Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston
Calhoun Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:13
Favorite Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
Hobbies: Travel and golf
Family Status: Husband of 52 years to wife, Carolyn; sons, James H. Davis Jr. and Michael Davis; three grandchildren
After retiring as a lieutenant colonel with 30 years of service in the Army, Jim Davis, of Oxford, operated a business in Gadsden. Then he spent 10 years working in Saudi Arabia. His experiences prepared him for his responsibilities at Calhoun Baptist Association. There the 74 year old is associate director of church and community ministries and director of the two Baptist Service Centers and Open Doors Thrift Store. In 1991 when the first of the two service centers opened to provide food, clothes and utilities assistance, 260 families were helped. In 2014 the centers and their 400 volunteers ministered to 3,300 families by giving away 120,000 pounds of food and 2,000 Bibles; they presented the plan of salvation 2,500 times and 97 people accepted Jesus. On June 30, Davis will retire from his positions after 10 years of service. Davis also is administrator of Northeast Alabama Regional Charity Tracker Network.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: I am such a firm believer in the Cooperative Program. (The reason is) I was 35 years old, as lost as I could be. I was stationed in Belgium. I ended up in a little mission church there with a foreign missionary as the pastor. Through his love and leading as a pastor … and the many years of prayer by my wife … I accepted Christ.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry?
A: I was a Sunday School teacher. I had a Sunday School party at my house. (There) the associate director of missions (for Calhoun Association), John Thomas, said he had something for me to pray over. My wife and I did (pray) and I trained as the coordinator for the Christian Men’s Job Corps. (Later I became) associate director of church and community ministries and director of the Baptist Service Centers.
Q: What does your ministry demand?
A: A lot of energy. Patience. The power of the Holy Spirit. The love of Jesus. Good volunteers. That’s true for any ministry — you’ve got to love Jesus.
Q: What do you get from your ministry?
A: Oh, joy overflowing. I’ve experienced the excitement of seeing the volunteers mature in service to Him. I get the joy of seeing how God is touching the lives of those volunteers.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: Carolyn … is my sounding board on how to handle issues that come up. I have a whole lot of people praying for me.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: My involvement in this ministry will be … to let God’s man lead God’s people to do God’s ministry. My involvement will be praying for them.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: I am changed forever with the experience I have had over the last 10 years. I have a greater sensitivity of the needs of the less fortunate and the power of God to make a difference.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: Since I’ve given my life to Him I’ve let Him down but He hasn’t let me down. It made all the difference in eternity. And that’s what I want others to understand, no matter how bad things are. It’s never too late.
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