Jim DeCamp

Jim DeCamp was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, of Presbyterian missionary parents. He was graduated from Seoul Foreign High School in 1967. He majored in Physical Education at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, where he met his wife, Ruth.

Receiving a commission through R.O.T.C., he served as an infantry officer in the U. S. Army for eight years--in Germany, Korea and Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1979, he left active duty to attend seminary. He received an MDiv and ThM from Gordon-Conwell and Princeton Seminaries, respectively. He served a congregation in Amarillo, Texas, for seven years. During this time, he was active on the board of Presbyterians Pro-Life (PPL), a renewal ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In 1990, he joined the staff of PPL, moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Having entered the Army Reserve as a chaplain in 1989, he was called to active duty in December of 1990, and served in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Returning to the States in April, 1991, the Lord called him to return to the pastoral ministry. He became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Oostburg, Wisconsin, in February of 1992.

Emphasizing preaching of the Word and pastoral care, Jim sees himself as "a family pastor in a family church." His witness beyond the congregation continues to include renewal ministry in the denomination and service as an Army Reserve Chaplain. Jim and his wife have three grown children and two grandchildren.

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March 2007 Update:

Pastor DeCamp is currently mobilized to First Army Headquarters near Atlanta, Georgia, for one year.