Transformation: within and without Getting to know Jody Jennings
Posted by The Skyliner on September 24th, 2008
Kaelyn Pfenning
Copy Editor
Jody Jennings joined North Greenville University in the spring as the new Baptist Student Union director and transforms Fusion this fall.
The theme for the first four weeks, derived from a leadership team camping trip, resounded: RESCUED from self for service. On the BSU leadership team, Jennings implemented one theme for four weeks rather than for the whole year. More changes involve students’ testimonies, facilitated discussions and more student involvement on Thursday nights.
Along with changes to Fusion, Jennings coordinates impact teams. With students’ help, he assigns certain students appropriate teams, contacts churches and obtains transportation for each team.
“So far, Jody has beautifully poured into his job here 110%, but, even more challenging, he has poured out 110% (possibly even more) into his personal growing family,” said Caroline Smith, sophomore interdisciplinary studies, who works on the impact teams with Jennings.
While Jennings works on impact teams and Fusion, his wife supports him and cares for their three children as well as the one on the way. Silas, Hattie and Luke each added more responsibility with their births, but Emily Jennings continues to care for the children at home.
“And that’s probably a major encouragement in my life as well, knowing that she’s ministering to our kids in an incredible way,” said Jennings.
Because he grew up in a Christian home, Jennings values living faith in day-to-day life. His father’s example of patience remains with him as he now serves college students who may struggle with parental relationships.
At 16 Jennings expressed excitement over a truck from his parents. Two weeks later he parked his truck in a sandy area at his friend’s house for a camping trip. Jennings and his friends needed to go to the store and chose the truck to get there. The truck refused to budge. Scared to call his parents, Jennings worked with his friends to free the truck, but all to no avail. At 1 a.m., one of his friends drove Jennings to his house.
“I walked in my house, went back to my parents’ bedroom, woke my dad up, and said, ‘Dad, I got the truck stuck,’” said Jennings.
From the comfort of his new office, Jennings continued to share how his dad woke up, drove to the truck, brought tools and had the truck out in five minutes.
Many experiences, including his father’s patience, prepared Jennings for the position he now holds. He grew up in Warner Robins, Ga. with a close group of friends. He lived in the same house and maintained the same friends from Parkwood Elementary School to Northside High School. He began his freshman year at Macon State College by staying out late with friends, visiting clubs and arguing with his parents.
“I felt like I was old enough to make my own decisions and started wondering why I believed what I believed,” said Jennings.
Jennings, baptized at the young age of five, never understood the intimacy of a relationship with Jesus. He considered himself a fairly good person and continued with his life, though he felt something lacking.
“When I was with my friends, everything was fine. But when I would leave my friends and I would be by myself lying in my bed at night, often times I would just lay there and wonder, ‘What’s the point of my life?’” said Jennings.
One night, Jennings returned to his own room in his own home feeling miserable. He opened his Bible and began to read.
“For the first time in my life, by myself in my room, the gospel really made sense to me; where I really understood that I was a sinner,” said Jennings.
Jennings attended one more dance party with his friends. He felt so miserable he told his friends he would not attend any more. His friends did not understand.
Jennings stood firm in his new found belief. He surrounded himself with people who felt the same passion to know Christ. He joined Life Action Ministries and traveled with them for two years. Along the way, he discovered NGU.
After attending for two years, Jody Jennings married Emily Boitnott in Fountain Park on campus. The BSU praise team led the music.
A number of students, faculty, and staff attended the wedding and the reception in Hayes Ministry Center.
Jennings graduated in 2001 and began to plant churches in Uganda, Africa with his wife. Three years later, Jody and Emily Jennings found themselves planting churches in Bismarck, North Dakota. After establishing a strong church, the Jennings felt the call to North Greenville and responded.
“It’s what we love to do, hang out with college students and invest our lives in them,” said Jennings.
The new theme for the next four weeks of Fusion began last Thursday: RESCUED from pride for humility.
Tags: Fall 2008, Vol. 108 Fall - Issue 3