WINTERVILLE, GA – James M. “Jim” Akins, former California Southern Baptist Convention evangelism director, died of cancer Jan. 31. He was 68.

Akins served the state convention from 1991 until his resignation in 1998 to join the North American Mission Board as a regional strategy coordinator for the Eastern United States. Akins served as pastor of Bell Road Baptist Church in Auburn, 1986-1991. He also served as pastor of churches in Texas and Missouri.

After his service to NAMB, Akins served as pastor of Winterville First Baptist Church in Winterville from 2006 until May 2009 when he completed 47 years of ministry.

During his ministry in California Akins served on the board of directors for California Baptist Foundation and was director of evangelism for Sierra Foothills Baptist Association.

Throughout his career, Akins worked with the Baptist World Alliance on the evangelism and education committee.

Fermín A. Whittaker, CSBC executive director, said, "Jim was a passionate, outstanding evangelism leader for our state convention. He lived by sharing the transforming power of Christ, the only answer to our eternal destiny. Only eternity will tell the untold numbers who will be in Heaven because Jim passed their way. We will miss him."

"Tim Gentry, CSBC evangelism specialist hired by Akins when he led evangelism ministries for the state convention, said, “Jim became a mentor to me while I was a young pastor in Roseville. That influence continued during our time together on the CSBC staff. 

“Jim was a great communicator in many ways, but particularly about the importance of sharing the gospel. He helped me become a better communicator by helping me to focus and be direct in what I had to say.

“His love for the local church was unquestionable. As a state staff member he’d always encourage me to do ‘whatever it takes’ in making decisions to aid local churches with their evangelism strategies and outreach emphases.”

A native of Covington, Tennessee, he made a public commitment to surrender to the Lord for vocational ministry in March 1962. He was a graduate of Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He also received a doctor of ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida.

He was married to the former Kay Owen in 1959. Two days after his graduation from Wayland, they were involved in a car accident which left her paralyzed for life. She died of cancer while the couple lived in California. He also was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister and a son, Dedric.

While at NAMB, Akins met and married Penny Wilkins in Oct. 2000.

He is survived by his wife of Athens, Georgia; a daughter, Vanessa Zimmerman of Sugar Hill, Georgia; two granddaughters, a grandson; two brothers; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Winterville First Baptist Church. An additional memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Covington, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to either Winterville First Baptist Church, 305 N. Main St., Winterville, GA 30683, or Oak Grove Baptist Church, 4048 Highway 59 West, Covington, TN 38019.