The Shadow
WELCOMES NEW PASTOR — Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Maple Avenue and Main Street in downtown Covington, recently welcomed the Rev. Jim Smith, center, and his family — his son, Ean, left, and wife, Juanita, right. They come to Covington from a four-year appointment at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Stephenson. (D.S. Crosier Photo)
WELCOMES NEW PASTOR — Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Maple Avenue and Main Street in downtown Covington, recently welcomed the Rev. Jim Smith, center, and his family — his son, Ean, left, and wife, Juanita, right. They come to Covington from a four-year appointment at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Stephenson. (D.S. Crosier Photo)
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The Rev. Jim Smith has no problem telling you “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
So it makes sense that “Pastor Jim,” as he’s bouncing around the sanctuary during one of his sermons, has no problem being called “Joy-Boy.”
“I speak with authority that the joy of the Lord is my strength,” Pastor Jim said. “I first came to know Christ at the age of 13. I’ve been through multiple traumas and I have felt the power of God’s strength and have joy in my heart.”
Pastor Jim brought that infectious energy with him when he assumed the pastorate at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church recently.
“My vision is Granbery’s vision – to spread the Good News; to be willing to risk with love and willing to make disciples. Granbery has had a rich tradition of allowing God to direct them in that vision. I want Granbery to be a seven-day-a-week church, implementing John Wesley’s view of ‘Vital Piety,’ which we believe at Granbery is faith in action.”
Pastor Jim, along with his wife Juanita and son, Ean, come to Covington from a four-year appointment at Emmanual United Methodist Church in Stephenson.
Ean is a rising third grader who enjoys soccer, basketball, track and field, Cub Scouts, running and playing Legos.
Ean has a passion for military history and is a published author in the 2013 version of “Anthology of Poems by Young Americans.”
Juanita is a former Weekday Religious Education teacher for Frederick County.
She is a member of the Sisters in Christ circle of the United Methodist Women and a substitute Sunday School Teacher.
Juanita also has been a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 46, a permit technician for the city of Franklin and a bookkeeper for a travel agency.
She enjoys crafts, hiking, animals, photography and experiencing the creation.
In the short time Pastor Jim has been in Covington, he has already become involved in his new home. Earlier this month, he was appointed to represent the city of Covington on the board of directors of the Charles Pinkney Jones Memorial Library by Covington City Council.
Pastor Jim currently serves the Virginia Annual Conference as a member of the Annual Conference Rules Committee as a member of the Virginia United Methodist Foundation.
He has served as the Conference Youth president, a member of the All God’s Children Committee and the Board of Discipleship.
He is a Ruritan and a former Cub Scout den leader for Pack 46.
Pastor Jim has been a member of the Gates County, Bedford County, Sussex County and Isle of Wight County historical societies as well as many other civic organizations.
He graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He graduated from the School of Theology from Union in Richmond, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Divinity.
He has completed one full unit of Clinical Pastoral Care with the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs, specializing in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
He is a contributor to “Battles of Milburn.”
Pastor Jim is also a member and certified Stephen Ministeries leader.
He enjoys genealogy, history, hiking, swimming, photography and just having time with Ean and Juanita.
“We are honored and humbled to be a part of the Granbery family and a member of Alleghany Highlands community,” Pastor Jim concluded.
