He comes highly recommended as a strategic thinker and Bible teacher, but essentially “he has the heart of a shepherd.” That’s the characterization given to the man who begins to lead the flock at Woodland Shores Church of Bridgman at the beginning of next month.
Pastor Jim Oakley has accepted the call of the Woodland Shores Church on Shawnee Road, to be their new pastor, starting May 1 full time.
He will also preach there at the morning worship services on Palm Sunday at 9:30am, and on Easter Sunday at 10:00am.
Pastor Oakley has been associate pastor for youth and small groups at Hope Evangelical Free Church in Roscoe, Illinois, until recently. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School near Chicago, with a Master of Divinity degree, and received his Bachelor of Arts in broadcasting and cinematic arts from Central Michigan University before that.
His senior pastor at Hope, Dr. Mickey Klink, said of him, “Jim has the mind of a leader, a strategic thinker, and a Bible teacher. But he also has the heart of a shepherd and a lover of people.”
The present interim pastor at Woodland Shores, Craig Clapper, a veteran of forty years as a pastor, noted, “Jim has a warm, inviting personality which I believe will endear him to this congregation and community.”
Consulting pastor Knute Larson, who coaches churches in the Great Lakes region says, “Jim is a strong teacher who loves the church of our Lord, and it shows in the way he relates to people.”
The church congregation responded to many interviews and two Sundays of sermons and informal meetings with this candidate, with a strong 98-percent vote to serve here. Pastor Oakley accepted the call with delight and said, “Audra and I can’t wait to get to know you more as we walk through life with you.”
Woodland Shores is located at 3555 Shawnee Road in Bridgman. You can learn more about the church by clicking this link: https://www.wsbchurch.com/.
