Oza Jones Jr. named new director of African American Ministries

Oza Jones Jr. has been named the new Director of African American Ministries for Texas Baptists. Jones brings years of ministry experience to the position, including from his most recent role as African American Evangelism and Church Revitalization Specialist on the Great Commission Team. 

“I am so delighted that Oza Jones has agreed to become the next director of our Texas Baptist African American Ministries,” said Executive Director David Hardage. “In every way he will provide good and godly leadership.” 

In his new role, Jones will forge deep relationships with African American pastors and congregations around the state. He will help them discover and access Texas Baptists resources and encourage churches to take an active part in the convention.

“We want to be a resource for churches looking to reach their communities and give them the tools and techniques they need to reach their people with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Jones said. “My dream for African American churches is that every church does everything they can for the community. I want them to be a pillar for their community. I want to see African American churches not just built up in numbers, but built up spiritually.”

Jones joined the Texas Baptists Great Commission Team as the African American Evangelism and Church Revitalization Specialist in July 2018. During his time in this role, Jones worked with many churches in Texas, training them in evangelistic outreach. He also created ReCharge, a conference designed to give churches the tools they needed to better engage with their communities. He has trained more than 500 churches during his two years at Texas Baptists.

Jones’ ministry experience includes serving as Senior Pastor of Grace Tabernacle of Praise Church in Grand Prairie, Student Pastor/Praise & Worship Leader of United Christian Fellowship Church in Arlington and Teen Development Director/Community Liaison in Grand Prairie. Jones is the Assistant Chaplain of the Grand Prairie Police Department.

He has also served on multiple community boards, including the YMCA of Greater Dallas, Brighter Tomorrows Domestic Violence Organization and the Grand Prairie Pregnancy Center. 

Jones received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Southern Bible Institute in Dallas and ministry training from Criswell College. 

Jones is married to Shamecca Stevens Jones, an educator with the Grand Prairie ISD. They have five children and are members of Westside Baptist Church of Lewisville. 

Jones will be taking over the role from Roy Cotton, who served with Texas Baptists for over 21 years and retired this summer. He hopes to continue the legacy of Cotton and expand on the work he has done.

“My hope is that churches can come to Texas Baptists and get tools and resources to take back home to their church, so they can do what they need to do in their place of worship and their community,” Jones said. “It’s about building, bridging and branching. That means building up the church, bridging gaps in communities, generations, between other churches, and branching out to be able to help whoever needs help.”