Psalms 23:4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
I know Jim is rejoicing in Heaven and is kneeling at the feet of Jesus and was greeted Well done my good and faithful servant. Love you all

Mara Pleva

August 21, 2020

I have good memories of Pastor Hobbs! All the fun Bible conferences we went to were great! I remember staying at his house too.
My condolences to his daughters and offspring. To the church as well.
He heard the words, "well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Mara Taylor-Pleva
The New Testament Baptist Church

Richard Perdue

August 19, 2020

I consider Pastor James Hobbs a dear friend and fellow soldier of the Cross. My prayers are with his dear family. It was always a blessing and privilege to attend the King's Addition Bible Conferences, and enjoy time with him in his home.

Rick Perdue

Sandy Daniel

August 19, 2020

Connie and Sandra, I am so sorry for your lose. When your parents are gone, it’s life changing.

Patty & Mike Mitchell

August 18, 2020

Mr. Hobbs was a great example of a Christian servant of God! Prayers for the family!

Matt Stepp

August 18, 2020

What a blessing Bro.Hobbs was for me in so many different ways and levels.
He had the reputation of setting long-winded preachers down at Bible Conferences, so of course I was always edgy about that. I’m convinced he barely pulled my sports coat one time when I was only halfway thru. I wasn’t sure, but when I glanced back at him, he was innocently listening intently... I never did (young preacher) get up the nerve to ask him later, if he did...!

I sure did love his zeal, candor and strong faith! My Dad still tells stories of Bro.Hobbs, Gilpin and Wilson at Ashland conferences and the influence they had on him...

Old Soldiers... Salute..!!

