Jim Kilmartin: Reflection

Jim Kilmartin visited the Entrepreneurship and the Mission of the Church class on Tuesday, February 18.  He talked of his experience with business and the church.  Kilmartin’s path is anything but expected.  He graduated from Grove City College in 1998, and then moved back to his hometown.  There, he started a ministry that worked with troubled youth.  He helped bring Christ to those that were homeless and struggling teens.  He cared for them when the churches refused.  He then became the mayor of that town.  Many of the congregation members were opposed because they separated church and politics.  However, Kilmartin explained that under God, everything is sacred and there is no separation between church and all the aspects of life.  He continued his story telling how he felt a calling to go to Altoona and plant a church there, so him and his family moved.  There, they helped to build a church.  The Kilmartins even started a fundraiser called, Hoops Fest.  Throughout this all, he worked in business.  In his hometown, he worked for a B2B cleaning service because he needed funds to support his family.  Eventually, he moved up to be the vice president, but he was fired due to downsizing.  Kilmartin then started his own cleaning company.  He wanted to make sure that it gave back to the community, was a good working environment, and did not support any organizations that went against Christian values.

Kilmartin’s story is truly amazing.  He and his wife has their hearts open to God and followed where they were called.  They were not overcome by the troubles of the world, but they relied on God and His love and provisions throughout it all.  Whether the call was loud or quiet, they trusted in Him.  They did not expect to have been on this journey, but they did not let this deter them.  Their faith is unwavering, and it is their faith that gave them the ability to accomplish all the did.  It was God working through them that allowed for so many people to be impacted.