(biography written by Jaqualin Pennyman)
“Mary Jenkins, also known as Mama Jenkins, was the spiritual granddaughter of the famed miracle worker Smith Wigglesworth. She had a powerful ministry with signs, wonders, and miracles.
“I’ve been anticipating doing this post on Mama Jenkins because so many people have never heard of her. To me, the most outstanding thing about Mama Jenkins is the “low profile” she kept. Many believe that if someone is being mightily used by God, the world would know them. This certainly isn’t always true. God will often keep such people hidden so they are able to move more freely, and so that God receives all the glory. This was the life of Mama Jenkins who, among many things, even saw Siamese (conjoined) twins separated by the power of God!
“There isn’t much information currently available about Mama Jenkins, however a book is being written about her. Mama Jenkins was born on February 8th, 1909. She began having angelic visitations as a little girl and would tell her father what she saw. He didn’t believe her, thinking she had an overactive imagination or was lying, and he would whoop her. Her father worked for a bridge-building company, and one day while overseas in Europe, he ended up in a service with Smith Wigglesworth. Wigglesworth called him out by the Spirit and said, “Why are you spanking that little girl? She isn’t lying. She’s being used by God and called to be a Prophetess to the nations.” She would eventually go on to be trained and mentored by Wigglesworth, even preaching in his services!
“Smith visited Mama Jenkins some time before his death and told her, among other things, that her real ministry wouldn’t begin until she was mature enough to handle it. This would be her ministry of supernatural exploits for God’s kingdom which began for Mary around the age of 60. These are only some of the exploits God performed through Mama Jenkins: she had an amazing prophetic ministry, she would at times physically translate from one location to another (as Philip the evangelist was recorded doing in Acts 8:39-40), oil would often supernaturally flow from her hands, many people were raised from the dead, a mental hospital was emptied as every patient was healed, a pair of Siamese twins was separated, and robberies were stopped by God’s power as the criminals were led to salvation in Christ!
“We need people like Mama Jenkins in the days of the coming “great revival,” those who will do what I call “Holy Ghost drive-bys.” That’s a person who goes in and gets the job done, and then leaves without a trace. They are in God’s “stealth” program. This way God will get ALL of the glory, as no attention will be able to be placed on men!
“Mama Jenkins died on November 4th, 2011 at the age of 102. She identified herself as an “instruction follower.” She emphasized the importance of obeying God in every area of life. That was how she was able to be used by God so mightily. Mama Jenkins said, “I don’t move until God tells me to move. I don’t talk until God tells me to talk. I don’t even walk until God tells me to walk.” Her life and legacy proves the key to being used by God is obedience!
[Note: Mama Jenkins was 92 years old and still preaching in the picture below. She moved in God’s power even in her 100’s]”
I found this story fascinating – and encouraging/empowering. I’m no where near 102 years old, but the first half of my life is probably “water under the bridge,” and I wonder sometimes about what impact this second half will have. I expect that the great Apostles named in the Bible like Peter and Paul were astounded at what Jesus led them to do – simply by being obedient to his voice. The Apostle John outlived the rest of the first generation disciples and in his old age wrote letters and a Gospel to tell people about Jesus. May we, too, follow Jesus in obedience and have fruitful ministries no matter how chronologically advanced we become!!
God,
We thank you for stories and testimonies of people like Mama Jenkins, the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John, and those around us we know have had fruitful ministries well into their advanced decades. We thank you that the same Spirit given to them is upon us and you have anointed us to proclaim good news, freedom, healing, and the year of the Lord’s favor. Give us hearts to seek you, spiritual ears to hear you, and health and energy to follow you. Give us fruitful ministries to help further your Kingdom, your justice and mercy, and your grace, peace, and love, to a lost and dying world. Give us humble hearts so each and every thing we do points to you, your Kingdom, and your Glory. We ask in the strong name of Christ, Amen.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV)
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NKJV)
“It is no secret what God can do
What He’s done for others,
He’ll do for you…”
(from “It’s No Secret What God Can Do” by Mahalia Jackson)