Interview with Rev. Job Jimenez
Tell us about yourself and share some key moments from your life that have led you to where you are today?
A key moment was having to leave seminary for a while. At that time, I was convinced that being a pastor was not my calling. However, God was working in my life and faith. He taught me that His will is for me to depend entirely on Him. He also taught me about grace, that even as a sinner, the chief of sinners, He took me, molded me, and gave me the vocation to serve Him as a pastor.
2. What motivated you to pursue a path in ministry, and how did you discern this calling?
I grew up in a Christian home; my father was a Lutheran Pastor of the Lutheran Synod of Mexico. I was always involved in his pastoral work. He served three missions and a church in San Luis, my hometown, but also a church in Mexicali, an hour and a half away from home. Seeing his old age (he was 75 years old) motivated me and taught me the love for God and His work that changes the heart of man.
3. Describe your vision and your ministry?
The vision God is planting now is one of unity. Much work has been done in Tijuana; unfortunately, the devil has tried in many ways to destroy what God has done. Now is a time to seek unity and harmony in Christ. My desire is to plant new churches, restore old ones, and forge strong ministries that can be self-sustaining in the future. I also pray and work with adults, especially young people, hoping that new leaders and pastors can emerge from this work.
4. How is God preparing you for this ministry?
God has prepared me in many ways, valuing His word, His grace, His sacrament, but He has also placed valuable Christians who are teaching me from their own experiences. God has also broken me in many ways to learn to trust in Him before anything else and has humbled my ego in love for the service of His ministry.
5. Share any insights or teachings from Scripture that have been particularly influential in shaping your ministry approach.
I believe one is the parable of the debtor, the man who owed much and was forgiven by the judge, but upon leaving, one who owed little was taken by him by the neck and thrown into prison. I am undoubtedly the greater debtor with God; I have sinned in many ways, I have been weak and still am. When I remember this and see how God took me as a prodigal son, and gave me His grace and put me in a place I do not deserve, I see His love, a love that leads me to love others and not to take them by the neck, but to see them with compassion as Christ saw me, it encourages me to seek others who need to know and hear this story of salvation in Christ, which is the power of God.
6. As you look at the world around you, how do you see Jesus at work?
I see Him working in His word, in His grace, in His means of grace, in how God heals, restores, and strengthens people in the community. New families come to church, young people are involved in serving, new missions begin, Jesus is there saving and doing everything to strengthen and grow His church.
7. If someone were to pray for you and your ministry, what areas would you ask them to focus on?
That God gives us wisdom to guide and serve His church. That God prospers missionary work in Tijuana, sends workers to the harvest, and meets the needs for our home, family, and churches.
8. How has the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego helped you?
It has been a blessing to build friendships with pastors and churches. Working together to proclaim the Gospel has been a blessing since for many years I was alone in ministry in the Tijuana region as the only pastor of our synod in Mexico. Having a support network in leadership, prayer, and ministry is a blessing; I thank God for each of my brothers, pastors, and missionaries who are called by God as one body with the sole purpose of proclaiming the good news to a lost world in need of Christ's love.
