October 23, 2009
People of Faith
Deacon King calls wife biggest influence
BY STEVE HALBIG
This is the sixth in a series on the new deacons of the diocese. They were ordained Aug. 15 at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville.
Deacon James King, 47, is doing his diaconal service at his home parish, St. Ferdinand in Ferdinand.
Deacon King is a business systems analyst working for a national distribution and logistics company called Meyer Distributing, whose central office is in Jasper, and which sells after-market vehicle accessories. His primary experience is in applied technologies which benefit accounting, inventory and management reporting systems; this includes how this activity is supported through the use of computer software and networks. “I have worked over the course of my career in the manufacturing, distribution, retail and service industries.”
He and his wife, Diane, are the parents of a daughter and a son, but “lost our son Ian in 2005.”
A native of Frankfurt, Germany, King is a trained technology specialist. He will complete a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ashford University in March 2010.
What prompted you to pursue this ministry? “It’s truly a calling,” he said, “something in your heart compels you to do.”
Tell us a few things about yourself: He is active in his church as a music minister (guitar) and has been a high school catechist for many years.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life? “My wife. She helped me recognize my calling. She’s gracious and willing to share me with the church.” He sees the people of God as a gift. In becoming a deacon, he sees “God doing something for me, giving me a purpose.”
What are your goals as a deacon? Jokingly he said, “To not really screw up too much.” On a serious note, he said, “To continue teaching. To do the best job I can to help the people of the Church.” He also plans to get a master’s degree from St. Meinrad.
Do you have any favorite books you would recommend to others? “Models of the Church” by Cardinal Avery Dulles, “Models of the Eucharist” by Kevin W. Irvin (shows how many different perspectives there are of the Eucharist), “The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation” by Luke Timothy Johnson and “Gospel of John.”
Do you have any routines in your spiritual life that you would recommend to others? The daily “Liturgy of the Hours.” He’s also a big advocate of “lectio divina,” a practice encouraged by Benedictines and members of other religious communities. The term is Latin for divine reading. It’s a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures.
Email steve@themessageonline.org