By Staff
NILES - First Baptist Church to install its 43rd pastor.
The Rev. James E. Wing will be installed during the Sunday morning worship service, May 21 at the church, 1446 E. Main St.
Wing was born and raised in Owosso. Growing up, he attended Trinity United Methodist Church with his family.
He attended the University of Michigan and earned a BA in journalism in 1976.
During his college days, he attended Grace Bible Church in Ann Arbor, and he made a commitment to full-time Christian ministry during a mission's conference in his senior year.
That commitment became a reality when he moved to Niles in January 1977, to join the Good News Circle ministry.
In the fall of 1981, he married the former Jeanne Harker and they will be celebrating 25 years of marriage on Oct. 31 of this year.
Shortly after the Good News Circle ministry ended, Jim was voted in as youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Niles in the fall of 1984.
He served in that position for seven years and then worked at Five Pines Ministries in nearby Berrien Center until he came to First Baptist Church on Jan. 1, 2006, as full-time interim pastor.
Jeanne grew up in Buchanan, along with her two older brothers and one older sister.
Jim and Jeanne have two daughters, Elizabeth and Julianne. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is married to Orlando Diaz and they have three children: Megan (4 1/2), Matthew (3 1/2), and Katherine (1).
First Baptist Church continues its long history in Niles starting 165 years ago with the William Carey Mission. The same William Carey founded the William Carey College located in Hattiesburg, Miss.