Pastor Jim Powell married to Stephanie on May, 20th1989 in Quincy, Illinois. Powells have two wonderful sons. However,eight years, when the boys were 6 and 10 years old, Stephanie developed some difficulties walking and maintaining her balance. Stephanie was diagnosed with a ‘Stiff Person Syndrome’(SPS), a real disease in USA that few hundreds have it.
The sickness of Jim’s wife affected his emotional and physical stability. Stephanie stopped working so it affected their finances because they lacked that extra income, they had multiple doctors’ visits and Pastor Jim had to be a full time dad, cook and do laundry at home on top of senior pastor’s responsibilities of a growing church with multiple campuses.
Later, Pastor Jim admitted feeling physically tired, emotionally dry, and burnout. In addition to above challenges,Richwoods Christian Church plateaued.Jim Powell admits that, he felt that, he did not see anything in him to give to the Richwoodschurch. Jim felt his well “dried up.”
Jim Powell gave up the leading of 95 Network (a nationwide organization that counsels and mentors pastors), and, RESIGNEDto be the pastor of Richwoods Christian Church.
Finally, Pastor Jim told me that his experience and his testimony reminded him of his limitations. Jim said, he has learned as scriptures says, “God’s grace is sufficient.”
On Nov. 19th, 2018, I interviewed Pastor Jim Powell who permitted me to share his story briefly on our website-www.pastoralcareforafrica.org; to show how a successful pastor with a type A personality can be emotionally and physically exhausted, dried up in ministry.