In the Field: Pioneering Parents

He came into the front room. After his prayer time, he had the answer he had been praying for since August, about six months before that - the answer his wife had received earlier that week and not shared. It was clear to her then that he also had the answer.

"One... Two... Three... SEMO!" They said it together.

That moment was the culmination of six months of prayer. It was the end of one journey, and the beginning of another.

James and Kim Boley are the Chi Alpha campus pastors at Southeast Missouri State University. They are currently in the middle of their fifth year on campus. Both have been connected to Chi Alpha Campus Ministries since they were freshmen at Missouri State University. Kim recalls being invited to a Chi Alpha service multiple times by a friend. At the time, she was already involved in a different campus ministry, but her boyfriend convinced her to go so the friend would "shut up." She agreed and ended up attending without her boyfriend, who she says ditched her.

Kim's baptism in Jamaica

That was the night she met James. As a student, she stepped onto the leadership team and went on her first mission trip to Jamaica. She met Tom and Missi Trask. Tom baptized her on that trip to Jamaica, with James standing nearby, and immediately claimed officiating her wedding. Then, during her senior year, Kim felt she was being led to give a year of her life to missions.

Kim had a choice between staying at Missouri State or following the Trasks to the University of Missouri - Columbia (Mizzou). She was unsure of which campus until her father told her she had the opportunity to choose whose authority she wanted to be under. Immediately, she knew she wanted to go to Mizzou Chi Alpha.

Meanwhile, James went to Japan to teach English. His plan was to be there for a year, but he had to leave every three months for his visa to be renewed. During one of these trips, he found out his visa was not going to be renewed and felt directed to Mizzou. He finished his one-year commitment there and began teaching in the small Missouri town of Dixon. Then, in the summer of 2009, Kim and James were married, and James returned to Mizzou Chi Alpha.

In the fall of 2012, things started to change. When Mizzou's welcome week activities ended, Kim and James realized they weren't as exhausted as normal. They started praying about their next move. By October, they knew they wouldn't be staying at Mizzou but believed they would be continuing with Chi Alpha. Over the next few months, they were interviewed by area directors and visited different campuses. Kim even made a spreadsheet detailing what each campus and town had in favor of it - coffee shops, bookstores, housing.

Kim and James visiting the University of Louisiana - Monroe

Eventually, they had narrowed their choice down to two schools - Southeastern Missouri State University (SEMO) and the University of Louisiana - Monroe. "We were excited about both," Kim said. "We knew God was going to move on both."

But there was a recent failed attempt to start a Chi Alpha at SEMO. National office typically requires that four to five years pass before someone else tries to pioneer on a campus so that there are no students left who might have had a negative experience with the ministry. "SEMO was not an option to us, but we kept coming back to it," Kim said. So Tom made a call to the interim national director. It turned out a local pastor had called and asked that missionaries be appointed to the SEMO campus. After more prayer, they knew that's where they were headed.

During their first year at SEMO, what they call "year zero", Kim and James spent time familiarizing themselves with campus culture and leading one Bible study. They registered Chi Alpha as an official student organization so they were allowed on campus. They did very little promotion of the ministry that year, but they did set up a table at an activities fair that August.

Jacqueline - SEMO's first
missionary associate

While Kim talked with some students, James stopped a group of three girls. He told them there would be a Bible study that night and asked if they were interested. All three expressed that they weren't and walked away. As Kim finished her conversation, James pointed out one of the girls to Kim and told Kim to "chase her down." By that time, the girls were headed down a nearby hill. The girl James had pointed out turned around. "Oh no, she saw me looking," Kim thought. That girl turned around, came back, and said she was interested. "We all three vividly remember this," Kim said. Jacqueline is now on staff with SEMO Chi Alpha.

Both the Chi Alphas at MSU and Mizzou had been around for decades when Kim and James were involved. Their first year at SEMO was about creating a new ministry entirely - what is called pioneering. "When you come from something established and go to nothing, you really have to focus on what's important, what's necessary," Kim said.

One of the things they find important is providing a home for students. "Mostly, our students come from middle to low income families, and SEMO was rarely their first choice," James said. "Often, students are looking for somewhere to belong. We hope to give them that place."

Halloween Party 2015 at the Boleys' new house

Because SEMO Chi Alpha does not have space of its own, many of the events are held at the Boleys' home. When Kim and James first moved to Cape Girardeau, that home was a duplex. Kim describes the basement as having creaky stairs, crickets everywhere, and one light bulb hanging from the ceiling. They often heard gunshots and had to call the police while living there. "Our seniors still miss that place," Kim said. "They still miss the creepy basement." When she asks them why, they say it felt like home. It's talked about so much that even the new freshman ask about it.

While SEMO was a new ministry, pastoring was also a new role for the Boleys. "It's a greater responsibility, there are so many more things to juggle," James said.

When training for their new roles and the new ministry, Kim and James went to pioneering training. "When you have these dreams and visions for your future, you have to have the patience to let it grow," Kim said, referencing the analogy they were given of a baby developing during pregnancy.

James, Kim, and Abbi

It's an analogy Kim and James can now relate to personally. Not only have they let their vision for SEMO grow, their family has grown. Two years ago, Abbi was born. "The great thing about pioneering is everything is changing every semester or every year," Kim said. Specifically speaking about the differences in ministry before and after Abbi's birth, she said, "It just takes an adjustment when you're passionate about two things [parenting and ministry], and you can't serve two masters."

Abbi and Natasha, the Boleys' dog, at open house

Kim started having open houses so that she could continue having more time with students while caring for Abbi. One afternoon a week, she would invite female students to her house to watch movies, bake, do homework, or just hang out. Eventually, the boys started getting jealous. Now, James is also present for some of the open houses. "You see a different side of your students, and they see a different side of you, when you live life together," Kim said.

Abbi has also assisted with Tuesday night services. James said his favorite memory of their time at SEMO includes a time when Abbi was a part of a demonstration during one of his sermons. He was teaching about knowing God and how many people have misconceptions of God. Then he sat down and called Abbi, one and a half years old at the time. "She instantly came running up front and jumped in my lap," James said. "All I could say was, 'Is your relationship with God like this?'"

James at a student baptism

In working with students, James enjoys seeing them make choices that lead to that kind of relationship. "My favorite part of college ministry is watching young people make sacrificial decisions to follow Christ in their daily lives," James said. "These aren't one time 'altar-call' decisions but daily-grind, lifestyle-changing decisions."

SEMO students praying in Atlanta

As nationally appointed missionaries, the Boleys are required to have a five-year plan for what they want to see. "You should always have dreams," Kim said. "You should always have visions." They're on track with their plan. They have regular services and small group Bible studies. They have retreats. They have led mission trips to the Atlanta Dream Center. Two of the seniors graduating in 2018 want to give a year of their lives to missions.

"Our team this year is amazing. The seniors have been with us since their freshman year," Kim said. "I really think God is setting us up for something big."

Prayer requests from Kim and James:

• Support raising for themselves
• Support raising for Jacqueline
• That they and their leadership team would be used by God in amazing ways during spring semester

If you are interested in Kim and James' work, you can visit semoxa.com or contact me. If you are interested in being part of their support team, you can join here.

*All photos courtesy of Kim Boley