Biography of Rev. Dr. James E. HAWKINS LECTURER, Expositor

Born May 20, 1965, is a native of Tyler, TX, and is the sixth child of Thomas and Mae Hawkins.  In 1986, He is married his high school sweetheart Cynthia Kay Collins Hawkins.  They are the proud parents of two sons (Chadward Hawkins and Marquese Hawkins) and one daughter (Tyiesha Hawkins Moore). They have six beautiful granddaughters, Genyiah Hawkins, Amiyah Hawkins, Gabrielle Moore, Brooklyn Moore, Mariyah Moore and Rhylee Hawkins.  He currently serves as a member and lecturer on both the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Evangelical Board and National Trusted Partners for Christ, Inc.  He is the Director of Public Relations for the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Tyler  and Vicinity and is a member and past moderator of Smith Baptist Association.  He is also a member African American Fellowship of Ministers of Tyler, TX Original East Texas Baptist Association, and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.   

Rev. Hawkins accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior at an early age.  He confessed his call to the Gospel ministry in January 1987.  He preached his first sermon on February 15, 1987 at the Liberty Baptist Church in  Tyler, TX where he was licensed to preach under the pastorage of Rev. G. E. O’Neal.  In the same year, he was called to pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church.  Pastor Hawkins was licensed on August 2, 1987, after which he began serving as Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Edgewood, TX where he revived the church membership and other ministries.   After serving two years there, God called Pastor Hawkins to a  greater work in Whitehouse, TX where he served as Pastor of Mt. Elem Baptist Church for eight years.   There he licensed and ordained two ministers began a building program.  Upon leaving Mt. Elem, pastored  for a brief time at Progressive Baptist Church, until GOD gave him vision to organize the Higher Heights  Community Baptist Church. 

 Rev. Hawkins established and founded Higher Heights Community Baptist Church in October 1996, where  GOD gave in a vision to “Be a church where the people’s needs are meet” through holistic ministry  opportunity.  GOD has ORDAINED, FAVORED and BLESSED this ministry.  In August 2011, Pastor  Hawkins and Higher Heights was given a 2.5 million dollar facility for ministry and meet the needs of people.   Souls have been added to the Kingdom of GOD and Higher Heights has been recognized for one of the  fastest growing church in East Texas.  The vision that GOD gave Pastor Hawkins has multiplied and become  one church in two countries, as Higher Heights has birthed three churches in Jamaica and seven churches in  the U.S.  Pastor Hawkins has mentored, licensed and ordained over 40 ministers.   Ministries that have been  added are: Day By Day Recovery Ministry, Grief and Bereavement, Literacy Program, After School Program,  Education/tutoring, Singles and Marriage Ministry, Prison Ministry, Clothing Ministry, Food Pantry and a  Health/Fitness Ministry.  Pastor Hawkins credits this work to GOD, and proudly believes this to be one of  his greatest endeavor and proudest accomplishment in life. Pastor Hawkins is known for his tenacity and his  ability to rise to the occasion when faced with opposition, a characteristic that must be very prevalent in  anyone who establishes a church and walks by faith.  Pastor Hawkins has more than 30 years of leadership  and pastoral experience, building the church body and guiding congregants in their walk with the Lord.    

Pastor Hawkins received his degree in Business Administration from Texas College and a certificate in  ministry from East Texas Baptist University.   He has also attended L. K. Williams Minister’s Institute,  American Baptist Theological Seminary and McKinley Theological Seminary.  He is currently pursuing his  master’s degree at Southwestern Theological Seminary.  

 Pastor Hawkins has significant impact on his community as he has served on the Board of Directors for Tyler  YMCA Executive Board, Meal on Wheels, Vice Moderator for Smith Baptist Association Executive  Committee, Chaplin for Tyler Twisters Semi Pro Football Team Chaplain of the University of Texas at Tyler  Basketball Team, and the Board of directors for Goodwill Industries.  He also served as Second Vice Moderator of Smith County Baptist Association.   

Pastor Hawkins travels extensively throughout the U. S. and internationally preaching and lecturing on a  Holistic Approach to Ministry and Raising Your Church to the Next Level Through a Holistic Approach to  Ministry.