The comments below support this Mark of Ministry. To read the reference in its entirety, please click on the bold text at the end of each comment.
…the specific times he showed his love of God’s world, and his compassion for the people in it, when he created the service for my dearest friends’ son, a very young man who had taken his own life. Jim’s loving help and ministry in creating the celebration of Seth’s life, and giving comfort to the devastated family and friends who loved Seth, was nothing less than extraordinary. He assuaged despair, and instilled hope, and reminded us all of the way God loves ALL His Children.
This past year, my own son, Ben, was diagnosed with a fatal tumor. He suffered a year and a few months of slow deterioration of body, and mind. Through it all, Jim was supportive and continues to be so as we prepare the celebration of Ben’s life. He has continued to nurture and coax us moving forward through our griet anger, and pain, by being a reminding example of the way we are to proceed through hardships. – Dawn Bell
Each time he speaks the messages on Sundays he ties the messages and the music together. – Amy Alves
He blends traditional with innovative approaches, which having been a university professor, I truly appreciate. During one service when the message focused on the many ways in which we can worship, he didn’t just list the 6 ways in a conventional homily in a specific part of the service, but interjected them throughout, reinforcing them with appropriate parts of the service. For example, the opening hymn introduced the theme of worship with “O Worship the King,” The section “We worship through giving” was followed by the offertory; “We worship through praise,” was followed by the congregation singing 2 verses from “Sing Praise to God” and “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” followed by the choir singing “All People That On Earth Do Dwell.” This integration of sermon and song made for a service that flowed seamlessly and made the points easier to remember in methodical modules. – Joyce Stoffers
His music ministry nurtures this congregation. It is clear to me that Jim seeks and follows the leading of the Holy Spirit in his sermons. He has the ability to get the attention of the listeners, and offer them new ways, or just remind them of tried and true ways to enhance their personal faith journey. – Janet Hutchins
In his professional preparation for worship, he excels. His artistry in the design of worship encompasses a wide variety of worshipers. He is an architect in worship- whether it be prayer, song, litany, art and visual elements, sermon, communion, or funeral. His results are consistently excellent and prophetic. Jim is called by God; he meets the Marks of Ministry. – Rev. Paul A. Whitlock
His gifts for and call to ordained ministry are immediately evident to anyone with whom he has served. Jim turned around a struggling music program in a matter of weeks, and the tum-around had as much to do with his pastoral ability as his superb musical talents.
He works well with folks across a spectrum of beliefs, interests, and abilities. He strives for excellence in all things, and does so with an infectious spirit that inspires and uplifts. He is effective at recruiting, motivating, training, and encouraging working teams. He takes good care of the people he shepherds – tending to their spirits as much as their production. Jim is ultra-reliable, emotionally secure, spiritually mature, and exhibits the finest in ministry ethics and boundaries – Rev. Leonard W. Silvester
I was able to observe and experience his faith and passion for ministry, not only through his skills in music, but in his love and care for many others in the congregation. Jim made hospital visits, and was especially pastoral to members of the choir and their families. He preached and served in various capacities in worship services, and took an active part in worship-planning. – Rev. James Meadows
As to the Marks of Ministry specified by the UCC– we understand that Jim hasn’t followed the traditional MDIV / Ordination path. However, we find that his Southern Baptist ordination and 30 years of ministry, as well as his theological growth and ministry here affirm his readiness, gifts, passion and call to ministry in the United Church of Christ at the Church of the Palms.
The Holy Spirit flows through his words and heart, as evidenced by his preaching, prayerfulness and presence…he’s the pastor to the choir and their families. – Church of the Palms, Members In Discernment committee for Jim Alexander
Jim is all about is sharing God through the music. It is, quite frankly, impossible to think of Jim Alexander and not recognize his musical abilities.
The choir is constantly inspired by his professional leadership and the end result. People are brought out of their shell and singing solo when they never thought that they could. To me, this translates into effecting a person’s life beyond the doors of the church. That is ministry.
For decades he has assisted in developing worship services from the order of worship to matching hymns and anthems to the day’s message. He constantly strives to enhance the worship experience. Jim has been involved in creating many unforgettable Sundays because of his knowledge of the big picture. He is professional and a perfectionist at the same time. – Jeff Scruggs
When he experienced his hardships, as we all have had to do, I saw the transition: He was finally broken, and what emerged was the beautiful soul of a humble servant. He no longer relied on his great talent; he no longer offered his “gift” to God. He offered his total life, and in the humbleness of this broken servant, God was able to bless me, and I’m sure, everyone else who has ever heard him preach the gospel, lead a choir, or sing a solo. – Steven Dale Zukowski
For the past thirty plus years I’ve observed Jim’s sense of call grow and develop into adulthood through his involvement in church life. In fact, I credit Jim as a catalyst of my own faith journey and sense of call into ministry. His passion for the church, his ministry through music, and his love for God influenced me even as a young teen. Still today, his life continues to be a witness to me through his devotion to Christ, his sensitivity to the Spirit, his love for God, and his commitment to ministry. As many can testify, ministry is not always a bed of roses and the thorns can be quite painful, so one wonders why Jim would persist as he has. Only a deep and abiding sense of God’s call can explain Jim’s persistence in ministry. His faith journey has taken him into many denominational scenarios and carried him through some difficult struggles, which has only served to solidify his calling and strengthen his faith. – Rev. Nancy Gunn, Minister of Worship, Church at Cactus
Though he has experienced many life changes, through them all he has consistently exhibited a strong sense of call to the ministry. Jim’s testimony and persistent involvement in ministry demonstrates that he understands the difference between a deep spiritual call from God as apposed to simply a vocational choice. It is this spiritual call to which Jim has committed his life. – David Gunn, Pastor, Church at Cactus
Jim was the first Director I had ever worked with who prayed with and for us as a choir and as individuals and whose guiding philosophy is that we, as a choir, are not just singers- we are Worship Leaders! The choir is not just there to lead the congregation in singing but to enhance and enliven their worship experience. He encouraged us to not just know the notes and the words of the hymns/songs but to feel and believe the message we are bringing and to impart that to the congregation in body, mind and spirit. I know that for myself and for many who have worked with him over the years in several churches and two denominations that he is committed to Building Transformational Leadership Skills. – Toni and Steven Berg
Jim has been continuing discernment to his calling to ordained ministry, which includes being guided by the Holy Spirit & understanding the power of the Holy Spirit in his life, work, & call. – Malinda Case
My Personal Statement of Faith