About Helen and Jim Wilsford
Helen and Jim Wilsford have attended
the Orangeburg church of Christ for 33 years where Jim serves as an elder and Helen teaches Bible classes. For
most of this time, Jim has taught the Lord’s Day morning Bible class. Most of these lessons were first taught
to the adults in Orangeburg. Helen is the editor of these materials.
Helen and Jim met at Florida Christian College (Florida College) from which
they graduated in 1954 with A.A. degrees. They have been married for 55 years. Both have attended David
Lipscomb College.
Helen holds
both a B.A. and an M.A. from South Carolina State University. Jim holds a B.A. from Kent State University, a M.A. from
Eastern Michigan University, an Ed.S. from Appalachian State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Helen and Jim spent their careers as
school teachers and administrators. Before coming to Orangeburg, Jim was an English teacher and school administrator. Helen
also was a teacher and school administrator.
Helen and Jim worked with congregations in Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Georgia, in addition to their secular jobs. During this time, Helen and Jim helped to start three of these
congregations, including the building of meeting houses. Helen and Jim retired in 1999 and have since devoted
considerable time to publishing literature suitable for class work and personal Bible study.
During his secular career, Jim served
15 years as Superintendent of the Orangeburg (SC) School District Five. In 1989, the school district and Jim received
the ComputerWorld/Smithsonian award for advancing education systems technology. That same year, Jim was selected as the National
School Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Helen and Jim authored
the multimedia reading software, Phonics Too, and Jim's book, Reading, Writing, and Phonics
Too. In 2005, Catch the Silent Silver--a collection of Jim's poetry from across the years--was published.
Helen and Jim
have three sons—David, Philip, and Timothy—and two grandchildren—Caroline and Christopher. The family home
is in Orangeburg, South Carolina at 3081 Landing Way. You may reach Jim by e-mail at jwilsford@sc.rr.com or by phone at (803)534-4759.
Update: GospelLessons.info had 50,000 lessons downloaded in 2009. We expect
to approach 100,000 lessons downloaded in 2010, if the Lord is willing. We are now in over 100 nations. Helen
and I share the blessing of this good work for the Lord. Even though we are now restricted, God has given us a great
avenue to sow the seed of the kingdom. I write, Helen edits, and Microsoft and Web.com do the rest, so that I pray that
God, who gives the increase, will continue to empower all four of us (yes, especially Microsoft and Web.com). To God
be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus is our prayer in Jesus name, Amen.