Dr. Durussia Jenkins, a seasoned evangelist with a doctorate in Christian theology, has dedicated over four decades of her life to full-time Christian ministry, including Gospel crusades and providing food and clothing to the poor. She continues that mission today through her evangelistic organization Dunamis Power Ministries (DPM), inspired by the Greek New Testament term dunamis, meaning strength or power.
Jenkins was raised in the church and influenced by Christianity throughout her early life. But in her early twenties, a pivotal moment helped set the foundation for Jenkins’ lifelong ministry. At the hospital with a concussion, Jenkins encountered Rev. Norman Borders, a man who would profoundly impact her spiritual journey. After Borders laid his hand on Jenkins’ head and prayed for her, she felt the profound power of healing in the weight of his touch.
“I could still feel those fingers burning like he was still in the room,” Jenkins remembers.
After she recovered, she went to Borders’ church to thank him. There, she discovered another miracle: “He had no fingers. … But that was the hand he would lay on people.”
“I learned about love unconditional through Dr. Borders,” Jenkins said, “realizing that it’s not what’s outside, but what’s inside. He could have carried anger against God, losing his fingers. But no, he used that to bring love, hope, and joy, to people like me.”
Jenkins joined Borders’ church and benefited from his mentorship, a season that she describes as a “gateway to understanding what it really means to be called.” Under the counsel of Borders and other seasoned Christian leaders, Jenkins began her journey of gaining ministry experience and deepening her commitment to evangelism.
“I’ve realized that I was born to be a sacrifice for the world to know the ultimate sacrifice, who is Christ our Lord,” Jenkins reflected.
In the 1980s, she began ministering to individuals and communities through Anointed Life Ministries, today known as Dunamis Power Ministries, hosting tent crusades to serve and share the Gospel throughout the nation.
Before one crusade in North Carolina, Jenkins took a special leap of faith during a promotional interview.
“I was on the radio sharing about the revival,” she recalls, “and I said, ‘Please come and get free food,’ not knowing where it was going to come from.”
Despite having no food to give to the hungry people who attended, Jenkins believed that God would provide. Sure enough, on the evening of the event, a large truck arrived with 7,500 pounds of food, donated by a local business.
Today, DPM is focused on media evangelism and global outreach. In addition to Jenkins’ ministerial work, Jenkins is a talented author, having written books about the events of her life as well as children’s stories. The ministry’s current flagship project is a film based on her memoir Before the Stone, which tells the compelling stories of her life. Jenkins’ daughter, Latera Gradnigo, heads up the operations for the movie, which is currently in the development phase. Gradnigo also serves as a worship minister and administrator for DPM.
“I pray that my story will wrap people in the hope and the love of God,” Jenkins said.
As Jenkins continues to navigate the complexities of the modern world, she believes that the current political climate presents a unique, imperative opportunity for Christians.
“The only way we can come together in one mind, one spirit, and one accord, is to be anchored in the truth,” Jenkins said, “and the truth is knowing that nobody is in charge except God. So we do our part according to our conscience.”
Both Jenkins and her daughter call on Christians to vote with their conscience while standing firm in the truth of Scripture. With “perverted” truth “running rampant” everywhere, Jenkins encourages Christians “to speak the truth and not compromise it because we want to be liked,” Jenkins said.
“If I have to go to jail, I’ll go to jail,” she reflected. “We cannot be afraid to speak the truth, because that’s the only way truth is going to have the victory.”
Jenkins has a special vision for protecting and preparing the next generation.
“The Bible says the kingdom is made of children,” she said. “Without children, we have no humanity. …You cannot separate the purpose for humanity from children.”
Jenkins is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders through mentorship to young people both domestically and internationally. To further their global impact, DPM maintains partnerships with a children’s school in Africa and an orphanage in Mexico.
As DPM looks to the future, Jenkins envisions continuing to spread the Gospel through media evangelism, reaching audiences through film, television, and books. Jenkins believes that the ministry has a vital role in testifying to the reality of God’s existence and inspiring unwavering faith.
“We know the world is changing,” she emphasized. “It is utter chaos and craziness out here. But God doesn’t change. He said that He is coming to judge. …It’s an urgent moment. So we need to get urgent.”
Dr. Durussia Jenkins has been an NRB member since 2023 and is a member of the NRB President’s Council. Learn more about Dunamis Power Ministries at their website: dunamispm.com.