"I started looking at life differently after my mother had a heart attack in 1936," said the Rev. Jim Buckley, senior pastor of Newbury Park First Christian Church. After that Christmas Eve tragedy, Buckley said he sensed "God wanted me to be in His service all of my life."

The son of a grain farmer, Jim Buckley was born in Madera, Calif., and "grew up in church." By the time he was 17, he felt a call to enter a Christian college and the ministry.

"My mother's death made me realize there is more to this life than we can see, such as a belief in God and following Jesus."

Dedicated to helping others find a personal relationship with God and excited about helping people through their struggles, he entered a four-year liberal arts college, Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore., where he became chaplain to the students.

After graduating in 1968, Buckley received his master of divinity degree in 1974 from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary near Boston, Mass., and earned a doctor of ministry degree from Pasadena's Fuller Theological Seminary in 1996.

Prior to his arrival at the Newbury Park First Christian Church in 1983, Buckley served in Northern California, New Hampshire and at the Englewood Christian Church in Portland, Ore.

He and his wife, Glenda, have four sons and a daughter, plus seven grandchildren.

Their sons include Jason, Daniel and Andrew of Newbury Park. Their fourth son, Jarod, and their daughter, Jange, are twins. Jarod, is called the "infant" because he was born "10 minutes later than his sister."

Jason Buckley is a firefighter and paramedic for the Ventura County Fire Department; Daniel and Jarod Buckley are studying for the ministry at a seminary in Tennessee.

"Our extended family keeps us busy, but we love them and are a great family-oriented group," Pastor Buckley said.

He met his wife while she was also a student at Northwest Christian College, where they were married after graduation. He considers Glenda an accomplished musician who is a great help to him in his ministry at the Newbury Park First Christian Church.

The church, located at 801 Knollwood Drive, has a staff of four pastors.

A new youth minister, the Rev. Mario Gonzalez of Oklahoma, his wife, Stacey, and baby daughter, Sophia, will be introduced to the congregation during services on Sun., April 2. That Sunday afternoon there will be a Pine Car Derby and the church's Pioneer Club will observe its 10th anniversary.

Other activities at Newbury Park First Christian Church include a Saturday "Alive at Five" service that starts at 5 p.m.; and Sunday worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with Sunday school for adults, youth and children at 9 a.m.

Also, on Wednesdays, a Bible study for kids in junior high and high school is conducted from 5 to 6:45 p.m., the Pioneer Club for grades 1 to 5 meets at 6 p.m. and a Bible study for men and women starts at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about Newbury Park First Christian Church, please call the office at (805) 498-2129.