Jim was born in 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in August of 1971. Jim, and his wife Julie, have been married for 22 years and have three children; Jill who is 16, Jenna who is 12 and Joshua who is 6.
Jim has been in ministry for nearly 25 years and has always had a passion to serve. At the age of 19, he began teaching Sunday school for freshman and sophomores at his home church. In 1987, Jim and Julie married and together continued co-teaching the class while helping serve the church in other areas of ministry. In 1991, Jim and Julie moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Jim took on the job of volunteer youth minister for Cornerstone Baptist church in Lee’s Summit. In July of 1997, while attending a youth camp with his youth in Greenville, South Carolina, he felt the call to ministry during one of the services. When he returned from the trip, he talked with Julie about his call and how they should respond. After much prayer, Jim quit his job as manager of Mission Gardens Nursery and began attending Central Baptist Theological Seminary full-time in September of that same year. In 1999, he received the call from Wyatt Park Baptist Church to be their full-time children’s pastor. Jim continued with seminary while serving on staff there. In May of 2002, Jim graduated from Central Seminary with a Master of Divinity. In January of 2006, Jim was ordained. On November 1, 2009 Faith United Church in St. Joseph, MO called Pastor Jim Oswald to serve as full time pastor.
Jim has been involved in mission trips to Mexico, South Dakota and Minnesota, children’s camps, organizing field days for Lindbergh school while serving as the church’s liaison as their business partner, supervised the Daycare and Preschool, performed weddings, counseled individuals and couples, filled in at the pulpit, officiated funerals as well as helped plan and carry out many other ministries along with anything else you could ask of a pastor. Jim feels the fruit of all your labors is when someone, of any age, gives their life to, and wants to become, a fully devoted follower of Christ. No job is too hard, and no task is too small when the reward can be so great. Jim’s favorite verses are found in Proverbs 3. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”
From left, Julie & Jim Oswald, with children Joshua, Jenna & Jill
Jim was born in 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in August of 1971. Jim, and his wife Julie, have been married for 22 years and have three children; Jill who is 16, Jenna who is 12 and Joshua who is 6.
