Charles E. Jones praises God for his longevity as a minister. 

His 46-year ministry took him to a variety of places, but he knew each place was where God wanted him. He had plenty of help along the way – besides giving God all the glory, he also credits his wife.

“Barbara and I have worked together as a team and our whole family has served the church and the Lord, and God has surely blessed our family,” Charles Jones said.

Team, empowerment, and cultivating disciples are part of Jones’ ministerial philosophy. 

“No D.S. or pastor ever gets it done by themselves; you empower others to get it done,” he said.

Jones retired in May after serving 22 years as district superintendent of the West Texas District. He and Barbara will remain in Fort Worth, near their three sons, Chris, Corey, and Chad, and their eight grandchildren.

“Dr. Charles Jones retired with the longest tenure of any district superintendent on the historic West Texas District,” General Superintendent David Graves said. “His passion for discipleship and his deep love for the Lord have created spiritual vitality and energy on the district.”

Although officially retired from the district office, the Joneses will continue to serve the Lord.

Barbara is the pastor of the Fort Worth ChristCity Church of the Nazarene. The church began 10 years ago as a district-supported compassionate ministry to the poor and hurting people of the inner city. Called Mission 820, the ministry grew and eventually needed a full-time pastor to direct the its various programs.

Jones will work with his wife at ChristCity doing construction projects at the building, and providing prayer and discipleship ministry.

“We are grateful that we’re allowed to serve here and when the new D.S. is appointed, we’ll see what direction the new leadership wants to take,” Jones said.

He hopes that direction includes continued support for the ministry. 

“It would be great to see it become self-sufficient, and who knows, maybe a pastor comes up from one of our own,” he said.

Developing new leaders was a hallmark of Jones’ leadership as district superintendent. During his tenure, the district implemented a plan to plant Hispanic churches in smaller towns across its rural areas.

Jones developed the plan after he and Barbara took a trip to Cali, Colombia, as guests of Eugene L. Stowe, who served as a general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene from June 1968 until July 1993.

The Joneses attended the House of Prayer Church of the Nazarene in Cali, which has approximately 6,000 members. The church ministers through cell groups and networking, similar to the house churches of the New Testament, to reach the unsaved. 

The West Texas District developed a lead church around small groups in Lubbock, which served as a model for the rest of the district. The district has planted 20 Spanish churches since then.

“We now have strong Hispanic leaders that are planting new churches, leading those churches, which is how it should be,” he said.

Jones wanted the district to reflect the people of West Texas. When he was appointed district superintendent in 1989, the churches were comprised mostly of Anglo Americans, he said, and there was a lack of ministry among African-Americans and Hispanics. 

He now describes West Texas as a multi-cultural district with strong multi-cultural local leaders who have a desire to reach the broken and unsaved.

“Many Hispanic congregations were started as a result of [Jones'] visionary leadership," Graves said. "He is loved and respected by pastors, laity, district superintendents, and general leadership. The Church of the Nazarene is indebted to Charles and Barbara for their many years of devoted service to the Lord Jesus and to His Church.” 

Jones was born in Oklahoma and attended Bethany Nazarene College, now Southern Nazarene University, in Bethany, Oklahoma. He pastored churches in Colorado, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. 

He has seen plenty of gimmicks and far-fetched plans for ministry in his time and learned that Christ set an example that is simple to follow. Jones stayed faithful to the basics: Prayer; strong preaching; and evangelism – inviting people to find the Lord while ministering to them.

“If you can do those three things, then you’ll have a successful ministry,” he said. 

Jones is thankful that God has worked among the people of the district, and he’s leaving it much stronger than when he came. 

With the Lord’s guidance, they've built a strong district, a strong women’s ministry, and have diverse Nazarenes winning people to Christ, he said.