T.J. & Andrew
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Jim & Missy Neathery T.J. & Andrew |
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| Email: |
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| Home Phone: |
011-355-4-360990 This is an international call from the U.S.! Also, be aware that Albanian time is six hours after the U.S. Eastern Time Zone. |
| Mail: | c/o AEP Box 58 KP 119 Tirana, Albania |
| Express Mail: | Rruga Artan Lenja Vila Nr 1 Tirana, Albania |
| US Contact: | East
West Ministries International Phone: (214) 265 8300 Fax: (214) 373-8571 |
Jim and Melissa met in 1989 in Dallas, Texas working in an inner city ministry called Frontline. They were married in 1990 and now have two boys: TJ who is six, and Andrew who is two.
Melissa met Jesus Christ as a young girl in a Methodist Church in Littleton, Colorado. It is a testimony to the Gospel's simple message to make it easy for a ten year old to receive Christ. She makes her Savior proud by the life she lives and the obedience she employs. As she grew in Christ, she also grew in knowledge and athletics. An avid student, Melissa enrolled at Baylor University and majored in Psychology earning a Nursing Degree. Eventually, she would earn her Masters degree in Psycho-social Nursing. Melissa brings great people skills and energy to ministry. She has a great penchant for simplifying complex issues and redirecting the focus of attention back on God.
Jim responded to Christ's invitation to new life while a senior at a preparatory school in Buffalo, New York. Jim really needed Christ since he was quite a sinner. Hockey was Jim's forte at the time, which earned him the opportunity to play in college. While in college, Jim worked with the Navigators who discipled him. Jim and his Savior began to know each other better and better. It is this intimacy which Jim is most excited about. God uses Jim to develop young people for leadership. His years ministering in the inner city, degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary, and the five years working at the Center for Christian Leadership in Dallas have prepared Jim for his assignment as director of the school.
T.J. (Thomas Jack) is a boy whom Christ loves. T.J. asked if it would be all right to accept Christ as Savior when he was four. Thomas likes school and soccer and Nintendo 64. He likes playing most anything. He loves to snuggle with Mom, and get hot chocolate and color with his Dad.
Andrew is two; that says a lot. He likes to throw stones in water and be loved and cuddled. Most of all he likes to ride on Dad's shoulders. He is quite content to ride around in the car with the wind in his hair. Though God is fully aware of Andrew, Andrew has not yet come to an understanding of just how much God regards him.
Jim holds a Bachelors of Science from Cornell University, and received a Masters of Theology He is currently pursuing an M.A. of Interdisciplinary Humanities through the University of Texas at Dallas. Jim also studied "Spiritual Formation for Spiritual Directors" at World Missions Saint Thomas Theological Seminary.
A little prayer card with ALBANIA on it began Jim's, and eventually Melissa's journey to this Balkan country. That was in 1984. After time spent in Indonesia, Jim knew that God wanted to use him in some way in overseas missions. The great need seen in Indonesia prompted Jim to enroll at Dallas Theological Seminary. While at seminary, Jim continued his interest in missions by reaching out to a multicultural neighborhood in Dallas. The streets and the classroom were his laboratory to learn.
In 1992, Albania was open to visitors. Jim and Melissa visited Albania while in Europe that summer. Knowing that God shows His children where to go, Jim and Melissa prayed that, if it be His will, they would return. In 1997 something strange happened. Jim was working at the Center for Christian Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. He wanted to get young leaders he was working with out of the theory mill so he planned a mission trip to Albania. It never happened because unrest in the country forced the missionaries to be evacuated. Jim had to rearrange his missions focus. Instead of going to Albania, he took his group of men sailing to the Bahamas. He thought crewing a boat would be a great challenge for young men desiring to learn about leadership. When the sailboat arrived with the crew on the tiny island of Spanish Wells, who else greeted them there but Nathan Graves (the field director for Albania) and his family. Nathan and Jim quickly shared their interests concerning Albania. After the sailing trip, Jim and Nathan continued to talk. A year later, Nathan invited Jim to visit Albania and the new Center for Christian Leadership in Tirana.
Returning from Albania with news of a great work to be done, Jim discussed the option with Melissa. She had already intuited Jim's response and they both prayed and sought God's will for six months. In January of 1999 they said "yes" to the opportunity to come and help get the school started as academic dean and later as director. They serve Christ with East-West Ministries International, being seconded to Christar while taking a leave of absence from Dallas Theological Seminary and its Center for Christian Leadership.