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IN THE SUMMER OF 1983 I accepted a ministry internship assignment at the Nashville Church of Christ in Holmes County, Ohio.  It was my first "ministry" and a rewarding experience.  I returned for a second summer as the congregation's summer youth minister.  Easch of those two summers I stayed in the home of Jim & Judy Alexander and their three children; Jeff, Joe and Jill.

JIM WAS AN ELDER in the Nashville church.  From the first day I met him it was evident to me that Christ was the center of his life, the core of his decions and the motivation for his existence.  Jim was a  dedicated to his family, a leader in his church, a friend to many, but above all, a disciple of Jesus Christ.  

I WAS SAD TO HEAR of Jim's passing on May 22, 2024.

I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL Christian mentors in my life; people who poured into me, who taught me, who supported me and who made a difference in my life.  Jim's passing impacted me this week as I realized he was the last of my mentors to have now received the eternal reward.  Other than  my parents, those who have most greatly influence my life are now in heaven.  

JIM WILL BE MISSED BY MANY.  I've read hundreds of tributes that have already been posted in less than 24 hours after his passing:

     "Jim has a VERP SPECIAL place in my heart.  He led me back to Christ!!!  I will never forget that."

     "He was a great role model."

     "He invited me to the house last year to share my testimon with his men's small group.  He was always so kind and interestedin hearing how GOd changed my life."

     "Jim is a true promise keeper, a man after God's own heart."

     "Jim was a wonderful man and played a major role in my life as I grew up surrounded by church family."

And that barely scratches the surface.

JIM'S GIFTS INCLUDED humor, hospitality and compassion.  Yet his responsibility was for His work as an Elder.  He used to tell me that he dind't serve becasue he was an Elder, but becasue he was a Christian.  He was devoted to reaching out to people who didn't know Christ and inviting them to learn about Him. He was devoted to helping new Christians grow in Christ. And he was devoted to reaching out to those who were slipping away and helping them find their way back to full devotion to Christ. It was Jim Alexander who told me, "If you don't have strong elders and a meaningful shepherding program, you're going to keep spinning your wheels and get no further ahead."

JIM TAUGHT ME not to use the excuse, "it's not my gift," or "it's not ny responsibility" but to instead to always ask, "What does God need me to do today?"    The church of which Jim was an Elder is in a very rural part of Holmes County, Ohio.  Nashville, OH boasts a population of 183.  It's surrounded by religious communities and a lot of churches, yet the Nashville Church of Christ has an average attendance of over 300.  One of the primary reasons for their growth and success is that Jim Alexander dedicated himself to teaching otherse how to trully live for Jesus Christ; especially the men of the church.  His son commented, "Dad had a passion for men's ministry and led hundreds if not thousands of men's Bible Studies."  And when Jim led a Bible study, he dug in to the Word.  It would often take 3 or 4 weeks to cover a single chapter of Scripture because of Jim's study, effort and dilligence.  And, he made sure people understood the implications to their lives.

WITH MY FINAL MENTOR now gone I find myself asking, "To whom am I a mentor"?  Have I made a difference? What will be said about me shortly after my passing?    These are good questions for us all?  What will we do with the time we have left?  Oh that I might lead yet one more person to Christ, one more person back to Christ, and help one more person to develop the passion to truly live for him.

THOUGH IT'S HARD TO SAY GOODBYE to a great man, but I'm comforted by the words of the Apostle Paul from 2 Corithians 4:16-18:   Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.