Jim was raised in the Church of Christ, a good church where he "cut his teeth" on singing quartet harmony. The church was also great at teaching Bible background, he says he can still see his teachers making the flannel graph characters come alive! He spent his late teen & early 20's years away from the Church, and started his way back about the same time he met and married Linda (and THAT's another story!) in 1972. They joined their fellow believers at Heber Springs General Baptist Church, where they worked as Sunday School teachers, VBS, Youth Directors, and Jim formed a singing group "Eastern Gate", singing around the state for about 7 years. During that time, God was calling him to preach, and he finally answered that call in 1980. Jim began pastoring small, country General Baptist churches. The first was at Flat Rock, where he served for 5 years, at Chastain Chapel for 6 years, and then at Antioch for 7 years. He has been pasturing at Mt. Zion, since November, 1998.
Jim and Linda have been married over 35 years, and have 3 children: Marla, with children, Kolton and Kinley live in Benton, AR; Phillip, with wife Lisa, and son Bryson live in San Diego, CA; and Melinda, who is currently teaching in South Korea. Marla and Phillip were young, ages 7 & 6 when he started preaching, and Melinda was born later, while he was preaching at Flat Rock, so she has always been a "preacher's kid".
Jim has a deep love for the Triune God he serves. Besides his family, his "other" loves are talking, eating, singing, and preaching/pastoring!!
