ANNIVERSARY

Dr. Jim and Louise Grassi

55th Anniversary

April 10, 1965

In 1960, we met at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif. Even with the tumultuous conditions in Oakland at that time, life was certainly simpler. Jim and I were even born in the same hospital.

Our high school was about 2,500 students with a class size of 800-plus. Because our last names were close alphabetically (Etter and Grassi), we had several classes together, like Spanish. That is where I first noticed Jim, a skinny, blond haired, blue eyed fella. He was very nice to me, yet a practical joker for the most part. He passed notes in class that I would intercept and read. As we got to know each other better, he eventually wrote to me. This was our version of texting. One note said that he wanted to marry me! I said, “You are too serious.” Flattered of course, but at age 15, no way would my dad go for a ring on my finger. Months passed and I rarely saw Jim at the basketball or football games where I was a song girl and yell leader. Jim was very busy in R.O.T.C., student government and always working a part-time job. He seemed to excel at what he did and was a very serious guy — too serious for my light-hearted spirit.

We dated about once a year, just enough to keep him interested but not enough for another proposal. I noticed in our public speaking class that Jim brought his Bible to school and would read it while some gave their boring talks. That was special considering we went to public school! Needless to say, that impressed me, and I believed Jim would be a good husband and father to someone someday.

We went off to separate colleges. While living at home, I commuted with a girlfriend to San Francisco State University. Jim lived in the dorms while attending San Jose State University. He majored in theology and military history. My interest was in nursing. During our second year of college, I ran into Jim’s sister during a visit to the high school we had attended. Needless to say, I told his sister to have Jim give me a call, and just like that, he was on my front porch the next weekend.

A year later, we were engaged to be married. When he asked me to marry him, he shared that someday he wanted to go into ministry. We had a small but beautiful wedding and enjoyed our new life as husband and wife. I worked for a doctor and Jim, besides working, continued his higher education. Five years later, we had our first new home and the birth of our twin sons. Jim received his master’s degree and became a department head with the East Bay Regional Parks Department, and then went on to become Deputy Town Manager in Moraga, Calif.

Some 16 years later, Jim decided to leave his secure job as a town manager and began our ministry in 1981. Initially, Jim utilized his background as a Hall of Fame Fisherman and record book archery hunter to help connect with men who might not otherwise come to church. As time passed, Jim began to do more writing, preaching, and teaching to men and their pastors on issues about biblical manhood.

Our sons, Dan and Tom, were very musically gifted. Not only helping us in our ministry, and ultimately becoming worship pastors in mega-churches. They are married and have given us five beautiful grandchildren.

As good as life has been for us, we have had challenges starting with Jim’s life-threatening surgery at 37 and a host of other trials that helped us lean into our precious Lord all the more. “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all out troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4

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