Pastor Jim O'Keefe

I was born into a large, Irish Catholic family, the third of 12 children – 6 boys & 6 girls. I was educated in Catholic schools, but (much to the embarrassment of my family) was expelled from Mater Dei High School near the end of my freshman year in May of 1967. I continued my education (and my rebellion) at Anaheim High School. It was during those high school years that I began drinking and experimenting with drugs. I will not bore you with the regrettable details, except to say that God truly had His hand upon my life and spared me from my foolish and often reckless lifestyle. It was during that same period in my life when I began to hear of many kids on campus “getting saved” after attending concerts in a “tent” in Costa Mesa, a neighboring community to ours. I straight-armed the kids that began witnessing to me (telling of their new found “personal relationship” with Jesus) by answering one and all, “I’m Catholic!” End of conversation. Period! That rebellion and recklessness continued until the summer of 1979 when – following the death of my just-younger brother and in the midst of a very tumultuous time in my life – I finally “surrendered” and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. It was August 25, 1979… and by the amazing grace of God, I have never looked back!

My conversion was radical and the transformation in my life was immediate. The drug & alcohol abuse of many years was quickly replaced by a hunger for the Word of God and a great desire to serve the Lord. I joined the pastoral staff of Harvest Christian Fellowship (a Calvary Chapel affiliate) in Riverside, California in August of 1983 and was “sent out” by the church to the Washington, DC area in January of 1987. In addition to establishing an office for A New Beginning (the radio & television ministry of Pastor Greg Laurie), I began teaching Bible studies in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. After several months, the Virginia group birthed a church which has become known as Harvest Christian Fellowship of Reston, Virginia. From its inception, our supreme desire has been to know Jesus Christ and to be conformed into His image by the working of the Holy Spirit. As a result of that conviction, our services are designed with a great emphasis upon teaching the Word of God, so that the Holy Spirit would instruct us and equip us for worship, for witness and for the work of the ministry.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” For that reason, our vision is clearly stated and ever before us…“That he may run that readeth it” (Habakkuk 2:2).

• Win people to Jesus Christ.
• Disciple people in Jesus Christ.
• Send people for Jesus Christ.

This vision has provided us with a clear goal as we run the race set before us, with our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

In closing, let me acknowledge Kathy, my patient, loving, beautiful wife of more than 29 years. We are the parents of five incredible children (and two wonderful daughters-in-law). In the spring of 2009, we'll add a son-in-law... and another grandchild. Truly, God is good!

Keep looking up, Jesus is coming soon!

Jimmy O. (1Cor. 15:58)