Copyright Dave Wiedis, 2023
A Tribute to My Friend Jim Rhodes
November 8, 1958 - May 5, 2023
I met Jim about nine years ago. It was a relief to finally meet him because for years prior to our meeting, countless times I experienced people saying “You should meet Jim Rhodes.” I came to learn that Jim was having the same experience. Once we finally met, it became clear as to why people wanted to connect us. We became immediate friends, and he enriched my life immeasurably. We had the privilege of walking together through both wonderful and tough times.
We started team teaching, and some of my fondest memories are of us sitting side-by-side presenting on one of his favorite topics: Leading Courageously and Transitioning Well.
God's wisdom exuded from Jim, and I loved just listening to him (even though I was supposed to be teaching). Our preparation times for teaching together were, selfishly, even better. We would meet for breakfast, and he would regale me with some of his best stories – stories of ministry, miracles on the mission field, clandestine evangelism in the Soviet Union, providential meetings, God’s faithfulness, and profound lessons learned as a missionary for over 45 years.
Essentially, he was a humble, understated champion for the Lord, and I had the privilege to get up close and see what the Lord had done – and was currently doing – in and through Jim.
Creating podcasts together – unrehearsed and spontaneous – was exhilarating to me because Jim could answer any question with such wisdom. And even when his vocal cords were partially paralyzed, Jim was willing to record anyway. He gave me permission to ask about anything, and I did. Here is a podcast that we recorded together in October 2021 called “Facing Down Terminal Illness in the Grace and Power of Christ.” You will be moved by Jim’s insights; his faith will strengthen yours.
Jim, a great friend and wonderful confidante, also helped me through my own challenges. When I realized I was exhausted and experiencing burnout, Jim was the first person I called. He met with me immediately and gently suggested that I needed a much longer break than I had anticipated. When my prayer life seemed to fade, he encouraged me; when I was discouraged, he had compassionate and kind words.
When I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, I knew I could talk honestly and rely on him during my own bouts with confusion and fear. In fact, he was providentially present when I received a difficult phone call from my neurosurgeon. Jim held true and steady, helping me to stay in the present moment, not looking ahead or catastrophizing about all the “what ifs” that could happen.
He modeled this same trait in his fight against cancer, always thinking clearly, praying, and staying close to Christ in the present. Jim did not sugarcoat difficult circumstances – he was genuine and real. He called me when, within one hour, he received two impossibly hard phone calls. The first informed him that his beloved father had passed away. The second informed him that his cancer had spread to his brain – Jim had 15 brain tumors to be removed.
“Who does this happen to?” he asked. He shared his honest reactions and then brought them straight to Jesus on whom he relied and trusted.
Jim loved baseball and often analogized with respect to his declining health and impending death, “I’m in the top of the seventh inning,” or "I think it’s about the bottom of the ninth – but I’m going for extra innings.” Well, Jim received many extra innings.
Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer condition and given only three to six months to live. Providentially, a new drug trial was available, as was the most knowledgeable specialist in the world who “just happened” to practice in Philadelphia. And while the side effects were unrelenting and severe, Jim bravely endured some of the toughest trials I have ever witnessed.
Because Jim was never one to complain, I had to read his code language. When I had not heard from him for some time, I knew it was bad. “I’m doing ok” meant he was hurting. And “It’s been a hard week” meant that his suffering was intense. But Jim had an insatiable zest for life. Where most would have given up, he would say, “God has not released me – I have not finished here yet.”
Trusting God’s sovereignty, Jim often said that cancer could not take him one day sooner than Jesus had appointed for him. He considered it a privilege to suffer as he served God, and he and his wife Barbara used every opportunity they had to share the Gospel with doctors, nurses, staff, and patients while Jim was receiving his treatments. Despite his suffering Jim continued to selflessly provide care, advice, and wise counsel to others who were hurting.
Jim’s career as a missionary, while extensive and fascinating, was only the first chapter of a beautiful and transformative story. For 45 years Jim served on staff with CRU, an international Christian parachurch organization dedicated to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. He and Barbara, with their young children, Mike and Becky (who are now missionaries with CRU), started ministries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Japan. Jim bravely shared the Gospel in the Soviet Union behind the Iron Curtain at the time it was dangerous, life-threatening work.
Read his online book that recounts many of these experiences in ministry.
Jim was an incredible gift – to me, to our ServingLeaders family, and to all who had the privilege of knowing him. Literally, tens to hundreds of thousands have been influenced by his life, his love for them, and his love of Jesus. As one friend stated, we will need a stadium to accommodate those he touched.
To those of us who knew Jim, his death is a huge loss, and we will miss him. To Jim, he just hit the longest, most strategic Grand Slam in the history of baseball – right out of the park! And the heavenly fans are going crazy (as are his beloved Red Sox fans) – giving him a standing ovation as he slowly rounds the bases with that huge smile, tipping his hat to everyone. Well done Jim Rhodes!!
“For most of us, the adventure of knowing and following Jesus begins at a crisis point. We are in turmoil, and our focus tends to be on what Jesus can do for us. However, as we start to know Jesus, trust Him, and become His disciple, we quickly learn – or we must learn if we are going to follow Jesus for a lifetime – that it's not about me. It’s about Him.” - Jim Rhodes, ServingLeaders Podcast: Lessons in Leadership, Part I, November 2021
You Are Cordially Invited to Jim's Celebration of Life Service
Saturday, May 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Providence Church
430 Hannum Avenue
West Chester, PA 19380
Below are a handful of the many resources Jim contributed to ServingLeaders over the years. I also encourage you to check out the wonderful resources on his website.
Video Seminar: Leading Courageously and Transitioning Well, March 2017
Podcast Episode: Facing Down Terminal Illness in the Grace and Power of Christ, October 2021
Article: Core Values for Longevity in Ministry, Part I, November 2021
Article: Core Values for Longevity in Ministry, Part II, November 2021
Podcast Episode: Making Sense Out of Suffering, September 2022