James Dyson (minister)
 | This article, James Dyson (minister), has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, James Dyson (minister), has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
James Ernest "Jim" Dyson (17 May 1950 – 28 October 2020) was an American minister and teacher serving primarily in the city of Largo, Florida. Throughout his career, he would found and serve as Area Director of Young Life in Ridgecrest, Florida, serve as Vice President of Young Life's Eastern Division, and begin a children's literacy program at Ridgecrest Elementary School.
Early life
Dyson was born and would grow up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] On a scholarship for track and field, he would move to Gainesville, Florida in 1968 to run track for the University of Florida. Dyson's university career during desegregation of the American Civil Rights Movement would inspire his outreach in minority and low-income communities.[2] He would marry Amy Simpson Dyson in 1971, whom he would have two children with.[1]
Career
Dyson would move to Jacksonville, Florida in 1972 where he would begin his work with Young Life.[3] He would later move Largo, Florida in 1974 outside the low-income community of Ridgecrest, where he would establish an Urban Young Life in the area to support the local youth.[2] He would serve in this position at Young Life through the remainder of the 20th century.[1] In 1998, Dyson would be named Vice President of Multicultural and Urban Ministry for the Central Southern Division of Young Life.[3] In 2005, Dyson would be appointed as Vice President of Field Ministry in the Eastern Division.[3] Dyson would retire in 2014, and Young Life, in commemoration, would establish the Jim Dyson Young Life Center in Ridgecrest.[4]
During his time at Young Life, Dyson dedicated himself to understanding African American issues, being praised for his understanding of such by colleague BeBe Hobson.[4]
Following Dyson's retirement in 2014, he would establish the Panther Pals Reading program at Ridgecrest Elementary School.[2] The program would be founded on the principle of improving children's literacy in the Ridgecrest community.[5] In 2017, the program would report 180 students and 80 volunteers participating in the program.[6] That year, the Principal of Ridgecrest Elementary School, Michael Moss, would state that students who participated in the program saw significantly increased reading scores.[5] From 1980 until his death, Dyson would lead and teach a Sunday School program at Anona United Methodist Church.[1][7] With Anona, he would also attend missionaries to their sister church in Cardenas, Cuba, Iglesia Methodist de Cardenas.[8]
Illness and Death
In 2018, Dyson would be diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS.[2] Following the diagnosis, Dyson would continue his ministry until his death.
On August 22, 2020, a Little Free Library would be dedicated to Dyson, entitled Mr. Jim's Little Neighborhood Library.[5] The library would have the stated purpose of allowing Ridgecrest children access to books during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Young Life would donate a public bench and a portion of property at the site of the Jim Dyson Young Life Center to install the library.[5]
Dyson would pass away on October 28th, 2020 due to complications from Lou Gehrig's disease at age 70.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "James Dyson's Obituary, Tampa Bay Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ a b c d e Hare, Kristen. "Volunteer devoted his life to faith and community". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ a b c "Spring 2021 - YoungLife.org". Young Life. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ a b Windahl, Stacy. "Swimming in the Deep End". Young Life.
- ^ a b c d Varn, Kathryn. "Ridgecrest neighborhood honors reading advocate Jim Dyson". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ a b "Pinellas Community News: Little Free Library brings books to Ridgecrest area". TBNweekly. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "Jim Dyson". Anona United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "FLUMC - Anona Sends Communion Sets to Sister Church in Cuba". The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2022-12-03.