Information about my personal life.
James Ives, 3 March 2003
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Jim & Berta
Ives celebrating 150 Years of Methodism in |
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
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
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.
Chapter II, December 2006
I was asked to up date my personal open letter. Well here goes.
I have finished 5 years at Claremont School of Theology. Going to school is not what I would wish to do at 72 years of age, but it has been wonderful. I will graduate next year. I find that each year I look forward to going back to school, maybe not school, but to meet and talk to the other student pastors I have met. Each one of them has different stories to tell about their churches and their walk with the Lord. I find that we are connected through our classes and want to share our experiences with each other.
I am still taking each step one at a time. I have let the Lord lead me. The church has taken on new dimensions since I started here.
The following are some of the exciting events now taking
place at the
We have started a Thursday Sing at 7 pm each Thursday that has been growing for the last 3 years. We have a power point projection system, hooked to a computer, with a large screen mounted in front of the church. Roberta, my wife puts together different songs for us to sing and Lee Rose leads us in those songs through a new sound system we have installed.
A game night has started on Monday nights at 6:30 pm with lots of laughter and fun around the table. This program alternates with Slide Night Travel Log Program during the summer. The women take turns making goodies to share with each other.
A
An Exercise Room is being out fitted with equipment donated to the church. We have two ping pong tables, one walking machine, one stationary bicycle, and one weight lifting machine.
We may open our Fellow Ship Room for a free meal once a week if we can get out kitchen up to code.
As for me, all I have done is to be here and guide what the Lord has provided for our church. The growth of the church is God’s not mine. I look forward to where God will lead me and the Church in Reedsport.
Chapter III, October 2009
This is to update you on the latest direction my walk with the Lord has taken. I graduated two years ago from Claremont School of Theology. This is my 8th year as pastor of the Methodist church here in Reedsport. It has been exciting to see the church grow in reaching out to the community. The church started to serve a free lunch once a month two years ago. Last year it started serving it once a week. It is called “Soups On” and feeds between 30 and 60 people a week.
The members felt they were not able to commit the time to this project so I put an ad in the newspaper asking for volunteers. Over 14 volunteers answered the ad. We do have one member, Dixie Floyd, who is in charge of the Soups On, but all the others are volunteers. This has been the most successful outreach of the church so far.
Second is the
Third is the Sunday morning Service has a new look. The words to all the songs and the liturgy from the Gospels are now projected on the screen. This has made Sunday Service more interesting by not only hearing the word you can also see the word. Thanks to Greg Schussele who is the electronic control person. He also is one of our Computer Learning Center Instructors.
More people are involved in making the church go then ever before. One of the people I should tell you about is my wife, Berta; she keeps all the financial records, pays all the bills, pulls weeds, answers the phone and runs the office. Without her this church and my life would be empty. She is one of the reasons this church is doing as well as it is. That goes for me as well.
God is in charge and I am following him.
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Webmaster Jim Ives, Dated 9/4/2009