SOUTH POINT — The family is most important to Tim Jenkins, the new pastor at Tri-State Baptist Church in South Point.

Jenkins has been preaching since 1992 and although he was born and raised in the Ironton area, in 1996, he and his family moved to Kingsport, Tenn., to be assistant pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Then, in 2001, he was senior pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Newport, Tenn.

Now, they are back home.

“It’s exciting. It’s an opportunity we have that we never thought we might have,” Jenkins said. “My wife and I were actually on staff at this church in 1995, right before we left here.”

His wife’s father was youth pastor at Tri-State Baptist Church many years ago, he said.

“We have a lot of connections here at the church and in the community,” Jenkins said. “So, it’s exciting to get to come back. It was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done to leave the ministry we had in Tennessee. … But, at the same time, it’s exciting to come back here.”

Both he and his wife, Angie, graduated from Rock Hill High School and went to Ohio University.

He was called to preach while in college and took bible training at Bethany Bible College and Seminary in Dothan, Ala.

“I’ve been a pastor’s daughter all my life,” Angie Jenkins said. “I prayed as young girl that if it pleased the Lord I’d love to marry a pastor. I just enjoy it and love it and love helping people and being his helpmate.”

She enjoys working with the children and choir, helping where help is needed, she said. She also plays piano.

When they left Ohio, their daughter, Lydia, 12, was only 18 months old. She is attending Grace Christian School in Huntington, W.Va.

The new minister and his family will be working on programs that will reach the entire family.

“One of the things we often say is that everybody needs three homes,” he said. “You need a home to live in, you need a heavenly home, and you need a church home that you can put your life and influence in for the Lord.”

They will be starting a bus ministry going to Ironton, South Point and Chesapeake.

After the ballgames, the church has a bonfire for all the students who want to go, offering snacks and activities.

The church also has a large gymnasium where a community basketball program is planned to begin this fall.