P. James Mathias

February 13, 1944 - February 28, 2025

Paul James Mathias, Jr., known to most as Jim, was born February 13, 1944 to Paul and Millie Mathias in Tiffin, Ohio. The third of eight children, he grew up on his mother’s legendary home cooking and on his hard-working father’s modest factory salary.  Most of his time was spent outdoors playing sports or helping with chores. His life was spared at a young age when he climbed out a second story window while sleepwalking. A landing on a hedgerow spared life and limb, though his mother was horrified when her bloodied son showed up at the back screen door while she was ironing! 

Jim attended Tiffin Columbian High School, starring in basketball and graduating in 1962. An average student, he had no major career aspirations, figuring he would work in a local factory. However, on an impulse, he enlisted in the United States Air Force (a legacy of military service that would later be carried on by his three sons and a grandson). By 1963 he was stationed at Bitburg Air Force Base in Germany where his leadership and jet engine mechanic skills flourished. 

He was promoted quickly and rose to the level of crew chief. More significantly, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Savior through the influence of a pilot with whom he worked. His newfound faith would set the trajectory for the remainder of his life.

After leaving Active Duty in 1966, Jim enrolled at Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, where he earned a B.A. in Math Education. While there he was discipled by campus pastor George Wood, who would become a lifelong friend. Early in his tenure at Evangel he came to know Maralyn McNaughton, a spunky pastor’s daughter from Nebraska. The two fell in love and married in 1968. Their loving and fulfilling marriage would surpass 40 years. 

In 1969, Jim and Maralyn began their teaching careers in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. In this season, their two sons were born, Paul in 1972 and David in 1973. 

Jim quickly became involved in lay ministry, the highlight of which was establishing a Youth For Christ ministry at Nekoosa High School. Students reached through YFC would play a major role in a spiritual revival in the region, and in planting Christian Life Fellowship church in the late 1970s. 

Jim served as the founding elder, and Maralyn began a thriving ministry to children. While building his career and serving in church, Jim embraced his role as father, often playing ball with his boys in the yard and taking them fishing. As a family, their annual highlights were a trip to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game and a week-long family reunion with the entire Mathias clan. Jim loved the opportunity to build multigenerational relationships with extended family. 

In 1976, another pivotal life event would take place. Jim traveled to Guatemala to help with rebuilding after a destructive earthquake. He would later mark this as the start of his calling to foreign missions. 

Upon his return, Maralyn could see a marked difference in his perspective on the world. They continued in faithful service to the local church as Jim transitioned to a career in home building. All along, though, they looked for an opportunity to return to the mission field together. In 1984 that opportunity came through a construction trip to Continental Bible College (later called CTS) in Brussels, Belgium. Jim worked to build the chapel while Maralyn immersed herself in student life on the campus. During their two-week trip they both sensed a strong, direct calling to full-time service as missionaries. Upon returning, they made plans to sell Jim’s business, uproot their family and enroll at Bethel Seminary in Minnesota where he earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. 

After four years of study and itineration, the Mathias family left for Belgium in 1988. The ensuing 12 years were a convergence of all the training and preparation they had received, with Maralyn teaching and Jim serving as teacher, leader, campus pastor, and coordinator of construction on the campus. More importantly, they had the opportunity to shape and to be impacted by countless students, most of whom were preparing for vocational ministry. 

In 2000, Jim and Maralyn received an invitation to move to Iso Kirja Bible College in Keuruu, Finland where they would establish an intensive English Line training program for students planning for further Bible education in English. Finland quickly became home, and they enjoyed seven years of fruitful ministry there. 

In 2007, Maralyn was diagnosed with ALS, and they moved back to Nekoosa to be near family until her death in January 2009. 

Amid their years of productive ministry in Europe and in the season that followed, eight grandchildren would arrive through Paul and David’s families, and Jim took delight in the arrival of each new family member. Jim had aparticular gift for engaging and comforting babies. Some of his grandbabies would only be comforted by their parents and by their "Ukki,” the Finnish name for “grandpa" that he would acquire during the Finland years. 

In November 2009, Jim married Angelica Mathias, his late brother Greg's widow and became father to Miguel, whom Jim would legally adopt. Their marriage would serve as a great source of comfort and joy to one another. Shifting from retirement to again raising a young son, he embraced his role as father. Jim was exceptionally proud of Miguel, clieering him on in all his academic and athletic pursuits and celebrating with him when he was admitted to the US Naval Academy.

In 2021, Jim and Angelica struck out on an adventure, moving to Kamiah, Idaho. Jim invested time in a discipleship group with several other retired men. He enjoyed spoiling Itis clogs, working his land, and continuing to grow in his knowledge of the Bible. He also never turned down a chance to talk about politics or the second coming of Christ! 

On the evening of February 28, 2025, after abrief mild illness, Jim died suddenly of a pulmonary embolus. He had just turned 81 years old. He is survived by his wife, Angelica and their son, Miguel. He is also survived by his firstborn son, Paul and his wife, Kristin, who serve as international workers in Cairo, Egypt with their daughters Elliana and Jolene. 

He is also survived by his second son David, a pediatrician in Wausau, Wisconsin, his wife, Rhonda, and their six children—Reuben, Levi, Micali, Gideon, Nora, and Linnea.

After encountering Jesus in a personal way, Jim’s life was characterized by a series of “yes” answers to God’s will and God’s way. The result was years of fruitful ministry with hundreds of lives impacted for Jesus, as well as generational impact for Christ in his own family. Jim is now reunited in heaven with Maralyn, with his parents and with his brother Greg.