Dr. Jim Waters was born in Milton FL and stayed in Milton until he graduated from Milton High School in 1988.  Jim came to Jesus at the age of 7 under the preaching of Dr. Joe Bamberg at First Baptist Church in Milton.   After high school, he attended the University of Florida (UF) graduating in 1994 with a BS in Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Conservation).  He squeezed a five year degree into six years (A little humor).  It was during his last year at UF that Jim felt the call of God to the Gospel ministry.   While at UF, Jim met his wife Rhonda, and they were married July 22, 1995.   They have two sons and one adorable little dog.   During the last few years at UF and upon graduating, Jim was on staff at Fellowship Baptist in High Springs, FL.   While at Fellowship, Jim completed his Masters of Divinity through the extension center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) in Orlando.  He served at Fellowship until 2004, when First Baptist Church in Milton called him as an Associate Pastor.   During his time at First Baptist in Milton, Jim completed his Doctorate of Ministry degree from NOBTS.  He served at First Baptist until late 2011 when Friendship Baptist called him as their Senior Pastor.  Jim served at Friendship until 2023, when the Santa Rosa Baptist Association called him to the position of Associational Mission Strategist.  Jim has been blessed to see his life verse, Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him, be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever, Amen.” worked out in all his ministry contexts.  Jim enjoys running, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.  His passion is for people to understand a God that does more than we think or imagine.  To Him be All Glory.