While sitting on his mother's lap in church, a prophetic word was given that this child would preach the gospel and do great things in God's kingdom. From a child, James remained sensitive to God's voice and touch upon his life. He would come home from school, grab his Bible, and walk out in the woods to pray and study. Immediately after high school he moved to Cadillac, Michigan to help his future father-in-law in the ministry. He served as a youth minister and associate for two and a half years. Jim & Judy married on Feb 27, 1965. They evangelized for one year and then became pastors of a small Assembly of God church. They labored there for two years, and then moved to Bad Axe, Michigan to pioneer a new church. They faithfully labored there for 27 ¿ years. During those years they raised up Thumb Christian Academy and a great church called Faith Gospel Tabernacle. Believing that God was calling Judy and him to take their years of experience and pour themselves into the local church, Christian leadership, and marriage and family, they left the Bad Axe area and have been traveling and ministering across the country. James remains as passionate today as he ever has been to please the Lord and bring blessing, help, and healing to people.