W.F. McGinnis Jr., 63, pastor

Rev. Wendell F. McGinnis Jr., 63, of Berlin, pastor of North Baptist Church in Woodbury, died of heart failure on Thursday, Oct. 8, while at the podium of the 111th annual meeting of the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey Inc. in Elizabeth.

Rev. Guy Campbell Jr., president of the statewide organization, said in a phone interview that Mr. McGinnis was "a humble, sincere, compassionate Christian man, a dedicated pastor, effective preacher of the Gospel, and a gifted teacher."

Mr. Campbell said that, at the Thursday session at the New Zion Baptist Church in Elizabeth, "I was getting ready to present the annual address and he was presenting me.

"After he had made the introduction, then he fell, at the podium," Mr. Campbell said. "He did not recover."

The remainder of the Thursday session as well as the Friday session were postponed.

Mr. Campbell is to deliver the eulogy at the Friday homegoing service at Evergreen Baptist Church in Palmyra.

While pastor of his own congregation in Woodbury since February 2002, Mr. McGinnis was also a longtime member of Evergreen Baptist, where Mr. Campbell is the pastor.

Mr. McGinnis was ordained in 1996 at Evergreen Baptist and was an associate minister there.

Before being ordained, he was a deacon at Evergreen and licensed as a preacher in 1994.

Born in Easton, Mr. McGinnis was educated at public schools there. He attended the former Philadelphia College of Bible, earned a bachelor's degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, and a master's degree in Christian studies there in 2014.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. McGinnis was a manager for the Camden office of Rent-A-Center, a supplier of home furnishings, among other things.

But he experienced a calling to become a minister, son Wendell F. III said, when "there was a near-fatal car accident in 1988" with another car in Medford and he was hospitalized.

He began his career as a pastor in 1998, serving four years at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Mizpah.

From 2000 to 2009, he was a human benefits resource administrator for Electronic Data Systems in Cherry Hill, his son said.

Mr. McGinnis set up a young-adult ministry that involved not only Sunday school but religion classes on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

On Saturday mornings in the 2000s, he broadcast worship services on WTMR-AM (800) in Camden.

And when the economic recession hit, he expanded the church's food pantry, which had closed during July and August, to a year-round operation.

Mr. McGinnis was recently installed as first vice moderator for the Bethany Baptist Association of Southern New Jersey.

He was a former president of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Union of Southern New Jersey and of the Ministers Conference of Woodbury and Vicinity. He was a member of the NAACP.

Besides his son, Wendell F. III, Mr. McGinnis is survived by his wife of 39 years, Carolyn; son Sean; daughter Jennifer McGinnis; and three granddaughters.

Viewings are set from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at North Baptist Church, 1020 E. Evergreen Ave., Woodbury, N.J. 08096, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Evergreen Baptist Church, 602 W. Third St., Palmyra, before an 11 a.m. homegoing service there. Interment is to be in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.

Donations may be sent to North Baptist Church at the above address.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mayfuneralhomes.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

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