Senior Pastor
 
In 1995, Jim joined the staff of Bear Valley and moved to Denver with his wife Connie and two daughters, Wendy and Bethie. Jim Walters became senior pastor in 2001 following six years of serving on the staff. He succeeds Jimmy Smith and Frank Tillapaugh as only the third senior pastor in thirty years.
 
A former USAF fighter pilot and instructor pilot, Jim came to Christ while in Southeast Asia back in 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Texas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He still teaches flying as a hobby, and says that "riding in planes with student pilots at the controls is a good way to keep one's prayer life in order."
 
Jim first visited Bear Valley in 1990, at one of the "Unleashing The Church" conferences. He took those principles back to Texas and applied them at Casa View Baptist, where he sponsored several church plants in the Dallas-Ft.Worth area. Jim says...

"Kingdom growth is more important to us than church growth, and we will always be about the business of establishing new churches in Denver."

 
Connie is a legal assistant at a local law firm, and co-teaches "Heart to Heart", a Sunday morning women's class at Bear Valley. Wendy is a hair stylist at Michael of the Carlyle salon, and leads a small group in the youth department. Bethie is a social worker in Denver, and sings with the Bear Valley praise team once a month. Wendy and Bethie are both accomplished singers, and enjoy using their singing skills at church and in the community.
 
Jim's forte is practical teaching of the Bible with personal applications to everyday life. You'll find his sermons to be high-energy, uplifting, and encouraging.