Jim Mindling, Sr. Pastor:
Job Description:
My passion is helping people encounter God through His Word. My primary responsibilities at COD are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in making me more like Christ, provide visionary, strategic and directional leadership, and insightfully and accurately teach God's Word, helping to lead people in the adventure of becoming like Christ.
My passion is helping people encounter God through His Word. My primary responsibilities at COD are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in making me more like Christ, provide visionary, strategic and directional leadership, and insightfully and accurately teach God's Word, helping to lead people in the adventure of becoming like Christ.
Describe your family:
I am married to a lovely, talented and creative woman, Andrea, who loves to be with people and help them get connected to God and to other people. We celebrate our 26th anniversary in 2008. We have 4 children: Ryan, Caylie, Christa, and Julianna, each of whom bring us great joy as we love them, receive their love and watch them grow in God.
I am married to a lovely, talented and creative woman, Andrea, who loves to be with people and help them get connected to God and to other people. We celebrate our 26th anniversary in 2008. We have 4 children: Ryan, Caylie, Christa, and Julianna, each of whom bring us great joy as we love them, receive their love and watch them grow in God.
How do you spend your time when not at the church?
I love... spending time with my family, crackling fires in the fireplace, teasing my family, laughing with friends, being outdoors, jogging, reading great books, playing guitar, eating ice cream, playing Scrabble, and playing basketball, though not all at the same time.
I love... spending time with my family, crackling fires in the fireplace, teasing my family, laughing with friends, being outdoors, jogging, reading great books, playing guitar, eating ice cream, playing Scrabble, and playing basketball, though not all at the same time.
Background information:
I was born in Dayton, Ohio, raised in Ohio and Michigan and had the immense privilege of being raised by parents who love God (as well as their five kids.) While a student at Taylor University, God called me into a lifetime of knowing Him and His Word, then into full time vocational ministry to help others know Him. After completing my formal ministry preparation at Eastern Nazarene College (B.A. in Religion), and Nazarene Theological Seminary (M. Div.), I planted two churches and helped to revitalize another before coming to Open Door in 2003. I love to learn which led me back to school, resulting in a Doctorate in Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary in the Beeson School of Preaching and Leadership. (For you scholars, the dissertation was "Proclaiming What We Have Seen and Heard: The Role of Prayer in Hermeneutics for Homiletics" which explores how preachers practice prayer when studying the Scripture for sermon preparation.) My life story has been a journey in learning to love God, love people and live surrendered.
I was born in Dayton, Ohio, raised in Ohio and Michigan and had the immense privilege of being raised by parents who love God (as well as their five kids.) While a student at Taylor University, God called me into a lifetime of knowing Him and His Word, then into full time vocational ministry to help others know Him. After completing my formal ministry preparation at Eastern Nazarene College (B.A. in Religion), and Nazarene Theological Seminary (M. Div.), I planted two churches and helped to revitalize another before coming to Open Door in 2003. I love to learn which led me back to school, resulting in a Doctorate in Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary in the Beeson School of Preaching and Leadership. (For you scholars, the dissertation was "Proclaiming What We Have Seen and Heard: The Role of Prayer in Hermeneutics for Homiletics" which explores how preachers practice prayer when studying the Scripture for sermon preparation.) My life story has been a journey in learning to love God, love people and live surrendered.