Our Pastor

J. Donald-Mims, D. Min.

First CoupleDr. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims is pastor of the Imani Community Church of Austin, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit since 1995. The church’s pivotal aim is to evangelize and to convert families to become disciples of Jesus Christ with primary focus upon the unchurched, the de-churched and culturally/racially diverse. Pastor Dr. Donald-Mims is formerly a triple career professional, as corporate executive manager of International Business Machines Corporation, real estate investor/executive, and preacher-teacher of the Gospel of grace and salvation.
An ordained elder, she is also founder and Board Chairperson of the Imani Community Foundation; and served for 15 years on the Board Trustees of Paul Quinn College of Dallas, Texas.  As corporate business executive manager for global operations for a major international corporation, she broke corporate glass ceilings as a dynamic new female in the management ranks with innovative leadership. She is highly recognized as keynote speaker, preacher, women’s conference convener, guest speaker in the University of Texas related universities, at other colleges and universities, and among interreligious ministries groups in Austin, and as an author.  From childhood Baptism through graduate school, nurtured in Birmingham’s largest Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and cited in Rev. Dr. John T. Porter’s 2005 book, a historical account, Keep Looking Up ; then St. Luke Community United Methodist Church’s Reverend Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. as mentor and ultimately by her spiritual father A.M.E Bishop John Bryant. Cited for her expert influence in organizational diversity in the University of Texas’ first textbook on diversity, Diversity in Organizations by Dr. Myrtle P. Bell, (Thomson, 2007), and in Dr. Ella P. Mitchell’s book, Those Preaching Women , Volume 3. David A. Mims, Jr., intellectual property law attorney is her spouse; their son is Devon Christian, college coed, and percussionist. 

Donald-Mims earned the Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, the Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas; the Master of Theological Studies at University of Dallas; the Master of Business Administration at Georgia State University, Atlanta; and the Bachelor of Science at Tuskegee University in Alabama.

She writes clergy columns for the major daily chronicle, the Austin American Statesman , and for the Austin Student newspaper.  She is a writer for Urban Ministries’ adult Sunday School quarterly and Precepts for Living commentaries. Included among her published works are her latest book, Obsessive Sex: Resolving the Conflict of Loving Sex and Loving God , now entering its third printing; dissertation Design for the Initiation of a Spiritually, Theologically, and Socially Empowered African American Church , Move Over Men: God's Calls Women to the Pulpit ; Religious Robbers: Hundred Fold Return on an Investment of a Tenth ; and Sticks, Stones and Words Do Harm Me , her collection based upon her Women’s Power Conferences and lecture seminars on Women’s Self-Esteem Empowerment. Her other published work includes the sermon, "Case Dismissed," that she contributed to editor, Dr. Ella P. Mitchell’s newest book, Those Preaching Women , Volume 3. She has been featured in articles including "Making a Difference” All -Around Achiever in Essence magazine , Executive Female magazine, in 2006 the Millennia Woman in Our Texas magazine, as one of “Ten Treasured Women” of Fortress magazine, The Minority Business News feature article, “Making A Difference,” in September/October and in The Minority Business News ’ March feature, “Women Who Mean Business ‘98”.

Literary Works - Books

  • Obsessive Sex: Resolving the Conflict of Loving Sex and Loving God, second printing;
  • Dissertation: Design for the Initiation of a Spiritually, Theologically, and Socially Empowered African American Church;
  • Move Over Men: God's Calls Women to the Pulpit. a venture into territory thought inappropriate for women.
  • Religious Robbers: Hundred Fold Return on an Investment of a Tenth;
  • “Power of a Crumb” her collection based upon her Women’s Power Conferences and lecture seminars on Women’s Self-Esteem Empowerment.
  • "Case Dismissed," contributed to editor, Dr. Ella P. Mitchell’s book, Those Preaching Women, Vol 3.

