Dr. James McReynolds, pastor,

First Christian Church, Weeping Water, 2005-present 

Pastor Jim and his wife Laurel are founders of Visionquest International. They provide spiritual encounters in local churches, colleges and schools, hospitals, prisons, with retreats and seminars for family enrichment, and programs for business and civic organizations.

“One day your preaching embraced in joy, will be, as my positive thinking, a fresh vision for communicating Christian faith. Jim, I anoint you minister of joy to the world,” Norman Vincent Peale declared.

Millions have read Jim’s books, articles, printed sermons, and newsletters. Others have listened to his television and radio presentations. He is a Christian counselor and spiritual director. As a licensed mental health practitioner he believes that “souls are made for endurance.” He has served as a diplomat of the World Pastoral Care Center, on the pastoral care committee of the Baptist World Alliance, and Prayer and Spiritual Formation task force of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, member of the United Methodist Mental Health Network, the Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network, and the state board of directors of the Nebraska Mental Health Association.

While serving as information specialist for the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, his portfolio included promotion of the programs of ministry, including National Student Ministries. His prolific ministry to students has included speaking on more than 2,600 campuses throughout the world.

He now serves as minister of the First Christian Church, Weeping Water, Nebraska. He has standing as a  Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister. He’s been listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who in Health Care, Who’s Who in Religion, Who’s Who in America, International Men of Achievement, and the Dictionary of International Biography.

Pastor Jim’s formal education includes B. A., magna cum laude , Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee; graduate assistant in psychology of religion, Baylor University, Waco, Texas; B. Jour., University of Missouri, Columbia; M. R. Ed., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City; Th. D., Luther Rice University Theological Seminary, Atlanta; Litt.D., Cardiff Theological College, London; M. Div. and D. Min., Vanderbilt University, Nashville; Ph.D. in business administration, California Coast University, Santa Ana; and Psy.D., Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, Indiana that included Notre Dame, Oxford, and Rome Universities.

He has been honored with seven honorary doctorates, 20 gold medals, two silver, and one bronze for excellence in evangelism by the United Methodist Church Holston Conference, Billy Graham Award for Excellence in Evangelism by the World Evangelism Federation in New York, World Missionary Distinction Award by the Council for World Mission in London, and many other ministry awards.

Annual continuing education experiences include Princeton Theological Seminary, Lexington Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology, 15 units of clinical pastoral education at Oteen Veterans Hospital and Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina, Gottingen University in Germany, Southwest Regional Support Center of the National Association of Drug Abuse, Vanderbilt University, Schools of Practical Christianity at Peale Center, University of Utah Summer School  of Alcohol Studies in Salt Lake City, Integrative Group Psychotherapy Training Institute in Atlanta, Samford University in Birmingham, University of Richmond, Duke University, Texas Medical Center in Houston, University of Edinburgh in Scotland, University of Virginia, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Lake Junaluska Conference Center, Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Furman University, College of William and Mary, Iliff School of Theology, National Association of United Methodist Evangelists, American Association of Christian Counselors, Holy Land Tour, Saint Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary in Russia, Charles University in Prague, World Methodist Conference in Brazil, Emory University in Atlanta, International Congress on Preaching, Episcopal Divinity School Summer Clergy Conference in Cambridge, Harvard University Medical School, Columbia Theological Seminary, Emmanuel School of Religion, Simpsonwood Retreat Center in Atlanta, Baylor College of Medicine, Carl Jung Institute in Zurich, Claremont School of Theology, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Depression and Bipolar Support Conferences, United States and Mental Health Psychiatric Conference in San Diego, Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Spiritual Directors International Conferences, Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Mennonite National Mental Health Conferences, National Association of United Methodist Evangelists and Evangelism Congress in Nashville, Refresh: National United Methodist Campus Ministers Conference in Texas, Spirituality and Medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Saint Benedict Conference Center in Schulyer, University of Nebraska at Kearney, and others.