Ministry
James Giles graduated from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA with an MDiv in 2005. His wife, Mary, worked in the Development Office while James was in seminary. James and Mary Giles were sent out as Short Term Mission Coordinators by the Church Army USA. They lead many teams from around the country on short term mission and outreach to the Mississippi Gulf Coast after hurricane Katrina.

Mary and James are now living in Missouri, 60 miles south of St. Louis. This area is known as the Lead Belt, scattered among old abandoned lead mines. This whole region is also known as the methamphetamine capital of our country.

When asked how the ministry is going, James replied, “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I can’t begin to express how blessed we are to be here at the Church Army of the Lead Belt. Yes, there are and will continue to be many challenges ahead, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been our pre-school concerning this culture of substance abuse where Mary and I now call home for a season. Only a supernatural God could open our hearts so quickly to these dear yet broken and hurting people.” Mary adds, “Every drop of love I give them they return to me double.”

Being a part of these kinds of miracles assures Mary and Jim that they are right in the center of God’s will. Jim expresses the work God is doing in Park Hills, “So much work still needs to be done. While we celebrate the 45 men and women living in the Church Army transitional houses and praise God for the 22 with over a year of sobriety, we realize this is just the beginning. We believe God wants to transform the whole region. This part of Missouri is poor and rough. The small towns and rural areas are suffering so much from epidemic despair and addiction . . . a perfect setting for God to demonstrate His magnificence, goodness and mercy.”