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Nomination Letter of Rev. Jimmy Dunn For Lifetime Achievement Award
submitted by Gwynn Tyler “Hey How you doing”? Have you heard those words before? The first time I heard them was back in 1977. Phyllis and I had recently moved to Buckingham. One Saturday afternoon there was a knock at the door. I looked out and there was this young guy standing there. I opened the door and he said, “hey how you doing, my name is Jimmy Dunn. I’m the pastor at Maysville Baptist Church.” He was out visiting and stopped by to invite us to church. We hadn’t joined a church yet so we checked out Maysville Baptist and eventually joined a few months later. It didn’t take long to realize that Jimmy was a caring pastor who was sincere in his faith, faithful to his family, and someone who had a heart for missions. When I think of Jimmy Dunn, I think of visitation and missions. Most of you know how dedicated he is to visit church members, friends, and members of the community when they are sick or in the hospital. He visits the bereaved and ministers to those who are hurting in other ways.
For the past 30 years, Jimmy’s enthusiasm helped to spark mission teams and individuals from the James River Baptist Association to go and participate in mission projects from Boston Massachusetts, to Slidell MS, to Mexico, to Panama, to Argentina, numerous trips to Honduras, to the Indian reservation in South Dakota, and right here in Buckingham County.
Members of these teams have ministered to those affected by disaster, helped those who were sick, assisted with the construction of over a dozen churches, helped build a medical clinic, and helped meet the needs of those who are less fortunate than we are who live From left: Rev. Jimmy Dunn and Gwynn Tyler in poverty. While these projects were being done, the love of Jesus was being shared. He is just one of those
Jimmy is often seen out in the community supporting young people at ball games, or participating in fund raising events. folks who likes to be with people. Over his many years of ministry, Jimmy has had a positive influence on people in his churches and community. Whether it was in Halifax County or Drakes Branch, Buckingham or the Northern Neck, people love and respect Jimmy as a minister who genuinely cares about them.
Jimmy has always had a love for mission work. He taught about missionaries in church, promoted mission work in the community and in other parts of the world. He also participated in mission projects himself, both here and abroad. One program in our church involved leading young boys and teaching them about missions. Jimmy would often take the group out into the community to help elderly folks and widow ladies with yard work. Sometimes he would take them out Christmas caroling. He taught them about working together to help others while learning about the things of God. He also took them to ball games and did other things to help them not only to have fun, but also to learn about fellowship with each other. One of those boys went on to be a college professor, one is a pastor, and others have become successful businessmen. I am confident that Jimmy’s influence played an important role in their lives. 60
Back in the early 1980’s Jimmy’s love for mission work took on a new role. A member of a former church was looking for volunteers to do short term mission work in Honduras. Jimmy jumped at the chance to go and helped pull together a group of other men from Buckingham to go as well. On the first trip they built classrooms at a church so they could have Bible study. The next year they helped build a new church.
When Jimmy left Buckingham to go to the Northern Neck, he got involved with the local Hispanic ministry. When he returned here, he helped to get a Hispanic ministry going in our area to help the local Hispanics adjust to life here and to help them to feel at home. Jimmy isn’t a block layer or a doctor. He can’t speak much Spanish, although he tries to make up a few words that occasionally get him in trouble. I don’t think he can operate a sewing machine or do much carpentry work. But you don’t need to do those things when you can surround yourself with people who can. When you have a vision, a heart for missions, the ability to work with people, the support of your family and your church, along with a strong faith in God a lot of good things can happen. Jimmy has all of these things. As a result, over the years, his influence and leadership have resulted in a lot of good work being done both here in the States as well as overseas. Because of his influence and his legacy, it is my privilege to recognize my friend Reverend Jimmy Dunn as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you Jimmy for all you have done in the past, all you will continue to do, and all that you mean to each of us.