Area

ministers were sitting at the IHOP breakfast table

hearing reports of God's anointed work in Birmingham,

England where prayer has been the focus. Spontaneously,

without any prompting or coaching, Rev. Jim Willis said,

"Well, let's have a prayer meeting at our church

tonight." He followed through by personally inviting

many other ministers and calling his own members. That

night we heard wonderful reports of what God was doing in

England and we prayed!

At North

Fayette Baptist Church Dr. Willis-for he holds an

earned doctorate-demonstrates consistently that he

does not fit into various political camps, denominational

strongholds, nor religious cliques. He does fit, however,

into the hearts of people. He holds near and dear those

for whom many others don't care: the powerless, the

handicapped, the senior citizen. And you know he cares

because he shows it.

He's not a

power grabber, but a heart hearer. He listens better than

most of us. He doesn't judge others, but he does have a

difficult time with self- appointed judges.

This year

the folks at North Fayette Baptist Church celebrate 20

years of ministry. Jim and Jesus started North Fayette

with Jim's devoted family (Terry, Jennifer, Benjamin) and

Ralph and Martha Daniels. Then, as now, Jim trusted God

to show him the way. After four years and with the help

of Jim Daniels and Jim Rogers, Dr. Willis built a

beautiful facility to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Willis

has been proactive in the unity movement among south

metro churches. Since many of his members are senior

citizens, when North Fayette comes to a unity event, it's

obvious. However, Jim has taught his folks how to enjoy

and appreciate different traditions of worship. I

remember one unity service when the music was fast, the

beat was heavy, and the sound was loud, the North Fayette

folks hung in there and enjoyed every minute. They went

home not complaining, but exclaiming the goodness of the

Lord. I believe with all my heart, they responded that

way due to the loving and kind leadership of their

pastor.

These days

the neighborhood of North Fayette Baptist Church has been

in transition. When Jim started the church 20 years ago,

it was all white. Not now. There's a growing

African-American presence. North Fayette, nevertheless,

doesn't plan to move south. They seek to minister

effectively to the people God is bringing in around them.

Currently, they are planning to add two new staff

positions: one for children and one for youth. That kind

of planning for a senior citizen church means they are

planning for the future. The are also laying the

groundwork to build an educational building next fall.

But not to

ignore their largest group, North Fayette plans to add an

additional staff member to minister solely to the needs

of its senior citizens.

Many of us

south metro ministers are blessed to call Jim Willis our

friend. He's much like an active gold mine. The more you

go along with Jim, the more riches you discover. The

community of faith wishes Dr. Jim Willis and North

Fayette Baptist Church blessings, prosperity, more love

as they move into their third decade of ministry.

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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