At a meeting on April 16, 2000 the congregation by unanimous vote called Jim Rollins to be Highland’s next installed pastor.  His ministry at Highland officially began on June 1, 2000.

For the past eight years prior to coming to Highland, Jim was Associate Pastor at a church in Florida. A native of Pittsburgh, Jim began his college education at Florida Institute of Technology because of a space interest. But after he became involved in campus ministry, he transferred to University of Pittsburgh and earned his degree in biophysics and microbiology.

Jim and his wife Chris and two other couples were part of the leadership team of junior highs in a 1500-member church. Through service as a deacon and an elder and other areas of responsibility in the church, he gradually came to recognize his calling to be a Minister of the Word and Sacrament.

Upon finishing Pittsburgh Seminary (after six years of full-time job, seminary, and family responsibilities), he was called as a tent-making pastor for a small church. His acceptance in 1992 of the call to be Associate Pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church, Winter Haven, Florida, meant that he could leave his secular job. But his experience and perspective on how faith relates to the world outside the church help with the challenge to equip and enable others to live the Christian life.  Jim is currently completing his Doctorate of Ministry at Austin Theological Seminary.

Jim’s wife Chris and their two daughters, Amanda and Abby, are all musically talented.  Amanda plays trombone and Abby plays trumpet.  Along with their mother, both are involved in vocal music.  Chris, a reading specialist, teaches kindergarten.