|
Reverend Wiggins’ vision
and philosophy for mission and ministry is grounded in God’s word and the
conviction that… “If God said it, it can be done, it is possible.” This
vision and philosophy is based on his love for Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know
the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” and his personal life verse
from Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me.”
Having been called, the
Rev. Wiggins answered and was ordained into
the office of pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in
1986 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Montgomery, Alabama. He has served as the
Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church since February 1998.
The eldest son of the
Reverend James and Katie Wiggins, Sr., Pastor
Wiggins was born in Selma, Alabama. He graduated from Alabama Lutheran
Academy in 1977 and continued his education at Concordia Teachers College in
Seward, Nebraska. He earned a B.S. in Secondary Education in 1981 and
taught at St. Peter Lutheran School, Chicago, Illinois, during the academic
year of 1981-82. After a year of teaching, he went on to obtain his Master
of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana
in 1986.
Prior to becoming
Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, he served as pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran
Church, Kannapolis, North Carolina, from 1986 to 1990 and Outer Drive Faith
Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan from 1990 to 1998. He has also
dutifully served the community and church-at-large as:
·
Junior and Senior Counselor for
the Lutheran Women Missionary League of Greater Metropolitan Detroit;
·
Member and chair of Board of
Regents, Concordia College, Selma, Alabama;
·
LCMS Circuit Counselor Michigan
District – Circuit 22; and
·
First Vice-President of LCMS –
Southeastern District.
He continues to support and
serve as:
·
Member of LCMS Board for Black
Ministry Services;
·
President of Black Clergy Caucus
of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; and
·
Revivalist and keynoter for
congregations and conferences.
Under Pastor Wiggins’
leadership, the congregation of Peace has embraced and commissioned nine
members to become Lay Ministers who provide leadership in the following
areas: Christian Education, Music, Administration, Outreach, Pastoral Care
and Youth Ministry. In an effort to reach out into the surrounding
community, Peace Lutheran Church has added a second worship service, so
members and visitors alike are able to
experience both traditional Lutheran worship and Urban Contemporary
worship. Plans are currently underway to remodel the current church
facility and expand our place of worship.
Rev. Wiggins is the proud
father of three children: daughter Tiffany (mother of his two grandchildren
Jaden and Taya) and two boys - Jonathan and James, III. Pastor Wiggins
enjoys traveling, reading, fishing, exercising, doing minor repair work on
cars and golfing with his sons in an attempt to lead a well-rounded
lifestyle. |
