Jim was raised in a church-going home, but came to understand what it meant to follow Jesus early in his freshman year at Ball State University. He was a student leader in his campus ministry and graduated with a degree in Social Work. He went on to complete a Master of Divinity degree at Emmanuel Seminary at Milligan University in Tennessee. After graduating, he served as Director of Campus Christians at the University of Kansas for 21 years, where he also earned a Master of Education degree in Counseling Psychology. He then was called in 2004 to the same position with Campus Christian Fellowship at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. At the of July 2022, Jim completed his tenure with CCF and now works full-time leading UpStream Ministries. Jim and his wife, Marianna, live in Kernersville, NC.