James Robert (Jim) Graff
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Jim Graff | |
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| Born | James Robert Graff March 16, 1960 Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Oral Roberts University (BA) |
| Alma mater | Oral Roberts University |
| Occupation | Pastor, author, speaker |
| Employer | Faith Family Church |
| Organization | Faith Family Church; Significant Church Network |
| Known for | Senior Pastor of Faith Family Church; President of Significant Church Network; Christian author |
| Title | Senior Pastor |
James Robert "Jim" Graff (born March 16, 1960, in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania) is an American pastor, author, and speaker. He is the senior pastor of Faith Family Church in Victoria, Texas, president of the Significant Church Network, and author of several Christian books.[1]
Early life and education
Graff was raised in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest of five children to Kenneth and Jeanne Graff. He graduated from Knoch High School in 1978.[2] Graff attended Oral Roberts University, originally planning to continue playing college baseball and pursue a degree in American history. While there, he accepted a call to ministry and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Historical Studies in 1983.[2]
Ministry and Faith Family Church
After college, Graff served as a missionary and later became missions director at Oral Roberts University.[2] In 1986, he joined the staff of his father-in-law, John Osteen, the founding pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.[3] In September 1989, Graff moved to Victoria, Texas, to lead Faith Family Church. Under his leadership, the church grew from 200 members to 4,000 members in a city of roughly 60,000.[4]
Significant Church Network
In 2004, Graff founded the Significant Church Network to empower and revitalize churches in smaller and often overlooked communities and neighborhoods. [5] Its mission includes supporting pastors through coaching, mentoring, and encouragement; fostering relationships among leaders; and providing resources through conferences, webinars, and leadership retreats.[6][4] The network also facilitates international church-planting partnerships and global missions opportunities.
Missions and outreach work
In 1983, after completing college, Graff embarked on a three-year backpacking journey overseas, preaching and engaging in mission work throughout Africa, Europe, and Central America. This experience shaped his lifelong dedication to global missions.[2]
Faith Family Church and the Significant Church Network support local, national, and global mission work. Faith Family sponsors a wide range of local educational and recovery programs, including Faith Academy (a local Christian school), Celebrate Recovery, the annual Backpack Outreach, Toys for Tots, Sidewalk Sunday School, Adopt-a-Block, and food and prison ministries.[7] The church has served as a relief hub during major disasters, housing Hurricane Katrina evacuees in 2005 and coordinating aid during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.[7]
Through the Significant Church Network and international partnerships, Graff’s leadership contributed to the construction of numerous Bible schools, the planting of more than 500 churches in areas without Christian congregations, support for orphanages in Guatemala, and the establishment of the House of Palms facilities in India, providing housing, education, and support for girls rescued from sex trafficking.[7]
Events and speaking
Graff frequently speaks at conferences, including the Significant Church Network’s annual regional and national gatherings.[6]
Publications and media
Graff has written on Christian living, leadership, and spiritual growth, with works ranging from traditionally published to self-published titles.[8]
Books
- A Significant Life: Fulfilling Your Eternal Potential Every Day (2006, WaterBrook/Penguin Random House, ISBN 9781400070834)[8]
- Rock-Solid Faith: 8 Steps to Living Blessed and Leaving Behind What Matters (2023, self-published, ISBN 978-1-932977-06-6)[9]
- The Parables of Jesus: Discovering Life’s Hidden Secrets (2023, self-published, ISBN 978-1-932977-04-2)[10]
- 30 Days to a New Beginning: Promises + Practices for the New Believer (2024, self-published, ISBN 978-1-932977-08-0)[11]
- Character Counts: Experiencing a Cultural Comeback (2025, self-published, ISBN 978-1-932977-09-7)[12]
Podcasts and broadcast
Since 2023, Graff has hosted the A Significant Life broadcast on Pray.com, which is also distributed via YouTube and other platforms. He also hosts the Significant Leader podcast series, offering leadership insights and practical tools for pastors and ministry leaders.[13] In September 2025, A Significant Life began airing weekly on GODTV worldwide.[14]
Recognition and influence
On October 1, 2019, Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) honored Jim and Tamara Graff in the U.S. Congressional Record for more than 30 years of service to Faith Family Church and the Victoria community, recognizing their contributions to faith-based education, recovery programs, disaster relief, and global missions.[7] In 2013, Graff was recognized by Oral Roberts University as an alumnus of the year for his service. [15] In 2018, he was named "Best Religious Leader" by the Victoria community. [16] Graff was also ranked the second most powerful leader across a 13-county region by the same community.[17]
Personal life
On December 21, 1985, Graff married Tamara Graff (née Osteen), who has served as co-pastor of Faith Family Church since 1989. They have four children: Michael, Andrea, Emily, and Geoffrey.[18]
References
- ↑ "About Pastor Jim Graff". MyFFC. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Faith Family Church is part of God's plan". Victoria Advocate. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ "Lakewood Church". Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Faith Family Church". ChurchStaffing. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ D. Dewaine Phillips (2022-01-22). "God Abides In Small Places". SermonCentral. SermonCentral. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Jim Graff". Smith Media Group. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Congressional Record" (PDF). Congress.gov. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Penguin Random House Author Page". Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ Jim Graff (2023). Rock-Solid Faith. ISBN 978-1-932977-06-6.
- ↑ Jim Graff (2023). The Parables of Jesus. ISBN 978-1-932977-04-2.
- ↑ Jim Graff (2024). 30 Days to a New Beginning. ISBN 978-1-932977-08-0.
- ↑ Jim Graff (2025). Character Counts. ISBN 978-1-932977-09-7.
- ↑ "Jim Graff". Rephonic. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ "GODTV Schedule". GODTV. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ↑ "Excellence Magazine" (PDF). Excellence. Vol. 25, no. 1. Oral Roberts University. 2013. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ "Best Religious Leader: Pastor Jim Graff". Victoria Advocate. 2018-04-29. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ Brandon L. Leonard (2009-06-09). "Crossroads Ten Most Powerful: #2 Jim Graff". Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ↑ "About Pastor Tamara Graff". MyFFC. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
External links
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