued a call as the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina. Ministries started under his pastorate include two Bible Study Groups, a Young Adult Group, A Book Club, A Moment In Time Discussion Session, Holy Week Observance, Blacks In The Bible Classes, Book Of Order Classes, and a reviving of the Campus Ministry Committee, His community activities include: coordinator of the Durham Crop Walk (1997-1999) ; Secretary of the Durham Congregations - In - Actions ; co-chair of the Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham; serves on the executive committee of the Durham Committee on the Affairs Of Black People, and is the chair for the Housing for New Hope Board.

He is active in the denomination as the chair of the Presbyterian Point Site Committee, the New Hope Presbytery campus Ministry Committee, and as the secretary of the Black Caucus