Others followed, a good man named David kept the seed alive while I survived medical school. Max Lucado’s writings taught me how to blend emotion into the “logical” faith of my childhood. Being intoduced to the Zoe family a few years ago has been such an encouragement to know… well to know that my wife and I are not alone!

Thank you again for bringing back those good memories of
Jim’s lessons at College Church.

Jim didn’t only make a difference in Searcy, but also in Muskogee, OK. When I was in middle school, Jim and Louine moved to Muskogee to work with a newly forming congregation. They were instrumental in developing this church and nurturing it in the beginning years. They ministered and cared for so many families. Mine included. I will never forget Jim and the way that he walked beside my dad through a very difficult time in his life and the life of our family. He was a true friend, one that listened but also challenged people to love Jesus and get things right. As I began my freshman year at Harding, he was a Godsend to our family and my dad again, as my dad dealt with leaving his firstborn daughter at college on her own. I will never forget Jim and Louine, the love they shared, they way they never give up hope, and how they truly lived their lives in the image of Jesus.

One of the beautiful things about Jim was also witnessing how he treated his kids. To see him hug Tim, David, and Jon (I didn’t know the girls) and tell them he loved him, even when others were looking, was a stark contrast to many fathers of that day. He exuded love! Yes, there are those that want to “Be like Mike,” but what a challenge to “live like Jim.”

One of the beautiful things about Jim was also witnessing how he treated his kids. To see him hug Tim, David, and Jon (I didn’t know the girls) and tell them he loved him, even when others were looking, was a stark contrast to many fathers of that day. He exuded love! Yes, there are those that want to “Be like Mike,” but what a challenge to “live like Jim.”

We both knew that there was something exciting about the Boston work but yet there was an edge to their message and their actions that left us feeling uneasy. As time passed it became apparent that legalism and a “Jesus + something else” salvation was what they were offering.

And while he appeared to be the absent-minded professor at times – he recognized legalistic heresy when he saw it and led us in trying to help the spiritually wounded that left the Boston movement in droves.

As an impressionable young preacher I remember with fondness sitting in a pizza joint and Jim telling me that if our focus is on Jesus – everything else will work itself out. It had a profound effect on the way I preach even till today.

Thanks Mike for bringing back a flood of really great memories.

I hope you, Mike, know that you already are the same kind of person to many as Jim was to you at Harding. From a young age at Youth in Action in Birmingham, AL, you impressed me with your honesty and grace, sharing with 3000 teenagers about the lessons you learned through the life and death of Megan. I remember having your controversal article from Wineskins (”Christians Only, but Not the Only Christians”) passed along to me so that I could be aware of the “false teaching” coming out of Abilene. Well, the plans of the person who passed the article on to me backfired. I was changed by the article and began my quest towards the grace and love of God that creates unity in the Body of Christ, not division. Thanks for taking riskes, exposing your views for all to see, so that many can be drawn to Christ by your example.

There are many good reasons for living in Searcy, but I want to stay here a long time for no other reason than this: Jim Woodroof is in this place. He was the first minister to get me to focus on Jesus, and he is STILL doing that 30 years later. I love him much!

Even if he still doesn’t remember my name! Dave