1954 - 2011: A Life Well Lived
Jim Hall, EMI's Chief Executive Officer, passed away Monday, November 28 from a sudden recurrence of cancer. Jim passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Nancy, children, grandchildren and parents. Jim was a faithful servant of Christ, great friend, compassionate shepherd and wise leader to all of us at EMI. Even in death he was leading us by his peaceful confidence in the God that he has wholeheartedly served since he was a young man.
Jim started with EMI in 1988 and worked in Colorado Springs until moving to Central Asia with his family in 1994 to build an eye hospital to bring the practical and eternal hope of the gospel of Christ. Jim went on to become the international director of an NGO working in Central Asia until 2008 when he returned to EMI as CEO.
We are blessed to have had Jim lead us for the past three and a half years. Under Jim's gentle but clear leadership EMI continued to grow tremendously in relational connectedness, international office growth and financial health. Jim was beloved for his ability to listen, his pastor's heart, his wisdom and his joyful, hopeful faith. Jim has prepared EMI well to continue to thrive in the coming decade.
In late 2010, Jim was diagnosed with melanoma cancer. After surgery, he appeared to be cancer free and scans as recent as this summer showed him healthy. However in late October Jim began not feeling well as the cancer had aggressively recurred. Jim's health declined rapidly over the past month and we have had to say goodbye to a great man, and faithful example of a life well lived.
A memorial service for Jim will be held on December 10 at 2:30pm at First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, the Hall family is requesting that donations be made to the "Jim Hall Memorial Fund" at EMI. This will be used to further the gospel of hope to the disadvantaged whom Jim gave his life to serve. We can think of no one for whom Jesus' words to a loyal follower are more fitting than for Jim Hall:
"Well done good and faithful servant!
Come and share your Master's happiness" Matt 25:23
James Hall
Chief Executive Officer
Office
World Headquarters (Colorado Springs, USA)
Years at EMI:
I joined the founder of eMi in 1988. For the next 8 years I had the privilege of watching God begin to grow and develop eMi. I led design trips on a variety of projects in Central/South America and Africa. For the last 12 years I have been involved in other mission work in Central Asia.
Family
Nancy and I have been married since 1974. We have two children - Brooks and Betsy. Brooks works in business, is married, and with his wife Jennifer, have two lovely children. Betsy is doing graduate work in optics.
Professional Training and Experience
I am a graduate of Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (power systems). I have had limited but practical experience in engineering including building one eMi project in Central Asia (eye hospital). For the last 10 years I have led a relief and development organization in Central Asia. This has given me experience in a wide variety of projects including agriculture, business development, community health, computers and language training, and orphan care work.
Ministry Experience
I am a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. I was the pastor of a church and have helped in church planting initiatives both here in the United States and abroad in Central Asia. I have also facilitated church partnerships with as many as 20 different nationalities from a variety of theological backgrounds, to work together as the Body of Christ.
If God told me to live long term in a cross-cultural setting, the country I would chose...
The cross cultural setting I would choose would be somewhere in the 10-40 window, where the majority of the unreached people live, where missions is generally not welcome but design professionals are welcome.
Verse to Live By
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Matthew 16:24
