Members of the local community celebrated a man this past week who has worked “tirelessly” for decades to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ while lifting up the less fortunate.

The Rev. Jim Cremeans turned 85 years old on Dec. 22. His church family, wife Mary, children and other members of the Lawrence County community joined in the celebration to recognize him for the difference he has made in the lives of others. 

Jim’s son, the Rev. Jeff Cremeans, said his father was pastor of the City Mission Church for nearly  four decades, from 1967-2005. Jeff said his Dad never called it “retirement.” 

“He said he’s just stepping down,” Jeff said. “He continued to preach, hold meetings and do funerals up to about two years ago. With his health, he’s just not able to do it.” 

Jeff said his father was a “pastor’s pastor.”

“A lot of pastors leaned on him for advice,” Jeff said. “He has been a solid figure in this community—not just because he’s my daddy. I’d say it if he were somebody else’s.”

While many in the community view Jim, still, as the face of the mission, people sometimes ask Jeff if Jim started the organization.

“No,” Jeff said. “For one thing, he wasn’t even living around here when the mission was started. Secondly, he was only four years old when they started it.”

Jeff said Jim really took the Mission to new heights. Then Jeff stepped into his father’s “big shoes.” 

“He taught me well,” Jeff said.

Jeff joined his Dad in 1984 to assist him, staying until 1995 when Jeff left to pastor a church. After a couple of years of public work, Jeff was called back to help his Dad again.

“Then Dad retired,” Jeff said. “He has really put his life into this. He’s still concerned about it.”

Jim is always asking Jeff about the Mission and how things are going. He still serves on the nonprofit organization’s board of directors. Now in his 19th year with the church, Jeff said when his father was pastor the church had attendance as high as 500 people on several occasions. 

“He has seen a lot of people saved and follow through with believer baptism,” Jeff said. “We’ve had some great revivals here under his leadership, too.” 

Thanks to Jim’s vision and work the Mission has a 15-bed shelter to accommodate members of the community who are in need—instead of having to put them up in a hotel. 

“He was so instrumental in it all,” Jeff said. “His leadership has been tremendous.” 

At the celebration, some attendees mentioned how they were young Christians when they came to the church some 40-plus years ago and they never left.

“They said they’ve grown because of his preaching and teaching,” Jeff said. “We had a lady who just went to Heaven this year. She said between Dad and one of the evangelists on the radio she learned so much.”

Jeff said he is glad to still have his Dad “here with us to lean on him when I need to.” 

“I just pray the Lord would give him 85 more years,” Jeff said.

Jim’s daughter, Diane Stamper, said her father was quite happy to see all of his family, church family and friends.

“Dad really is one of the good ones,” Stamper said. “He loves God first but still has plenty of room in his heart for his family!” 

“These 85 years have sure gone by fast,” Jim said.