Meet Dr. James G. Crews
(better known as "Pastor Jim")

Dr. James G. Crews was one of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin S. Crews on a dairy farm near Eden in Rockingham County, NC. Jim still remembers those youthful days of hard farm work and at the end of day, swimming in the Dan River until dark drove him and his siblings into the house for his Mom's delicious country cooking.

The childhood memory that is most prominent is that of his Dad's reading the Bible, and discussing Jesus' life, His ministry, and His death on the cross. All of that came to be reality for Jim one cold Sunday morning in December when -- at the close of the church service -- Jim went forward and prayed to receive Christ as his Savior. The conviction that God was "calling" him to prepare for Christian service was felt in his heart soon thereafter.

After attending and graduating from the Stoneville Public Schools, he studied and earned degrees at Piedmont Bible College, Guilford College, and Virginia State University. He earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree at the Southern Baptist Center for Biblical Studies in Jacksonville, Florida in 1987. He has also done special studies at the University of Virginia and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Pastor Jim married a Virginia girl, his college sweetheart who was preparing to be a Missionary to Children when they met. Jim and Dorothy began their work at Woodbine Baptist Mission in May, 1964, while he was a student. Working together, they have seen the work grow from a farmhouse mission to a beautiful and spacious church facility. They have led the church through eight land acquisitions and three building programs. When the church constituted in 1970, they had 34 charter members. Today, membership is more than 500.

God has blessed Pastor Jim and Dorothy with three wonderful daughters and nine grandchildren, several of whom are already active in Christian ministry. Pastor Jim and Dorothy live on beautiful Cedar Mountain overlooking the Town of Mayodan. They feel they have been most wonderfully blessed, having two wonderful and loving families. Second only to their love for God and family is their love for the Woodbine Family. They often express their thanks to the church family for the privilege given them to serve as "Shepherds of the Flock."