Turning Point Community Church Lead Pastor John Wagner Connects With Non-Profit

While founding a large-scale international ministry can be out of reach for many local churches, forging partnerships with nonprofit organizations can lead to fruitful ministry opportunities around the world. Nonprofits can provide the foundation, structure, and staffing to help any church – regardless of its size – take its ministry out into the world. At Turning Point Community Church in Lubbock, Texas, Pastor John Wagner has helped the church develop an international focus through strategic connections with several global nonprofits. Pastor John Wagner aims to see his church serve its local community and become part of a global society. He believes that working with people in need follows the example of Jesus Christ, who helped people who were sick or injured regardless of their situation.

Turning Point Community Church connects congregation members with nonprofits through an easy-to-find list of links on its website. Pastor John Wagner and the church staff have chosen to promote nonprofits that work closely with people in need in international communities. Donations to the organizations provide everything ranging from school uniforms for children to fair trade products created by entrepreneurs in developing countries. In some cases, people who provide donations can have direct contact with the people in developing countries who receive their assistance.

For example, New Missions, which has worked in Haiti since 1983, has built churches, medical clinics, elementary schools, and a Bible college. As a result of New Missions’ efforts, more than 10,000 children have the daily opportunity to attend school, enjoy hot meals, and receive medical care. The organization asks people to sponsor a Haitian child with a small monthly donation that helps to provide for his or her needs. Sponsorships can help children to move out of poverty and become Christian leaders who can bring change to Haiti. Sponsors can exchange letters and pictures with the children that they sponsor, which helps a relationship to develop.

Other organizations that Turning Point Community Church supports include Compassion, World Vision, Simple Acts Ministry, and the A21 Campaign. The organizations focus on issues such as human trafficking, incarceration, and a lack of clean water and food.

Pastor John Wagner | Career, Family and Achievements

A visionary leader, Pastor John Wagner is the lead pastor of Turning Point Community Church in Lubbock, Texas. He has served in the ministry for more than 25 years. Pastor John Wagner’s teachings are characterized by a passionate and captivating balance between relevance and reverence. During his long career in the ministry, which has included working at more than 100 congregations around the world, Pastor John Wagner has led day-to-day ministry operations; mentored pastoral staff; and overseen youth, pastoral care, small group, and worship ministries.

Much of Pastor John Wagner’s ministry focuses on helping people in need through partnerships with nonprofit initiatives and engagement in issues such as fighting human sex trafficking and responding to natural disasters. Outreach programs at Pastor Wagner’s Turning Point Community Church have affected thousands of people. He also directed an award-winning cable television commercial for the Teen Suicide Hotline.

Pastor John Wagner earned a bachelor of arts in general education from Golden State University in Los Angeles and a master of arts in theology and religion from Honolulu University in Hawaii. Covenant Ministries International ordained him as a minister in 1988, and he has since worked with congregations in Connecticut, Florida, and New Jersey, as well as in international locations such as South Africa, Italy, and Austria. 

As an Apostolic team leader with the Covenant Ministries International ministerial fellowship, Pastor Wagner has served more than 600 spiritual leaders in almost 100 countries through encouragement, prayer, and counseling. Teaching at conferences and workshops, he encourages CMI members to communicate their message of grace to their communities. Pastor John Wagner has also written courses about the lives of Jesus and David, and the love of God for Faith Fellowship Ministries World Outreach Center’s School of Ministry.

The father of five children, Pastor John Wagner lives in Texas with his wife, Ilena Wagner. His weekly sermons are available online at Turning Point Community Church.

Biography of Pastor John Wagner

A well-respected church leader and the devout follower of Jesus has been spreading the word of God for more than twenty years. Pastor John Wagner has traveled throughout Europe, South Africa, and the USA to deliver his inspirational sermons. The much-admired ministerial leader regularly speaks at international and local conferences. His words had a positive impact on all who attended the conference for International Ministers and Pastors held in New Jersey.

Pastor Wagner has written a series of lectures for the Faith Fellowship Ministries World Outreach Center. The works include the Love of God, the Life of David and the Life of Jesus. He was also responsible for directing a television commercial promoting a Teen-Suicide hot-line. The award-winning commercial recently aired on cable television.

More recently, John Wagner has taught in Lubbock, Texas. He serves at the Turning Point Community Church, where he is a leading pastor. However, the inspirational leader previously ministered at the Faith Church, New Milford, Connecticut, where he was an executive pastor. During his time at Faith Church, he ministered to children and young people. John Wagner was also an Executive Pastor for the Discovery Church in Orlando, Florida.

Early on in his life, Pastor Wagner has gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in general education at the Golden State University. In 1989, the Pastor attended the University of Honolulu, where he was awarded his MA in Religion and Theology. John is also a fully- ordained minister for the Covenant Ministries International. Pastor Wagner’s heart-warming sermons can be read online at tpcconline.com.

Any successful leader of an organization or group knows it is important to build the next generation of leaders. Pastor Wagner, the respected leader of the Turning Point Community Church offers help and advice to potential leaders. He feels human beings grow stronger when asked to complete daunting tasks. Pastor John is keen to encourage people to “step outside of their comfort zone”. Dealing with unfamiliar tasks helps individuals to develop new skills. The Pastor offers constructive feedback to all students. This encouragement and support help to boost confidence.

Pastor John Wagner acts as a mentor, giving people the chance to develop different styles of leadership. He feels everyone should volunteer for their cause. Those who are passionate about their cause will eventually become leaders.

Pastor Wagner is passionate about his cause, hence he actively encourages everyone to make the world a better place. Margaret Mead, the well-known anthropologist once said: “ An individual everyday acts may appear small and insignificant, however, we must always remember that it is the little things that make a big difference”.

When talking about Pastor John Wagner, it seems right to round-off with an inspirational tale. The story is about a man called Bob Votruba, the creator of a movement called “One Million Acts of Kindness”.

Bob was worried about the children who live in today’s world, so, he bought a large bus and painted his mission statement on the side. Bob drove the bus to numerous college campuses to inspire the children to perform one million acts of kindness during their lifetimes. Bob has been spreading his word for the last six years and his act is having a profound effect. So, please, spread compassion and kindness wherever you are, whenever you can.