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As years passed, his life became focused more on family after moving to Walnut Creek in 1990 with three daughters and then wife Laura Ortiz. In keeping with his childhood tradition in the Covenant Church, he attended Hillside Covenant Walnut Creek. It was there he found disability ministry with inspiration from friend and mentor Bill Gallagher. Bill introduced Jim to Joni Eareckson Tada of Joni and Friends, and their Wheels for the World ministry at a special event at Hillside. Jim dove in with a new commitment, along with plenty of helpers, to assist the Wheels operation move a steady stream of donated wheelchairs to refurbishing centers before being distributed to developing countries around the globe. 

Jim’s heart directed him to go from freight logistics and wheelchair collection to joining the Wheels distribution team going to Romania in 1997 and 1998. That completed the picture with something truly worthwhile. Disability ministry for him became a better way to understand life and others. As Joni once said, “in God's world, even His temporarily able-bodied servants have a place in this ministry.”

Now living in the mountain community of Nevada City with Laurel - his wife, best friend, and ministry partner - “life keeps getting bigger” according to Jim. “With deeper relationships and the luxury of time to consider scripture, I find retirement most agreeable. Now there is less time spent sitting in traffic, and he views each day like a family camping trip.” 

The scripture that sums it up best for him is Proverbs 17:17: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Jim adds, “we all have adversity, as surely as we all need friends.”