James Michael Wolf

Mike was born in Tulsa, OK on November 20, 1938 to Wilbur and Adele Wolf. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, and later from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR with a degree in Communications. He began his preaching with a preaching point while still in college.

He was ordained by Harvard Avenue Baptist Church in Tulsa. He pastored a number of churches throughout his 60 years of ministry. During much of that time, he was a bi-vocational pastor, working for many years in the field of broadcasting. He also worked for San Bernardino County for 14 years.

In 1972, he began a ministry to the Chinese that continued until his death. He, Pat, and their children arrived in Taiwan that year, where he served as the Director of the Mass Communications Center in Taipei for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board until 1982. During a portion of that time, he was also the English pastor for Grace Baptist Church in Taipei, and the evening pastor for the expatriate community at Calvary Baptist Church.

He and his family returned to the states in 1982, and from that time to the present, he ministered in various ways, including pastoring, and serving God in any way God chose to use him.

He and Dorothy were married in 1988, and have been blessed to serve the Lord together as called. A particularly special time in his ministry was the period of 4 years when he and Dorothy volunteered at California Baptist University. They lived on campus full time in order to minister to international students. His greatest joy and Dorothy’s as well, was when those wonderful students accepted Jesus as their savior. There are so many of those precious young people who have stayed in Mike and Dorothy’s lives. What a thrill to see them grow in the Lord, and impact people all over the world. He and Dorothy have been connected for 23 years to the Riverside Mandarin Baptist Church. That special congregation supported the ministry at CBU, and other missions God chose for them. While living in Arkansas, during a portion of Mike’s retirement, Mike and Dorothy were blessed to be a part of the Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church in Little Rock.

He taught Sunday school and a Home Bible Study at Fellowship in the Pass Church, served in the choir, and loved his many friends there.

Mike is survived by his wife, Dorothy, his brother Bill Wolf, and his children Chip Wolf, Christine Reading, John Wolf, Lynda Chastain, and Kim Briggs. He treasured his grandchildren; Emily Griffis, James Wolf, Zeke Reading, Chelsea Wolf, Lauren Reading, Elijah Reading, Heather Reading, Kate Wolf, Matt Chastain, Danielle Chastain, and Zane Wolf. Mike is also survived by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandchildren Katelin Reading and Charlie Wolf.

Memorial contributions may be made to...

Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board

Riverside Mandarin Baptist Church - Missions - 4889 Tyler Street, Riverside, CA 92503

Fellowship in the Pass Church - Missions - 650 Oak Valley Parkway, Beaumont, CA 92223

Arrangements under the direction of Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, CA.