For 25 years, Jim Bales has served as the pastor at First Assembly of God in Warren, a quarter-century marked not only by his dedication to the church but by the undeniable presence of God's work in his life. His journey of faith is a story of miracles, obedience, and unwavering belief.
Bales, a native of Batesville, grew up attending a Pentecostal church with his parents. But it wasn’t until 1974, alongside his wife, that they made a profound decision that would alter the course of his life. At a local Assembly of God church, they both chose to dedicate their lives to God on March 12—an act that Bales describes as a defining moment of his spiritual journey.
The next year, in March of 1975, Bales found himself contemplating a deeper calling.
“We felt blessed to just be able to serve,” Bales shared, reflecting on the simplicity yet depth of their initial decision.
But it was one powerful night that truly cemented his purpose.
“A young minister spoke that night on the will of God,” Bales recalled. “My wife and I were kneeling at the altar holding hands. The minister came over and laid hands on us, which isn’t uncommon in our circles. He prayed for the Lord’s will to be done.”
At that moment, Bales realized that God had a bigger plan for him.
“I tried to tell my wife on the way home,” Bales said. “But I couldn’t get the words out because of the emotion and tears.”
Although Bales struggled to articulate his feelings, his wife knew exactly what had transpired. Yet, the path forward wasn’t clear. However, as with many defining moments in Bales’s life, God had a way of providing the answers when needed most.
A pivotal step came when Bales took a group of students to visit Evangel University, formerly Central Bible College, affiliated with the Assemblies of God. As he drove home, the thought struck him: could he, too, enroll at the college? It was a thought born from a desire to follow the ministry path he now felt called to walk.
God opened another door when a friend invited Bales and his wife to go on vacation with him. While there, Bales visited the school registrar, and despite his ninth-grade education, the registrar gave him an enrollment application. Bales filled out the application and was accepted to start classes the following semester. The one stipulation was that he had to take and pass the test for his G.E.D. during the Christmas break.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous. Bales was determined to make it work despite the hardships.
“I had no study habits and didn’t know what to do,” Bales recalled. “I was working two jobs, taking 15 hours of classes, and my wife and I had two little girls.”
But as Bales and his family moved onto campus, two other students going on to get their master’s degrees took him under their wing, tutoring and encouraging him.
“That was God!” Bales said.
Not only did God provide in these significant ways, but He also made sure the financial details were taken care of. Bales’s first year of school was paid for before he even arrived, and housing was provided through a remarkable series of events, including a chance conversation with a motel employee whose sister had the last available apartment for rent.
As Bales progressed through his education and began his pastoral journey, more miracles unfolded. Late one evening, when Bales was considering a pastoral offer at a church he had been filling in for, a knock at the door changed everything. The buyer of the home that the Bales’ had recently purchased appeared at their doorstep, ready to purchase it immediately, clearing the way for Bales to take the ministry position. Once again, God had made a way.
Through every trial and challenge, Jim Bales has remained steadfast in his faith and service to God. His story is one of complete surrender, trusting that when God calls, He also provides. And now, after 25 years of ministry in Warren, Bales has touched countless lives, spreading the message of God’s love and making disciples in the truest sense.
Perhaps the most poignant part of Bales’s legacy is how his example has inspired others. Bales’s grandson walked a similar path into ministry, and answered the call, and now serves as the youth pastor at Cave City First Assembly. Bales shared with pride that a member of his own congregation has recently decided to pursue ministry as well, continuing the cycle of service and faith.
Jim Bales’s journey is a testament to the power of obedience, sacrifice, and divine intervention. His unwavering trust in God has brought blessings not only to his own life but to the lives of so many in the Warren community. In a world that often seems defined by uncertainty, Bales’s life stands as a beacon of hope and faith.
As he celebrates his 25 years of service in Warren, we can only marvel at the impact he has made. His story is a reminder that when we are willing to answer the call, God’s plans are always greater than we can imagine. Jim Bales is, without a doubt, a true disciple of God, and his service is a remarkable example for us all.
Congratulations on 25 years of faithful ministry, Pastor Jim Bales. May your legacy continue to inspire and uplift for years to come.