Matt Stepp

August 18, 2020

James Edward Hobbs
by Miriam Stepp
U.S. History/EnglishDecember 2015
The Korean War produced many stories of valor and heroism, among which is that of Pastor Jim Hobbs. His trust in his omnipresent God adds an element of faith that makes his story unique. “If you take one thing from my story, it’s that God will always be with you wherever you go” (Hobbs).
James Edward Hobbs, Sr. was born on the 24th of December, 1929 in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was saved as a teenager and was called to preach soon after. His father passed away when he was fourteen, so his mother was not able to pay for his college education. However, by God’s grace, he was able to go to Bob Jones University on a one-year scholarship. Finances kept him from furthering his Biblical education, but he resolved to save enough money to go back.
Upon his return back to Portsmouth, his aunt had “designs” for him. A young lady that attended Bethany Baptist Church was deemed a perfect choice for her young nephew. Wilma Kirkendall had always dreamed of marrying a preacher, so his Aunt Carrie procured a preaching invite for young Hobbs. As The Lord would have it, his three hours worth of notes turned into a ten-minute sermon. Due to sickness, Wilma missed the service. The report from his aunt however, described him as the “cutest little preacher and he only preached ten minutes!” (Hobbs). This was enough to convince Wilma to let him sit with her during the next service. The rest of the story is history, and from September to December they dated until their whirlwind romance ended up in marriage on the last day of the year 1950.
Four weeks after they married, a draft notice came. Hobbs wished to serve his country as a chaplain so he could continue preaching the Word of God. Unfortunately, the U.S. Army required a Masters degree and ordination papers, of which Hobbs had neither. So he was shipped off to basic training and trained to be a medic with four other men. Because of the haste to get them to the Korean Front, this consisted of CPR-type training only. As Hobbs recalled, they were instructed “if they’re wounded, just give them morphine” (Hobbs). After basic training, he was given a brief furlough to go home, then Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division shipped out to Korea via California.
Upon his arrival, the commanding officer assessed the new recruits. Despite the five young medics' protests, they were each given an M1 Rifle and relegated to infantry status. “I need more soldiers, not medics,” their CO complained. As a result, he was field trained as a sharpshooter and was stationed along the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), which spanned across the Korean 38th parallel. Ironically, according to Hobbs, two weeks later the same officer plucked out five other men from the ranks and sent them to train as medics.
The DMZ ranged in width from two miles to a mere one hundred yards where Company G was stationed, just north of Seoul. With the war at a standstill, Hobbs transferred jobs to become a machine gunner. He served as part of a three-man crew that warded off potential North Korean forays into the “No Man’s Land”, as Hobbs described the DMZ. The machine gun bunker was to be manned by the three men at all times with the gun continually trained on the road that came from the North Korean line. Both sides would occasionally send patrols into “No Man’s Land” to assess the enemy defenses, so they could never leave the bunker unattended. Of the three men, at least one of them was required to be there even to the point of taking turns to eat and sleep.
The first of four miracles where Hobbs recalls God’s intervention and protection occurred in that lonely bunker. The only time he could ever remember the bunker being empty was the day a North Korean mortar round hit and destroyed the unmanned machine gun fortification. There was an awe in Hobbs’ voice as he remembered the event of God’s mercy.
Shortly thereafter, Hobbs was promoted to squad leader, where he was given responsibility for an eight-man platoon. He was more than just their squad leader; he was to be an example for the younger soldiers to look up to and to look after their well-being (Lister). On one fateful day, the new squad leader led his troops on a patrol into the DMZ. Halfway down into the valley, they were ambushed by a sniper in a tree. Every member of the platoon was wounded or killed except for Hobbs. “The only reason he didn’t get me was because the Lord guided the bullets, because I was the main target out in the front” (Hobbs). He alone made it back to camp and was sent by his CO to identify the sniper and rescue his fallen comrades. All but one were rescued or their bodies retrieved. Speaking of that one, Hobbs said “I never found out what happened to him. We didn’t know if he was captured, killed or just tried to find his way back and got lost. The North Koreans left their men lying where they died, but we Americans always went back to bury our dead and give them a proper funeral” (Hobbs).
Hobbs remembered the times of R&R (Rest and Recuperation) fondly. “Most of those guys went into the bad part of town and got drunk and partied and such. But I would get a room in the middle of town (Seoul) next to an orphanage. I told them I was in the army and would love to visit the war orphans. They told me yes and that no one ever came to see them” (Hobbs). Hobbs further recalled that, “When I came it was like a star from Hollywood had come. They considered me the greatest thing in the world” (Hobbs). The orphans would put on shows, sing, and do plays for him; there was always someone to interpret. Hobbs reflected that “I had a better time than the rest of those guys. By the time they got back, they didn’t know what they were doing or where they had been” (Hobbs). R&R was usually three days long, and Hobbs spent almost every day at the orphanage.
Halfway through his tour of duty, Hobbs’ company commander died and the Army brought in a new one who had never been in Korea or seen combat of any sort. Hobbs was not impressed by this new leader and this was evidenced when he decided to show his authority by taking them on a patrol and got them lost. The patrol lengthened as the CO wouldn’t admit his ineptitude, but finally he relented and asked for the sergeant’s help. The wise sergeant pulled out his map and showed their location to his superior, who then decided to take a shortcut through a minefield, despite the sergeant’s protest. The CO came to Hobbs and told him to lead the squadron through the dangerous field and for everyone to step where he did. “I very carefully took each step. I did not step down hard. One man stepped where I didn’t and he got his foot blown off” (Hobbs). Hobbs knew that once again God had protected him and kept him safe from harm in His aura of protection.
The fourth marked miracle of God’s protection came around the same time while on a different patrol. At day’s end it was time to camp and after Hobbs had started spreading out his bedroll, a protrusion in the cliff caught his eye and he moved his bedroll up on the shelf of rock. Later that night, a flash flood came down the ravine and washed away virtually everyone’s possessions except for Hobbs’.
Towards the end of Hobbs’ deployment, he was promoted to his final rank of supply sergeant. As supply sergeant, he was in charge of the supply room where he would issue and requisition supplies for his men. He was also responsible for their mental welfare and morale (Frazier).
“Finally, after more than two years of negotiations, the adversaries signed an armistice on July 27, 1953” (History.com Editors). The causalities suffered by the U.S. in this three-year war in the Korean Peninsula were significant. “The United States suffered 139,272 causalities in the entire war, not counting frostbite cases and other injuries. Of these 24,965 were killed, 101,368 wounded, and 12,939 were missing and presumed dead” (Alexander 483). By the Grace of God, Hobbs was not among these numbers and he is quick to tell people so.
Hobbs was sent home to Ohio to be reunited with his wife and family. He settled into work at a local stone company and was soon called to pastor King’s Addition Baptist Church of South Shore, Kentucky, where he still pastors many decades later.
At the age of 85 he is still a blessing to God’s people and a true American hero. As a war veteran and a Baptist pastor, Hobbs is truly someone that this generation can look up to and learn of Loyalty, Honor, Courage, and Faith. His unfailing trust in God brought him through the trials and tribulations of a terrible war in a far-away country. Those attributes are still what Americans and Christians need today. James Edward Hobbs, Sr has earned a spot of honor and respect among the heroes of American History.

Works Cited, et al:
Hobbs, James Edward. Personal Interview. 3 Oct. 2015.

Linda King

August 18, 2020

My memories of Brother Hobbs go way back. He was a wonderful and faithful servant of the Lord and a good friend to my father, Elder Ray Brown. I have fond memories of him preaching at Buffalo Valley Baptist Church with all of my family attending. May God bless all of his family during this time. Love, Linda Brown King

Sherrie Dadosky Shope

August 18, 2020

Mr. James Hobbs was a good man, a good father, a good teacher and an asset to the small neighborhood community of McDermott Pike. Condolences to Connie, Renee and Sandy and your families on the loss of your father.

Gene &Judy Kiger

August 18, 2020

Bro. Hobbs was a faithful servant of God. Many preachers of today were following his teachings. We will really. Is him. Weeping for us but happiness for him with his Saviour.

Sherry

August 18, 2020

Sorry for your lost. Mr. Hobbs was real good to my brothetJohn Horn. God bless the family that is left.

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