Jim & Shirley '67
... an unfolding story ...
... the Prom Queen meets the Country Boy ...
... he's awestruck
... she's skeptical ...
... 43 years later they're still married ... the proud parents of three Sons and the doting Grandparents of 9 (soon to be 10) Grandkids.
You'll meet lots of those folks on the pages of this site ...
For all of our 43 years we have been especially excited to be in the employ of Jesus of Nazareth. Whether as the Pastoral Family of a Local Church ... members of a Church's Staff ... Teachers ... or Mentors ... we have been living, and transferring to others the things Jesus taught would make for "life to the max." We have been experiencing in our life together and in our observations of experiences of others that it really is "only life when it is lived Jesus way."
Jim's story began in August of 1946 ...
Most of his growing up was done in and around Sault Ste Marie, another Northern Ontario City.
Shirley has suggested that Jim may have romanticized the "great land of the North" which was "Home" for the first 18 years of his life. But how could someone not. The vastness and rugged beauty of the wooded wilderness, the hunting and fishing, and farming, all provided a delightful backdrop for learning life's foundational lessons.
The quiet yet solid faith of his Parents, and of extended Family for several generations before them, provided a foundation for Christian faith that became the anchor of his existence from a very early age.
With regard to this Jim has written ...
"Since 5 years of age I have wanted to be a preacher/teacher.
At that age it was Billy Graham who was my hero.
On a quiet spring afternoon while I was acting out the role Dr. Graham played every week on the radio in my home I apparently found inspiration and was convicted myself. My Mother heard the commotion and came to check it out. There and then, she helped me understand, as best a 5 year old could, how justice and mercy are resolved in the generous gift of Jesus.
I have no grounds for any claims of angelic behavior from that point on. But I have lived in the grace of God ever since. More often than I can remember – in fact in every circumstance since that afternoon – I have been the beneficiary of his grace . I am highly motivated to let other people know about that grace and the generous person who’s provided it.
From the time when, at 17, I formally committed myself to be an ambassador of this grace and the Christ who offers it, I have been increasingly convinced that my first priority is to communicate. God’s initial line of offense is, most often, the proposal he makes to people in a variety of ways, and to each person in the particular way that Christ invites him or her to “follow” him. This propositional approach God makes to us comes, most often, in the form of a word. He speaks. And for me the essence of the “call” is that. Whether I preach, teach, mentor, debate, or advocate, my first task is to “proclaim”. I am a communicator.
This implies several things that are the essence of my personal philosophy.
First of all it clearly assumes that I speak a language common to me and the person or people with whom I'm attempting to converse. I have worked hard throughout my life to make sure that I am speaking the language of the people I hope to influence for Christ. Whatever it takes, short of heresy, I am committed to bringing Jesus to all people in terms, and by methods they will relate to and understand.
Secondly it urges me to be sure, as I meet someone, that I take the time to observe and understand what God has already been doing in that person’s life; how he has revealed himself to them up to this point. Once I understand that then I can work in co-operation with God during the next phases of the process by which he is drawing them to himself.
Finally, for me personally, this means a life primarily committed to preaching/ teaching/mentoring. With one or two people, as with one or two thousand, it is that same propositional work.
Conviction that “life is really only life when it is lived Christ’s way,” is a deep motivation within me. I believe, passionately that this “way” of Christ is ultimately and authoritatively presented in his Word the Bible.
Driven by an ever greater passion to love him and honor his name in all things I continue to look for more opportunities to introduce him and the truth that he is, in increasingly creative ways, to the world where God has put me."
She was the first of two Children born to Clarence "Bill," and Agnes Bailey.
Shirley's was a stable life. Her Dad was a steelworker in a time when the mills along the Ohio River flourished. She grew up in a comfortable home, the only home she knew until she left to begin her career in 1965.
An excellent Student, and a sociable, beautiful, reflective young woman Shirley really was the Queen of the Prom.
She was the first in her Family to follow Jesus of Nazareth. While a Junior High Student she chose to receive the forgiveness Jesus offers and "turn her will and her life" over to his care. Interestingly, all of her Family followed her lead in later years. She took Jesus seriously when he said, "ask and you will receive." She prayed daily for her Brother and parents. Her Lord gave her what she asked for. Perhaps the most significant paragraph, in this chapter on prayer in the story of her life, is that her Brother, Clarence "Bill," is, today, the Pastor of a flourishing Church - Journey by Grace - in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. He has seen the Congregation grow over 35 years of loyal service to the people of Greater Pittsburgh
Shirley left East Liverpool permanently in '65 to accept the assignment of Administrative Assistant to the Chairperson of the Division of Nursing at Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili, New York, a bedroom community of Rochester.
It was there that she met Jim.
From that day on her life has been an adventure.
Jim and Shirley married in East Liverpool. Shirley prepared for her wedding in the home into which she was carried as a newborn infant. Since then home has been a fluid thing, kinda like a game of "musical cities." Jim and Shirley have made homes in Upstate New York; Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Downey, California; Lemon Grove, California; Los Angeles, California; South Pasadena, California; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Temple City, California; Arcadia, California; and, most recently, in San Gabriel, California.
Vagabond?
No!
A woman who made a committment to her Husband, on the night she was married, to "go wherever" he would go; to "make a home wherever" he went; and to adopt, as her own, "his people;" she has kept that committment. Often it has meant hardship. But always it has been a response to the call of Jesus to bring news of his unsurpassed way of life to people in ever widening circles. And always it has been an exciting adventure.
When Jim and Shirley were presented with their first Son Shirley left her career to be a full-time Mother. It was a difficult choice. But she and Jim felt strongly that it shoud be so. And she "stuck to it" no matter how limited time and financial resources often were.
After Jason, their youngest Son, entered Kindergarten she returned to her career this time as an Early Childhood Teacher.
Since then Shirley has attained a high level of excellence and respectability in this field. She has worked with Special Needs Children. She has been a Professional Consultant to new Mothers, providing counselling for Post Partum issues from proper methods of breast feeding, to overcoming the depression that sometimes follows childbirth. Her gentle ways, her depth, and her wisdom, have earned her the respect of Families Internationally. She continues to be sought after for guidance and help in "sculpting young souls."
In addition to this she is, today, a Partner with Jim and Officer of the Non-profit Corporation destiny: Life!
In that role she works with Jim as a Mentor, and Personal Trainer of Christ-followers.
She and Jim work extensively for people preparing for Marriage, seeking guidance throught the difficult places in Marriage, and Parenting.
If you're interesed in the work Jim & Shirley visit the following websites ...
