UNBELIEVABLE, BUT TRUE!
When Jim was in his teens, he became acquainted with Jesus through his Highschool baseball coach who was also his Sunday School Teacher. Even though Jim accepted the Lord at that time his walk was not consistent. He would attend church with his Mom and married a girl that was in love with the Savior and her church. An in and out church was not satisfying to his wife but was okay for Jim. I was hopeful because since he met me he became regular in the house of the Lord. But he wouldn’t take communion!

When Jim began to sing in the choir, I discovered he took communion. As time went on I noticed that when he wasn’t in the choir he was still taking communion. I was afraid to ask why! We were married about 8 years when we moved to Oregon. We began to attend the small church that was located fairly close to us, although was still many miles away.

Vernon, the pastor became a mentor to Jim. Without Jim realizing it, Vernon began to disciple him. Jim, a man of few words was a great listener. Vernon would take Jim with him because he was the pastor who called with tools in the trunk of his car. He would fix, repair and help build wherever he went. Jim learned to dig water ditches around a garage to keep the water from flooding the area where the family was living while building their home.

During their visits Jim began to know the Lord through Vernon. Upon one of their visits Vernon encouraged Jim to read the Bible for himself. "Genesis through Revelation and just see what you think!" Jim did and has never put the book down! The Holy Spirit took a hold of a 35 yr old man of few words and turned him upside down. He became a bass in a Gospel Quartet that sang throughout the north west for 14 years. He filled the pulpit during the preachers absence and taught home Bible Studies and Sunday Classes from that day forward. Jim became an elder at the age of 42 even though he felt his age did not give him the right qualifications.

Those who knew Jim’s quiet ways were astounded at the major change in him. Those who knew this man of few words were amazed when they would hear about something he had said and would respond with; "Jim said that?" Many were able to listen and believe because they heard it from Jim.

Other than when the Holy Spirit would come upon those that God used before Christ Church began, I find that the only other place that it is given is mentioned in Acts 2:38; "Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".
Jim received the Holy Spirit when he was 16 but it wasn’t until he was 35 years old that he released the Holy Spirit within him, to be free to direct his paths.

In the absence of the preacher, Jim the elder was called to visit a woman who had lost her husband. She was desolate and was threatening to commit suicide! Jim was called by a mother of a child that attended our Sunday School. I went with Jim and as we traveled to this home, Jim was at a loss as to what he could do or say. This was something out of his expertise! We had prayed before we left but he was anxious because God was putting this woman’s life in his hands. I grabbed the Bible and said; "maybe I can find a verse that will help you!" I opened the Bible and there before me was a verse that I read to Jim. He said; "mark that page", because we were pulling up in front of the house. "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."; Luke 12:12.

We quietly walked into this home and Jim was directed to the woman who was in need. Jim talked with her, prayed with her and read the scriptures of comfort and encouragement.. When the situation became calm we took our leave and the woman who contemplated suicide continued to live. We never heard if she made a place for the Lord in her life, but we knew that He had taken up permanent residence in ours. We felt it! We saw it! He’s real! Jane Ann