Jim was born in Daviston, Alabama but grew up in Montgomery. He is married to Marilyn White of Tulsa, Oklahoma and they have four children and seven grandchildren. Jim and Marilyn were appointed as Southern Baptist missionaries to Colombia, South America in 1966 and served churches in Barranquilla, San Andres Island and Cartagena. They also served in Cali where Jim taught at the International Baptist Theological Seminary. They retired in 1998 as Emeritus missionaries and live in Montgomery, Al.