Pastor Jim Oswald
Jim was born in 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jim, and his wife Julie, have been married for over 30 years, and have three children; Jill, Jenna, and Josh. Jim has been in ministry for over 35 years and has always had a passion to serve. At the age of 19, he began teaching Sunday school for freshman and sophomores at his home church. In 1991, Jim and Julie moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he took on the job of volunteer youth minister for Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit. In July of 1997, while attending a Centrifuge camp with his students, he felt the call to ministry during one of the evening services. When he returned from the trip, he talked with Julie about his call and of how they should respond. After much prayer, Jim quit his job as manager of Mission Gardens Nursery and began attending Central Baptist Theological Seminary full-time in September of that same year. In 1999, he received the call from Wyatt Park Baptist Church to be their full-time children’s pastor. Jim continued on with his studies while serving on staff there. In May of 2002, Jim graduated from Central Seminary with a Master of Divinity. In January of 2006, Jim was ordained. On November 1, 2009, Faith United Church in St. Joseph, MO., called Pastor Jim Oswald to serve as full time pastor.
Jim has been involved in mission trips to Mexico, South Dakota, Southern Missouri, Tennessee, Colorado, Alabama, Texas and Minnesota to name just a few areas of work. He has helped start from scratch summer children’s camps, counseled individuals and couples, as well as anything else you could ask of a pastor. Jim feels the fruit of all your labors is when someone, of any age, gives their life to, and wants to become, a fully devoted follower of Christ. No job is too difficult, and no task is too small when the reward can be so great. Jim’s favorite verses are found in Proverbs 3. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”
Jim has been involved in mission trips to Mexico, South Dakota, Southern Missouri, Tennessee, Colorado, Alabama, Texas and Minnesota to name just a few areas of work. He has helped start from scratch summer children’s camps, counseled individuals and couples, as well as anything else you could ask of a pastor. Jim feels the fruit of all your labors is when someone, of any age, gives their life to, and wants to become, a fully devoted follower of Christ. No job is too difficult, and no task is too small when the reward can be so great. Jim’s favorite verses are found in Proverbs 3. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”