Jim Watkins should have been riding high. An award-winning writer with a successful ministry career spanning more than four decades, he’d travelled the globe sharing the good news of Jesus. But his latest projects had floundered and he was at his wits’ end figuring out where to go from here.

Despite having written 20 books and more than 3,000 articles, Jim had experienced a troubling rough patch as he sought God’s direction.

“I was so frustrated, and often had deep sadness and despair,” he says. “Was God finished with me?”

“Do You Need Help?”

In 2022, after 40 years on the road and in the air, Jim retired. He planned to spend the rest of his life writing articles and books. Unfortunately, his last book sales had tanked, and he’d become a publishing pariah. For three years, every new project he tried crashed and burned.

One morning, a dispirited Jim threw his hands up in desperation.

“For three years, I’ve tried to find ways to serve You and, nothing!” he shouted. “I give up! You’re going to have to drop something in my lap.”

A half hour later, a car pulled up to his house and two men in dark suits got out.

Great! Jim thought. The Men in Black are here.

As they came closer, he saw Salvation Army epaulettes on their shoulders.

After he invited them in, Jim discovered the two men were Salvation Army officers (pastors) who were visiting people to personally thank them for contributions.

Without thinking, Jim blurted, “Do you need any volunteer help?”

“By the looks on their faces,” he chuckles, “it was as if I’d written a cheque for a million dollars!”

"I’m interacting with people outside my little bubble—and I absolutely love it!” JIM WATKINS

Dream Job

Jim’s volunteer position at The Salvation Army became an answer to prayer.

“I work at the front desk of the Salvation Army church here in Marion, Indiana, a drive of one minute and ten seconds from my home,” he explains. “I help with client care, marketing and social media. After four decades at either my home office, church or Christian conferences, I’m interacting with people outside my little bubble—and I absolutely love it!”

Jim answers the phone and directs people to help with housing, utilities and food. He keeps the Facebook and Instagram pages up to date with encouraging posts and creates a monthly donor email, as well as anything else that needs to be done in the office.

“It’s the perfect job for me as I can continue writing magazine articles between phone calls,” Jim says.

This volunteer position filled a former hole in his soul.

“God called me into ministry during my sophomore year at college,” Jim says. “I should have known it was coming. As a child I would play church and preach to my stuffed animals. Apparently, I’ve always had a passion for ministry. And so the three years without ministry was agonizing.

“It’s wonderful waking up each morning ready to do ministry after three years of trying to motivate myself to get out of bed. It’s a dream job. I’d be happy to be here until I faceplant my keyboard at the front desk!”