Jackson County Baptist Association

In August 2025, they moved to San Salvador to begin studying Spanish, acclimating to a new culture, and learning from some of the most faithful and effective churches in the country. They continue partnering with trusted churches while also cultivating new relationships in areas where a strong gospel witness is still needed.

Why “Vinedresser Ministries”?

The name Vinedresser Ministries comes from Gospel of Luke 13:6–9. In the parable, when the owner of a field sees that a fig tree has not produced fruit and decides to cut it down, the vinedresser intercedes:

“Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”

The compassion and patience of the vinedresser reflect the heart of this ministry—to labor faithfully, cultivate deeply, and trust God to bring lasting fruit.

In the spirit of Paul’s missionary journeys, Vinedresser Ministries seeks to strengthen Gospel-centered church planting movements throughout the country by:

• Providing leadership training

• Offering pastoral encouragement

• Facilitating mission teams

• Engaging in evangelism in communities and schools

Michael and Jessica’s desire is to see churches strengthened, believers equipped, and lives transformed through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jackson County Baptist Association’s History in El Salvador

In 2011, the Jackson County Baptist Association (JCBA) established a partnership with Missions Bautista in El Salvador.

Ricardo Fuentes, pastor of the Hispanic church affiliated with JCBA, inherited a tract of land in his home country. Pastor Fuentes donated the proceeds from that land to Missions Bautista. Churches within JCBA contributed toward the completion of a church building on the property, located in a village in the mountains. Volunteers from churches in El Salvador provided the labor, and the building was dedicated in November 2014. More than 500 people—most from local churches—attended the dedication service.

On May 1, 2016, a team representing JCBA participated in the dedication of a second new sanctuary in Corinto, El Salvador. Over 350 believers from area churches gathered to celebrate the completion of the building. At the beginning of the service, 17 individuals were baptized—a powerful testimony to the ongoing work of the gospel in that community.

Pastor Ramiro spoke at the JCBA Annual Meeting in October 2015, strengthening the growing partnership between churches in Mississippi and El Salvador.

Claros and his father, Pastor Omar Claros, are actively planting churches in the mountains of El Salvador, continuing to expand the gospel witness in remote communities.

Over the years, JCBA has participated in at least 15 mission trips to El Salvador. It was during this season of partnership and missions involvement that Michael Wilkinson first became personally engaged in the work there—an involvement that would later grow into a clear calling to serve long-term.