The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Jennifer Dance, Quill Staff
Meet your neighbor, James Olsen, full-time pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church and the Raritan Reformed Church. Pastor Olsen has been serving the Raritan Reformed Church since 1997 and Bethel Lutheran since 2000. He was installed as a full-time pastor for both churches in February of 2004.
Both churches will be celebrating anniversaries this year; Raritan Reformed will be 150 years old and Bethel Lutheran, 115 years old.
Pastor Olsen and his wife, Carol, moved into the Lutheran parsonage in July last year from Monmouth. Carol owns and operates Genesis Christian Books & Supplies in Monmouth. They have 10 children, 19 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Pastor Olsen and Carol both enjoy reading, fishing, visiting people and spending time with their family.
Pastor Jim Olsen has served churches in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. He is a graduate of Waldorf College, Luther College, Luther Theological Seminary and has additionally studied at Dubuque Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist Seminary.
Besides serving the two churches, he is currently on the Chaplain staff at the Community Medical Center in Monmouth.
He has written and illustrated several books, had a weekly television program, and illustrated for several periodicals and publications.
One of his passions is chalk art; a beautiful way he presents an inspirational message with chalk and music.
Pastor Olsen is looking forward to Larry McAuley, the Raritan Reformed missionary from Malawi, Africa making a visit this summer to the Raritan Opera House for a service on July 3.
Raritan Reformed Church worship times are 9:00 a.m. and Sunday School at 10:00. Bethel Lutheran has Sunday School along with the Presbyterian and Methodist churches at 9:00 a.m. at Stronghurst United Methodist and worship service at Bethel starts at 10:30 a.m.