Arctic Barnabas Ministries (ABM) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director to oversee its aviation support ministry operating from Kenai, Alaska. Jim Hamilton (58), currently the Executive Director of the Golden Triangle Baptist Network in Texas, will assume duties in late winter or early spring of 2017.
ABM Board Chairman, Tim Van Sickle, said Hamilton will replace Jonathan Peters who left the organization last summer to pursue other ministry opportunities. Van Sickle said the search for a new director led to a number of qualified candidates. “Jim Hamilton brings a lot of executive experience to the organization and has previous pastoral ministry experience in Alaska and an understanding of rural Alaskan culture,” Van Sickle said.
Arctic Barnabas is a mission organization with pilots and aircraft used to support ministry in the off-road communities of Alaska. Van Sickle said Jim Hamilton’s skills and experience in developing and coaching pastors and missionaries is just what ABM was looking for. In his present position, Hamilton provides coaching and assistance to a network of more than 100 churches in Texas. He also has had international experience in church planting and discipleship programs such as one currently underway in Belize. In addition, he currently helps develop executive leaders in his role as a life/executive coach consultant.
Jim and his wife of 38 years, Lisa, have five grown children, three of whom are Alaska Natives, and eight grandchildren. Jim emphasized that Lisa is an important part of his ministry and can offer much spousal support to missionaries and pastors in bush communities.
Hamilton has a work and ministry history with Alaskan roots. He served at the Alaska Family Service Center for five years and was pastor of the Muldoon Road Baptist Church for four years. It was in Anchorage that his theological education started at Wayland Baptist University. He completed a bachelor of science degree from Wayland, a master’s in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Bethany Theological Seminary. His ministry has taken him to pastoral positions in Indiana, North and South Dakota and Texas.
Jim said early in his career he had never made plans to leave Alaska, but ministry calling took him elsewhere. He says the experience he encountered along the way has prepared him to now return to Alaska for a long-term commitment.