First Baptist Church Ferguson has called James Goforth Jr. (Pastor Jim), as their new Senior Pastor, on December 5, 2021.
Pastor Jim and Lisa are returning “home” to Ferguson. FBCF called Pastor Jim as an Associate Pastor for Young Adults in January 2001. In March 2003, he became the Senior Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church in Florissant, serving until 2012.
The Goforths then moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany, where Pastor Goforth served the Faith Baptist Church in the USA Kaiserslautern Military Community, home to 13 bases and 60,000 Americans. After five years in East Texas serving the First Baptist Church Mixon they are now returning to Ferguson,.
Pastor Jim has been an evangelist, concert and recording artist, and worship leader. He is a songwriter and self-published author with 18 titles available (www.amazon.com/author/pastorgoforth). Pastor Jim also has a book translated and available in Romania.
Mrs. Lisa recently retired from teaching after 34 years. She is a quietly famous Cupcake Chef and award-winning baker who loves reading, scrapbooking, and travel, especially with sand beneath her toes.
Pastor Jim and Lisa have been married since 1985 and have two grown sons, Andrew (AJ) and Bryan, who are both graduates of McCluer High School. AJ is in restaurant management in Austin, Texas. Bryan and his wife Maggie and two grandchildren live in South Asia.
Pastor Goforth has served on various boards and denominational agencies, including:
- Friends of Dred Scott Foundation St. Louis; Mission Metro Saint Louis, St. Louis
- Franklin Graham Festival, St. Louis
- Missouri Baptist University Trustees, St. Louis
- Heartbeat Crisis Pregnancy Center, Ramstein, Germany
- International Baptist Convention, Strategic Planning Team
- First Vice-President, International Baptist Convention in 2016
In his spare time, he reads, writes for his blog (http://www.pastorgoforth.com), plays golf, snow skis, fly-fishes, writes music, and drives with Lisa in their classic MGB convertible.
