Pastor Betty Jo Sims
Mizpah United Methodist Church, Walkerton, VA

Betty Jo was born in Radford, Va. and lived in the Christiansburg - Roanoke area until age 10.  Then she and her family moved to Statesville, N. C.  She graduated from East Carolina University in 1969 with a B. A. degree in math and art.  Betty Jo moved to Richmond in 1970 and began her career in computers, working on corporate financial applications.  Betty Jo and Jim married in May, 1973, and moved to Sandston in 1975.  They have one son, Dana, who lives at home with them.

In May, 1981, Betty Jo and Jim rededicated their lives to Christ during a Lay Witness Mission at their church.  She was later asked to teach Sunday School and began a nine year term of teaching Senior High Youth.  She moved on to team teach adults with her husband when their son moved into the Senior High class.

In January of 2000, Betty Jo responded to God's call to become a Certified Lay Speaker and began a time of preaching and leading the worship services for other pastors as they took vacation, attended education opportunities, etc.  God continued to call her to pulpit ministry and she entered the candidacy program of the United Methodist Church.  In June, 2005, she became a Lay Supply Pastor, and accepted an appointment to serve Mizpah UMC.  In May, 2006, she completed Licensing School and at the Annual Conference in June, 2006, she received her certificate as a Licensed Local Pastor.  Betty Jo is currently attending Duke University Divinity School in the Course of Study certificate program.