The Tyler community will be losing a pastor and an assistant fire chief at the end of the month.

Pastor Jonathan Jenkins will be leaving Sister Springs Baptist Church and headed to First Baptist Church in Kinston. Jenkins is also the assistant fire chief at Tyler Volunteer Fire Department.

Jenkins has been a first responder since 2010 and served as pastor for the last five years.

The Columbus, Georgia native said it was never an issue handling both positions.

“I do the best I can to prioritize things,” Jenkins said. “Sometimes that means dropping the important for the urgent and dire. I feel being active in one’s community is an essential part of a Christian’s witness to the love of Christ.”

Jenkins said his family has played a big role in him pulling double duty. He and his wife, Paige, have two children, Sam (7-years-old) and Andrew (two-years-old).

“My wife is the key to this,” Jenkins said. “She helps me balance things and holds everything down beautifully when I have to jump and run. She steps in to take care of things when we have a call. I couldn’t do things without her making it possible.”

Jenkins is a 2000 graduate of Shaw High School in Columbus.