Jordan finds his niche in lay ministry

Southeast Missourian

Wavis Jordan is not your traditional staff preacher. The Mississippi native moved to Cape Girardeau after high school and with the prayers and support of others, he's embraced a role as a lay minister. Recently Jordan shared his thoughts with the Southeast Missourian on being a lay minister.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I was born and raised in Greenwood, Miss. I had gone to St. Francis School in Greenwood. I was known as "Big Mouth Wavis" in my community because I talked a lot like I do now. Of course, I knew everyone in town, it seems like. I moved to Cape Girardeau County in 1997 right out of high school. Of course we have great people in this area. I am blessed to get to know a lot of y'all. I am the security director for the West Park Mall Security Department and Pop's Pizza. I love my great God, and I love people. Anyone who knows me knows that I love everyone. I am blessed to have both of my parents, who are still living, and my sisters and brothers, who I love and who support me. I do attend church every Sunday.

Q: How long have you been a member of your faith?

A: All of my life. I grew up in church. I went to church as a child and also to Sunday school and Bible study on Wednesday nights. To this day, I still serve my church by going to worship, if I am not lay speaking, and go to Bible study on Wednesday. I also like to go to different churches to worship God with other great Christians. I believe in fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ.

Q: What or who inspired you to start a preaching ministry?

A: I thank God for Pastor Janet Hopkins. She believes that is my calling. I believe that God has inspired her to see that in me. She is the one who inspired me to be a lay preacher. The first message I gave was at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church where Pastor Janet was the pastor. She has encouraged me -- and still does -- and prayed for me. Also, Adelaide Parsons is a great woman like Pastor Janet who has encouraged me and prayed for me, too.

Q: How often and where do you preach?

A: I lay preach a lot. I get a lot of calls from pastors to serve as a lay preacher at their churches. I go to different churches. It is a joy to go to different churches.

Q: Do you have any upcoming events scheduled?

A: Yes. On June 10 I will be at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church. June 24 I will be at Trinity Church in Oran, and I will speak in Sikeston at Smith Chapel Church in July.

Q: Do you plan to continue preaching at multiple churches or would you at some point like to serve as a staff pastor for one church?

A: Yes, I planning on lay preaching at multiple churches. This is an answer to my prayer. I believe this is where God wants me to be, and I'm going to stay at this level until God moves me in another direction. Yes, I would like to be a staff pastor, but once again I would like to wait on God. That is God's choice if he wants me to be a pastor or not.

Q: What's your favorite Bible verse and why?

A: The whole Bible is my favorite, but if I had to take a pick it would be Acts 2:38. It says, "Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." I like that verse because when I got saved I remember it was preached at a revival meeting by a great preacher. By receiving the word of God that evening with that Scripture, that made me go to the altar to give my life to Jesus. I was baptized in Jesus' name and received the Holy Spirit that evening. I was made whole that evening. I should never forget it. Yes, I have made some mistakes in my life and still do, and the Holy Ghost reminds and helps me to repent of my sins when I do something wrong. So here I am today doing the best I can to serve my God and my Jesus.

Q: To a young person considering the ministry full time or bivocationally, what's your advice?

A: I would tell a young person considering the ministry that they should make sure that God is in their lives, to study the word of God, and to make sure that God is leading them into the ministry. Sometimes the ministry is not for every person.

Q: What's the greatest blessing you've experienced in the ministry?

A: My greatest blessing is when I do an altar call at church, to see people come and give their life to Jesus and accept him in their heart. That brings tears to my eyes.