Bio

Jim Dant was born Jewish, christened Roman Catholic, baptized Baptist and received his doctorate from a Presbyterian Seminary. (He’s ecumenical.)

He survived a tumultuous childhood — riddled with divorces, adoption and more divorces — He’s had two mothers, seven fathers and a host of step, half and adopted siblings. (He’s empathetic.) He is the proud father of three daughters and one granddaughter. (He’s broke.)

Jim is a graduate of Georgia State University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He has also enjoyed post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, Hebrew College, Macon State College and received certifications in group spiritual direction and Ignatian retreat direction at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. (He’s fairly educated.)

Jim currently serves as Senior Minister of First Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina – a church recently named one of the 100 Most Awesome Churches in America.  He also ministers as a writer and conference speaker.  In past years, he has served as a staff minister at Parkwood Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia and Marietta, Georgia’s First Baptist Church. He pastored the First Baptist Church of Baxley, Georgia (7 years) and Highland Hills Baptist Church of Macon, Georgia for more than 14 years.  Concurrent with pastoral work, he has also served as an adjunct professor at Brewton Parker College (4 years) and then Mercer University. (He’s somewhat experienced.)