We are extremely fortunate to have Jim Culver serving as our Director of Music. Jim is an accomplished organist, composer, choir director and was a certified musical wunderkind, having performed organ compositions in many of Europe's great cathedrals and at St. Peter's in the Vatican as a young man. Jim holds a doctor of musical arts from the University of Iowa, and was ordained at Fountain Street Church, a 2,200 member liberal church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as Music Director.

As the church's Director of Music, Jim has energized the church's choir by stressing the imortance of community. “The most important thing is for the choir is to get to know each other, to come together as family. Once people understand that, that’s a part of the church family people will want to know. That’s the best way to grow,” Jim has stated. Jim also leads an active children’s choir and handbell group, which – like the adult choir – will take on expanded roles as the church grows.

“Everyone involved in the music program not only will sing or ring hand bells, but also will compose,” said Jim, himself a published composer. More than 120,000 copies of his compositions have been sold, including the best seller “Go in Love,” with an additional 5 million recordings through educational publisher Silver Burdett Co.

Jim was only 11 years old when he took his first job as a church organist at the small Methodist church his family attended, to earn extra money for his family. By the time he was a senior in high school, he had played at Roman Catholic, Baptist and Jewish services, an experience that shaped his religious philosophy.

“By the time I was 18 I had heard so many priests, rabbis and ministers saying that their religion was the one true way, I knew something was up,” he said. “I was thinking I’m not any of these.”

During his career, spanning nearly three decades, he has chaired the music department at a private school in New Jersey and spent seven years as the owner of four Cold Stone Creamery locations in Grand Rapids. He’s been music director at three churches including Fountain Street.

A job relocation by Jim’s wife, Rebecca, prompted the couple’s move to the St. Petersburg area. They have six children, ranging from 29 years old to the youngest, Liz, who is the only child still living at home.