Rev. Jim Martin was born in Clarksburg, WV. His home congregation is Temple United Methodist Church in Clarksburg. He was baptized at 10-months of age with his identical twin brother on Easter morning, 1957. He was confirmed as a professing member at age 12.
Rev. Martin has degrees in Business Administration (emphasis in Finance) and Industrial - Systems Engineering from West Virginia University. While at WVU, he was part of the Mountaineer Marching Band for two-years. Upon graduating from Engineering school at WVU, he accepted a position with CSX Corporation and was assigned as a Management Trainee with the Chessie System Railroad for one- year. Upon finishing this training program, he was assigned to Corporate Internal Audit in Jacksonville, FL to assist IA in incorporating "operational auditing" to supplement the traditional financial audit function of that office. After 3-years, he transferred into Mechanical Operations as part of that department's industrial engineering team and worked in that position for several years.
He returned to Clarksburg to find work, care for his father and help his mother. From there, the call to ministry that he received at 19, became stronger and stronger. In discussing his call with a retired elder he affirmed and helped Jim chart a course. Before attending Candler, he initiated a relationship with the WV Conference through his home church's charge conference and became a certified candidate for ordained ministry. Emory University's Candler School of Theology was the best fit and he was awarded a Sherman Scholarship at Candler and pursued a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree.
Pastor Jim met Betsy, the only love of my life, at his first appointment in Davis, WV and they married in 2005. He and Betsy have shared in the ministry since that time. He has taken spiritual gifts inventories from the beginning of preparing for ministry and throughout his ministry life. Teaching has always been in the top three. Healing, serving others, and pastoral care have been indicated in the top often as well.
Jim finds relaxation in spending time tying flies and fly fishing for trout. He especially appreciates brook trout fishing on eastern native brook trout streams. He volunteers when he can with Project Healing Waters, an organization that works with veterans tying flies and introducing them to fly fishing.
