Information about my personal life.

James Ives, 3 March 2003

Jim & Berta Ives celebrating 150 Years of Methodism in Douglas County, 12 Oct. 2002

I can see where God has been working in my life by looking back and seeing where I have come from. The experiences that I have had over the years have helped shape my life. The following are examples of some of them.

In 1986 Both my wife, Eileen, and I were out of a job. I had worked for this company for 35 years and my wife had worked for them for 20 years. I had started from the ground floor as a deburr in the machine shop at 17. Worked my self through the machine shop as a drill press operator, lathe operator, milling machinists, lead man in the model shop, into engineering as a designer and finally as production manager of one of the Divisions. The company closed its doors and gave us 55 years of severance pay. We both were not ready to retire, but we thought maybe this was God telling us we should do something else.

We sold our home and bought a motor home and starting traveling. We touched 48 states the first year and wore out the tires on it the second year.

After two years we moved to Reedsport. We bought a mobile home park and joined the Methodist church here. My wife, Eileen, started taking part in the woman's group and the hospital auxiliary. She passed away in 1998.

Our pastor, Jeannie Stopple, pushed me into doing the children's story on Sunday morning and I really had fun with it. I learned so much telling those stories and listening to the children's responses. I really found God was with us wherever we go.

After four years God started us on another path. We became MMAPers. (Mobile Missionary Assistance Program) A volunteer organization, which builds and repairs churches, church campgrounds, for any Christian organization that needs help around the USA.

This is one of the most satisfying jobs of my life. In helping others you get more back than you give. The morning devotions start each day with God at your side. Each couple takes a turn in leading the morning session before work begins. You learn more by teaching than just listening. You work with other Christians and feel the love of Christ as you work.

At home, between projects, we started reading every morning from the Bible and the little book called the Upper Room. This starts each day by us thinking about God and what he has in store for us.

I married again to a wonderful woman Roberta (Berta) who taught my grandchildren in Sunday School here in Reedsport when they lived here ten years ago. We were married on 9/9/99 so that I could remember the date. So far I have not forgotten.

I never thought when I read the words in the bible that says "drop what you are doing and follow me" I would be one of those to do it. Well, I did it, and I dropped everything I had, my job, my home, and started following him.

But what a family of God we met over the years, from all walks of life and different churches of the Lord as we traveled. Yes, there is only one God and he walks with me and I talk to him and I have a lot more to give and to do.

Our church cannot support a full time pastor. I have been the SPRC chairman for our church and have been trying to get a retired pastor that has a retirement income and does not want to retire. We have had several of these pastors but they want to live in another town and can give us only one to two days a week. We need a pastor that lives in this town and can take part in the community activities and that knows our needs and can visit us in our homes.

When Gary Oba, our District Superintendent, e-mailed me asking if I would consider filling in for our pastor, who resigned the first part of year 2002, I accepted that position. I have finished licensing school and am ready for the next step. Who knows where God is going to lead us. I did not know that I would be that retired person and that I would be the one to lead our church full time on 1/4 pay salary. I am ready to serve him and I am going to follow him one step at a time.

I went to licensing school at Clermont School of Theology in Southern California in the summer of 2002. I have been working with my mentor, Gregg Monroe from Springfield OR. He has guided me through the Inquiring Process to be a pastor in the UMC. We have worked together studying the Candidacy Guidebook that confirms that this is the course for me to be on. The next step will be the course of study at Clermont. Each summer for the next five years I will be taking courses that parallel courses that are required in seminary. The difference is that these course are taught in two week increments that equal a semester in seminary. They say it is like drinking from a fire hose, it comes to you very fast.

Lots of opportunities are going to be made available as my walk with the Lord continues, and I hope I can turn them into positive steps toward Christ in all my relationships.

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Webmaster Jim Ives, Dated 4/15/2003