Further Reading - Featured In Articles

  • Diversity in Organizations, textbook, by Dr. Myrtle P. Bell, (Thomson, 2007)
  • Keep Looking Up,  The History of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 1881-200, by Rev. Dr. John T. Porter, feature, 2005
  •  “The Millennia Woman” Special Women’s Issue in Our Texas magazine, Spring 2005;
  • “Ten Treasured Women”, Fortress magazine, March – April 1997;
  • The Minority Business News feature, “Making a Difference,” September/October 1997;
  • The Minority Business News  feature, “Women Who Mean Business”, March April 1998;
  • "Making a Difference” All -Around Achiever in Essence magazine, June 1987;
  • Executive Female magazine, January - February, 1987;
  • “Fairfield Grad Tells Youth they Can Be a Success”, Birmingham News, February, 1986;
  • Jacquelyn Donald, An All-Around Achiever, Birmingham News, June, 1986.
  •  Blacks Urged to ‘Stand Up’, Midland Reporter Telegram, August, 1988
  • Black Chamber Marks Anniversary, Midland Reporter Telegram, February, 1989
  • Blacks Urged to ‘Stand Up’, Midland Reporter Telegram, June, 1986.

Periodicals

  • The A.M.E. Review, May 2006, “A Primer on Youth Dating Violence”;
  • Precepts for Living, Urban Ministries Publishers, full quarter commentary contributor 1996-2000;
  • Precepts for Living, Urban Ministries Publishers, “The Twelve Steps to Power through Spiritual Renewal”;
  • Precepts for Living, Urban Ministries Publishers, A Primer on Youth Dating Violence, January 2005;
  • Austin American Statesman, “Holy Land Spiritual Introspection”, March 2009;
  • Austin American Statesman, “One Down, One Big One to Go”, March 2007;
  • Austin American Statesman, “Amazing Story Worth Knowing”, February 2006;
  • Austin American Statesman, “Continuing the Dream, Continuing the Fight!” January 2006;
  • Austin American Statesman, “Inclusiveness Widens the Circle”, February 2005;
  • Sermon entitled, "Case Dismissed," contributed to editor, Dr. Ella P. Mitchell’s, Those Preaching Women, Volume 3, Judson Press, 1996
  • SermonCentral.com, Sermon entitled, “From Murder to Mercy”, Psalm 51
  • The African American Pulpit, Sermon entitled, “From Murder to Mercy”, Psalm 51

On-line

Other Appointments -Boards and Trustee

  • Texas Congregations United for Empowerment, Vice President, Executive Board
  • CEO, Sadie Davis Donald Achievement & Development for Youth Academic Excellence, Birmingham Alabama
  • CEO, Imani Community Foundation, Austin TX
  • Board Trustees, Paul Quinn College (15 years) Dallas, Texas
  • Board of Examiners – 13 years, board of ordained ministry for AME Church, instructor team leader
  • Board Chairperson of former CHILDS, Children’s Holistic Learning & Development School, Dallas TX
  • Austin Interreligious Ministries, Religious Leader’s Council; Advisory Board
  • Executive Board, Midland Black Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Midland TX
  • Formerly Board of Directors of Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Dallas TX
  • Formerly Board of Directors of Big Brothers & Sisters of Metropolitan Dallas
  • Formerly Board of directors of Junior Players of Dallas
  • Executive-on-Loan to Lawson State Community College, Birmingham, AL. Corporate influence and acquired corporate sponsorships and foundation grants via proposal writing
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Life Member, origin at Gamma Kappa Chapter, Tuskegee University
  • Vice President, Tuskegee University Alumni of Austin & Central Texas

Awards

  • Named 2010 "Mentor of the Year" AISD, Partners in Education, serving Davis Elementary School
  • 2008 Connie Yerwood Collins Award Recipient, Honoree in Communications – presented by the National Women of Achievement, Inc.
  • 2006 The State of Texas Governor’s Service Honor Award (awarded by Rick Perry, Governor)
  • 2006 Award – Millennia Woman Pastor and Preacher
  • April 30, 1987, $10,000 new scholarship fund, National Kool Achiever Award, Education

Mission Journeys and Spiritual Pilgrimages

  • May 2007, Bangalore, India
  • January 2008, Asia Minor (Turkey)
  • April 2008, Nazareth, Galilee, Jerusalem Israel
  • May 2009, Georgetown, Republic of Guyana , Preaching - St. Peters African Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgetown, Republic of Guyana – Mission
  • May 2010, Jamaica West Indies - 10AM Preaching, Grace Baptist Church, Oracabessa St Mary's Parish, Ocho Rios Jamaica West Indies and Ocho Rios Baptist Church Cell
  • January 2010, Cairo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sharm El Sheikh - Teaching Mission Tour
  • May 2011,  Preaching, Baptist Church at Livorno, Tuscany, Italy, Preacher 10:45AM Sunday Worship, Mission

Where's Pastor Jackie? Click here to view her itinerary.