After being born in Daytona Beach, I was dragged kicking and screaming to Southeast
Alabama where I grew up (literally, "kicking and screaming", I was three days old when I left). After surrendering to God’s call to ministry at 14, I struggled with the decision and the call on my life through college at Troy University, finally accepting the wonderful life that God had planned for me. I moved to Fort Worth to go to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I received my Masters of Divinity and also met my incredible wife, Katye, while serving at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in the Metroplex. The biggest part of my time is spent being husband to Katye, son to “Mama”, and “Daddy” to my three kids, Ann Marie (’04) and Susanna (’06), and my boy, Braden (’09), coming soon to a nursery near you. I love writing (not so much music anymore), message boards and sports. As a big Alabama football fan, I am a testament to God’s sense of humor, since FBC has a stellar crop of Auburn grads working in this area.
God has given me a wild ride in ministry for Him. From serving as a traveling communicator/worship leader to repertoire theater actor or from working with students to video production, it’s been a career of “first” times. After serving on church staff in various capacities for over 10 years, and in 2007, God led me to be the Minister to Young Adults at First Baptist Melbourne. While the official title was a “first”, this generation has always been a passion of mine, and God has always placed me in specific ministry to them throughout my journey with Him.
In January 2009, I agreed to take on a larger responsibility here at FBC. When our Bay West Campus in Palm Bay started on September 13, 2009, I became the Campus Pastor and primary communicator at that location. We meet at Heritage High School on the West end of Malabar Road in Palm Bay. I’m excited about what God is doing right in front of our eyes, as we partner with what God is already doing in that city.
Jim's FAQs:
Favorite Verse? Colossians 3:23 (nope, you'll have to look it up - my own cheesy way to encourage time in the Word)
Favorite Vacation? Got to be a cruise
Favorite sport? Football
Favorite TV Shows? Justice League Unlimited, The Office, & Hong Kong Phooey (mandatory daddy-kid time here)
Foods I won't eat? Sauerkraut, cole slaw, oatmeal, and foods with more than five words in the title (most of them are usually just plain weird)
Hobbies? PS2, Fantasy football, writing (used to be songs, but it’s more of the non-musical article/blog kind now)
Any Instruments? Voice, piano, keyboards (there IS a difference), guitar
Favorite books? The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson; The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
Recent reads: Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders by Reggie McNeal, Fixing Abraham by Chris Tiegreen, The Rabbit and the Elephant by Tony & Felicity Dale and George Barna
Check out Jim's blog on this site or at baywestchurch.blogspot.com . Join Bay West's fan page on Facebook here.
