My parents set the tone for my desire to sing since they both loved to sing and provided a Christian home for which I am eternally grateful.  My parents took me to church each Sunday and encouraged me to develop any musical talent that God gave me.

      At the age of 10, I started taking piano lessons at my Mom’s insistence—I hated every minute of it or at least the practice time.  She used to tell me “struggle today will result in music tomorrow.”  I finally made it through that struggle with God’s help, and I thank my Mom every day for just being an insistent Mom.

       I gave my life to Christ at age 13 at the same church where I sang my first song—Chapel Hill Methodist.  God continued to light the fire in my heart to sing his praises.

       During my senior year of high school, I met the love of my life, my wife Ann.  I was fortunate enough to marry my high school sweetheart a few years later while we were attending Murray State University.  God has been so good to us!

      I have always loved Southern Gospel Music. I have had the opportunity to sing with five different groups through the years and currently sing with GloryBound.  Singing with GloryBound has been such a blessing to me personally, and the best thing about it is that I sing with people who live what they sing about.  That is a true blessing day in and day out.

       My love of Southern Gospel Music has grown even more since attending my first National Quartet Convention in Memphis in 1967.  Hearing the greats of that time—Blackwood Brothers, Statesmen Quartet, Happy Goodmans just to name a few—created an excitement in me that I shall never forget.

       There was a lead singer with the Statesmen Quartet that has been my favorite down through the years—Jake Hess.  Jake is with the Lord now, but I’m sure he is singing that great song of his “Prayer is the Key to Heaven, but Faith Unlocks the Door.”  He was a special man of God, and I loved to hear him sing—of course, I am partial to the Lead Singers.  Jake was the Best!!!

       God has been so good to me!  He blesses me every day.  I want to share God’s blessings with as many people as I can every day.  He loves us so much!  One of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, puts it this way…

       “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.  If He had a wallet, your photo
         would be in it.  He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. 
         Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen.  He can live anywhere in the universe, and
         He Chose Your Heart.”   I pray that He is in your heart today.

      I feel God is in control.  He has my best interest at heart and has me right where He can best use me.  I pray that He will continue to direct my steps!  

On the GloryRoad…Jim

We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.  
2 Corinthians 5:20

***

Jim worships at Summit Heights United Methodist Church along with his wife, Ann.  He has two grown sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren (Jim says—Grandchildren are God’s Bonuses in life!!!)

You can email Jim at Jim@IAmGloryBound.com