While working at a machine shop in California, Jimmy bought food from the truck my sister drove to where he worked. I assumed he often spoke to her and on one occasion he invited her to a hispanic church where he was helping. He was sent there to help even though he spoke no Spanish but looked Hispanic and was from New Mexico. My sister decided to invite my mom to go with her and my mom took me and my youngest sister along. There in that Baptist church I met Jimmy. He started picking me up to go to church and even took me to his home. It was the first time I met and had a close look at a Christian home (he was recently married). I was also introduced to Christian music, i.e. Keith Green who still remains one of my favorites. I came to know who Christ was at this church when I was 13 years old. My friend Jimmy left to join the Army but not long after but we connected after his time there. I went to help him when he was church planting in the San Fernando Valley. Eventually he took a job as a pastor in a church in his native land of Santa Fe New Mexico in 1996 where he remains pastor. He often keeps track of me and I of him as we both are in ministry and we are approaching our last “hurrah!” in our lives. I am grateful for Jimmy’s obedience in sharing the Gospel with my family. I know the impact that he and his wife Brenda have had is much more than what we can know and see here. I am thankful for their faithfulness to the Lord and his people. And for their friendship of almost 40 years (yikes!). We are moving forward to our last hurrah!
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Not too long I did a series of videos where I asked him some questions about ministry. They can be seen here. I also wrote about him in the this post on the life of a pastor.
[…] went to live in Orange County California. It was there where one of my older sisters met my friend Jimmy. He invited her to church and so my mom and my younger sister joined her. This was the first time I […]