Pastor Jim grew up in Japan where his parents were missionaries with a ministry called Hi. B. A. (High-School Born Againers). After graduating from Christian Academy in Japan in 1980 he attended Cairn University, formerly called Philadelphia College of Bible. After finishing ministry training in 1984, Pastor Jim became an associate pastor at Grace Evangelical Free Church in NJ. Three years later, in 1987, he took the position of pastor at Central Bible Evangelical Free Church, in NJ, where he was the pastor for nine years.

During his time as the pastor of Central Bible (EFC), Pastor Jim became convinced that further biblical training would help him with the constant counseling needs he saw in his ministry. Pastor Jim went back to Cairn University to study in the field of Christian counseling and in 1996 he graduated with a Master of Science in Christian Counseling.

In 1996 Pastor Jim started the Pocono Evangelical Free Church in Tannersville, PA. To offset his salary as a church planter he began to teach part time at Cairn University in their Master of Science in Christian Counseling program. During this time of part time teaching and church planting Pastor Jim started working on a doctorate. In 2001 he received the degree of Doctor of Education (in) Pastoral Community Counseling from Argosy University (Formerly: University of Sarasota). In 2002 he began teaching full time at Cairn University in the Dept. of Counseling and Psychology.

Pastor Jim taught at Cairn University from 1996 – 2019 and continues to pastor the Pocono EFC in Tannersville, PA since 1996. He also offers biblical counseling, discipleship, consulting, and coaching to pastors and missionaries through a ministry called Biblical Counseling Resources (BCR). BCR is a ministry of Pocono Evangelical Free Church.

Pastor Jim is ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) and has been serving continuously with the EFCA since 1984. He resides near Martins Creek, PA with his wife Kathy. They enjoy canoeing on the Delaware River, hiking and being grandparents.

Pastor JJ Is the son of Pastor Jim. Growing up as a pastors kid, JJ found that the Lord was calling him as well to the pastorate. He grew up being home schooled until the 9th grade where he attended Lehigh Valley Christian High School for all of High School.  Pastor JJ then went on to Philadelphia Biblical University (now known as Carin) and got his Bachelors in Bible and a Masters in Christian Counseling. Pastor JJ is ordained with the EFCA.

For three years, Pastor JJ was a Bible Teacher in Ankara Turkey at an international school there. He then taught Bible for a year at an international school in Accra Ghana. He was also a Associate Pastor at Grace Bible Church in Newfane NY for 2 1/2 years before coming back as a Co-Pastor to Pocono Evangelical Free Church in January of 2016.

Pastor JJ is married to Rachael Marie Meyer and they have four children named Hadassah Rhonda, Vera Sophia, Adam James, and Dana Anne. They enjoy spending time together as a family and connecting with friends and family.