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When Pastor Mike Pinkerton
officially resigned as our pastor on July 10, 2011 the church was left without a
senior pastor. Steve Welling,
Executive
Director of Converge Northwest
(formally known as the Columbia Conference) was working with the elders of the
church. He suggested we should consider an Interim Pastor until a Senior Pastor could be called.
He contacted Rev. Jim Visbeek and asked if he would consider coming. Jim
said yes, he would. Pastor Jim presented the morning message on August 7,
2011. After the service, the membership met in the 'Upper Room' discussed
his calling and then voted to call Jim as Intentional Transitional Interim
Pastor to guide us through
the process of church renewal and growth ahead. Jim estimated the process would
take 1 to 1 1/2 years.
On September 4, Pastor Jim gave his first Sunday
morning Sermon as Interim Pastor. He spoke on "The Pastor's Paradox - Persuasive words or Gods
Power."
Jim was born on February 6, 1954. He accepted
Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in August 1966 at the age of 12. It was then he wrote a
commitment in his Bible and signed it. From that day forward, he can say,
"I have been saved from eternal condemnation and has entered into newness
of life solely upon the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross."
Jim was baptized in the spring of 1972. Again in December 1972, he
recommitted his life to serve Him anywhere God would lead him. With this
in mind, he eventually attended Seminary, graduated in May, 2006 with a Masters
of Christian Leadership with emphasis on leadership development and church
health.
In 1976, he married Janet, a dynamic, committed Christian. Janet graduated with a Masters of Chaplaincy and participates as a Support Officer and Chaplain. Their different abilities and gifts compliment each other very well on ministry team projects. They have been blessed with three children, two girls and one boy.
Jim was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ in a formal service on April 16, 2010. Since then he has served as Pulpit Supply for almost 30
churches in the Northwest Washington area. Of his many hobbies and interests he is best
known for his fly fishing.
Jim's life's Bible verse has become James
1:22;
"Be, there fore doers of the Word, and not simply hearers only, for you
only deceive yourselves."