Jim Van Allen
As is often the case with people who are retired, Jim finds himself busier now than he ever seemed to be when he was working.  But, as he is quick to point out, he is not exactly retired, since he is involved in lay healing ministry.  He spends a good deal of time praying with people who ask for those prayers or with those who are in special need as a part of Winds of the Spirit.  He has been trying to allow the Spirit to direct him in his life, which is a little difficult after spending some twenty-seven years as an insurance salesman--an occupation that he notes requires a certain degree of self-reliance.  Other traits that are important are self-image and self-respect, and to a certain point all of these things need to be laid aside if one truly allows the power of the Spirit to completely run his or her life.   

Jim got involved in the Knights of Columbus around 1975 when at the invitation of Ron Willems he joined the DePere Council.  He got involved because he saw that the men who were Knights were men of God and were leaders in the Church.  They appeared to be men of stature and integrity and he wanted to pattern his own life in that fashion.  He became a Charter Member of Council 10243 when our Council was founded in 1990 but he has not had the opportunity to be too active in meetings since he is heavily involved in prayer meetings which often conflict with Council gatherings.  He is now an Honorary Life Member of the Council and has been involved with some of the other aspects of Council life--such as the food stands and the booyah projects and the Tootsie Roll drive. 

Jim is a native of Sheboygan, born in 1931.  He attended Lakeland College and earned a Degree in Business Administration around 1957.  He worked for many years in insurance as an independent marketer, representing a variety of companies and retired a couple of years ago.  Since then he has been pursuing the ministry to which he feels called, trying to attain the character and high ethical and moral standards that are a part of it.  He has other involvements--the Secular Franciscans for one--but has seen that because of his involvement in the healing ministry there may be an invitation to drop some things.  The healing ministry is not a formally recognized ministry within the Catholic Church at this time, but Jim believes he has witnessed the power of God's Spirit.  He has come to a realization that it is God who accomplishes the work; he is only the vessel.

 Jim's wife, Mary Ann, works as a caregiver through Communicare, an organization that provides an alternative to nursing home care.  She and Jim have a daughter, Jean who recently married and lives in California.  They also have a son, David who works with State Farm Insurance out of Bloomington, Illinois.  So much of his life has been centered around the healing ministry recently that he feels he is finally focusing more closely on that ministry and his role in it.  We pray that the Lord will continue to give him the grace to be a sign of God's healing love in the world. 

August 2002