Jim Zeismer Retires After 21 Years of Teaching/Pastoral Ministry in Chesapeake

Jim Zeismer, pastor of the Federalsburg (Md.), Sussex Central (Del.), and Seaford (Del.) district, will retire on May 1 after 33 years in ministry, including 21 years in Chesapeake Conference as both a pastor and teacher. 
 
Zeismer previously taught as a Bible teacher at Spencerville (Md.) Adventist Academy and Highland View Academy (Hagerstown, Md.). He also pastored the West Wilmington (Del.) church and the Catoctin (Md.)/Charles Town (W.Va.) district. 
 
“Elder Zeismer’s contributions to ministry and commitment to the mission of our Conference, as well as to other places he has served the Church, are greatly appreciated and will always be remembered with highest regard,” says Jerry Lutz, president of Chesapeake Conference. “We wish Elder Zeismer, and his dear wife, Sharon, well as they begin this new chapter in their lives and continue to serve the Lord from a different perspective.”
 
Zeismer began his career in Chesapeake as a Bible teacher at Spencerville Adventist Academy in 1999. In 2008, he transitioned into pastoral ministry, serving first as the pastor of the Catoctin and Charles Town district and then, in 2012, as the co-senior pastor of the West Wilmington church. Zeismer returned to teaching in 2014 as a Bible teacher at Highland View Academy. In 2017, Zeismer accepted a call to pastoral ministry on the Eastern Shore, where he has served for the last four years. 
 
“The most rewarding thing about ministry is experiencing God using you to bring someone who never knew Him into becoming a believer in Him and accepting Him as their Lord and Savior,” says Zeismer.
 
Zeismer points to two highlights of his years in the Chesapeake Conference. “The first is the wonderful support and trust from my principals and conference leadership,” he says. “The second, and most important, is the wonderful interaction I’ve had over the years with my students. I loved each and every one of them—especially the stubborn ones!” 
 
Zeismer notes that he’s not planning on sitting around and watching the grass grow in retirement. He plans to stay active in ministry, and is interested in developing both a podcast and a YouTube ministry on religion and spiritual life. 
 
Zeismer and his wife, Sharon, have two adult children and two grandchildren.