Local Publisher Woody Jenkins Defends Rev. Tony Spell and Pentecostals Against Media Criticism

In a strongly worded Facebook post published early Wednesday, veteran Louisiana journalist and editor Woody Jenkins pushed back against what he called an “ill-informed personal attack” on Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church and broader attempts to marginalize Pentecostal Christians.

Jenkins, longtime editor and publisher of Central City News and the St. George Leader, responded to a Baton Rouge Advocate article headlined “Spell’s Theology, Not Just Actions, Runs Counter to Historic Christianity.”

In the post, Jenkins argued that deep theological differences exist across Christian denominations — from views on the Bible’s inerrancy and baptism to the role of women in ministry and end-times theology — yet these differences do not disqualify groups from being Christian.

“If you can write a large portion of Pentecostals out of Christianity, you can just as easily make a case for writing virtually every other denomination out of Christianity as well,” - -Louis Jenkins

He highlighted Rev. Spell’s record, noting Life Tabernacle’s massive growth (over 5,000 baptisms since COVID), its extensive outreach ministries feeding children, clothing families, and addressing addiction, homelessness, and poverty in the Baton Rouge area.

Jenkins also provided context for the recent confrontation involving the church’s neighbor, detailing a pattern of alleged racial slurs, lewd gestures, and violent threats directed at congregants — particularly Black members and Spell’s family — over six years. He referenced the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that fully exonerated Rev. Spell in the earlier COVID-related case.

The post has drawn significant engagement, with over 100 reactions and shares as of Wednesday morning.

-posting with permission. Thank you Woody!